Middle East Research and Information Project

Critical Coverage of the Middle East Since 1971

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Government

Two Decades of Uneven Federalism in Iraq
A bridge over the Shatt al-Arab river, formed by the confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris Rivers, in the southern Iraqi city of Basra. (Hussein Faleh/AFP via Getty Images)Iraq with governorate boundaries. Map by the United Nations.
MER Article

Two Decades of Uneven Federalism in Iraq

Transforming the centralized Iraqi state into a federal state was one of the most pressing political goals for the engineers and so-called nation builders behind the US invasion of Iraq in 2003. Proponents of federalism, like the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), saw it
Hamzeh Hadad • 8 min read
The Collapse of Tunisia’s Party System and the Rise of Kais Saied
Police officers stand guard outside the parliament building in Tunis, Tunisia, two days after President Kais Saied sacked the prime minister and froze parliament. July 27, 2021. Zoubeir Souissi/Reuters
Current Analysis

The Collapse of Tunisia’s Party System and the Rise of Kais Saied

Ten years after the Tunisian people overthrew the country's authoritarian ruler, their democracy is in crisis. On July 25, 2021, Tunisian President Kais Saied invoked Article 80, the emergency clause in the constitution, to sack the prime minister and freeze the activities of parliament. Nate Grubma
Nate Grubman, Aytuğ Şaşmaz • 13 min read
The Prince’s Speech and Activist Grievances in Jordan
Jordanian protesters shout slogans against the Jordanian government raising gasoline prices during a demonstration demanding political reforms, in Amman, June 15, 2012. Muhammad Hamed/Reuters
Current Analysis

The Prince’s Speech and Activist Grievances in Jordan

On April 3, 2021, Prince Hamzeh bin Hussein of Jordan was confined by the Jordanian armed forces to his home and cut off from outside communication. While many observers speculate about palace politics, Matthew Lacouture delves into the significance of the prince's statements decrying corruption and
Matthew Lacouture • 11 min read