As Iraqi elections end, power play begins for prime minister

The Islamic Dawa party, which has held sway over Iraqs government for a dozen years, could lose its power to select the prime minister unless it can resolve major differences between its inner rivals and unify the party.

Should Economists Make Moral Judgments?

At least since the days of John Maynard Keynes, professional economists have not had to worry too much about the moral implications of their technical work

Saudi Arabia Hits the Brakes on Reforms

Arresting feminists does not inspire faith in the crown princes much hyped reform agenda.

Congress rebels against Trump’s Middle East war secrecy

I would say since the Trump administration came in, we have seen a gradual increase in limitations on congressional delegations, especially Iraq and Afghanistan and understandably Syria

Iraq’s election may have had widespread voter fraud

It is a truism that Iraqis disappointed in their results often imagine cheating rather than acknowledge their own failures to appeal to a broader electorate

Why Reinvent the Monetary Wheel?

Cryptocurrencies promise to realize Friedrich Hayek’s dream of a free market in money. But human societies have discovered no better way to keep the value of money roughly constant than by relying on central banks to exercise control over its issue

Iraqi politicians look to calm tensions in wake of US withdrawal from Iran deal

The US withdrawal from the Iranian nuclear deal poses questions about the role of the Iran-backed Shiite armed factions in bringing the US-Iranian confrontation into Iraq.

The battle for the Iranian nuclear deal: China approaches a watershed

Fault lines in the Middle East have hardened because of Israel, Saudi and United Arab Emirates assertiveness, emboldened by both a US administration that is more partisan in its Middle East policy

Petroleum's Rising Price Depends on Supply and Politics

There are several factors that have introduced uncertainty into the market, prompting upward pressure on oil prices.

The Old Allure of New Money

The cryptocurrency revolution, which started with bitcoin in 2009, claims to be inventing new kinds of money

Iraq’s Top 10 Potential Prime Ministers

Will it be the Harvard- and MIT-educated mandarin, the coveralls-wearing man of the people — or someone else the world has never heard of?

Trapping Trump?

The hardliners on the nuclear deal with Iran are leaving the U.S. president with one option, namely war.

The Middle East’s new battle lines

while Saudi Arabia and Israel view Iran as an existential threat that they must confront, Ankara sees Tehran as a regional rival and neighbor with which it should compete and, at times, cooperate

On former battlefield, Kuwaiti investor plans date palm groves, ostrich and deer reserve

We hope to have 100,000 (trees) in the next five to six years

What Democracies Can Learn From Malaysia

Sometimes the real promise of the system is simply the power to remove leaders.

Why Orwell’s 1984 could be about Now

Audiences around the world are re-reading George Orwells 1984, which is a handbook for difficult times

The Exceptionalism of American Higher Education

American universities and colleges emerged as dominant players in the global ecology of higher education, a dominance that continues to this day

Legal protection of the right to a society free of corruption

Study in light of international conventions

Preventing an AI Apocalypse

The view that AI-driven machines will outsmart humanity, take over the world, and kill us all

The Man Who Could Shape Iraq's Future

Moqtada al-Sadr, who once led part of the insurgency against U.S. troops in Iraq, may pick the next prime minister.

Saudi defense spending soars, but not to America's benefit

How to Become an Elastic Thinker and Problem Solver

Why your mind should be like a rubber band.

Managing the Risks of a Rising Dollar

Some may view the US dollar’s appreciation as consistent with a longer-term rebalancing of the global economy. But, as Argentina’s recent request for IMF financing starkly demonstrates

Annabaa 2nd. Annual conf. on legislative reform

Legislative Reform the Way for Sound Government and Combating Corruption

Incidents of Anti-Shiism in April, 2018

With 673 incidents of anti-Shiism during the month of April, Shia repression is on the rise. The reduction in February and March from January’s equivalent 673 incidents was too good to be true, as this month concluded with 128 deaths, 180 injuries, 236 ar

How Iran Will Respond to New Sanctions

Even before US President Donald Trump began threatening to re-impose sanctions on Iran, foreign investors looking to do business there were wary. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani failed to get his pro-market agenda off the ground

How Press Freedom Is Won

On World Press Freedom Day, attention will naturally turn to the myriad ways that journalism, a key component of any well-functioning democracy, is under attack.

Why Democracy Doesn’t Deliver

Endless elections, unqualified leaders, uninformed voters, and short-term thinking are impeding economic growth.