Middle East | IPS Journal

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Reuters

Democracy and society

Can Iraq’s democracy still be saved?

The storming of the Iraqi parliament by supporters of Al-Sadr were motivated by years of political impasse — threatening Iraq's democracy and peace

By Sarah Hepp

Reuters

Foreign and security policy

How Erdoğan returned from Tehran empty-handed

Since Russia’s attack on Ukraine, Erdoğan has cleverly played his hand. But, as he learned painfully in Tehran, his political clout has its limits

By Henrik Meyer

Reuters

Work and digitalisation

Qatar’s human-rights reversal

As the host of this year’s FIFA World Cup, Qatar pledged to implement sweeping labour reforms. But after initial steps, progress now seems to stall

By Lara Nuwayhid

Reuters

Democracy and society

What’s left of Lebanon’s 2019 uprising?

This weekend’s Lebanese elections likely won’t break sectarian neoliberal parties’ grip on power. That’s also because the left is too weak and divided

By Joseph Daher

Reuters

Democracy and society

What the Russian invasion means for Syria

The war in Ukraine has made a political solution in Syria even more unlikely. Meanwhile, the humanitarian situation is deteriorating dramatically

By Sinan Hatahet

Reuters

Foreign and security policy

The pitfalls of Arab-Russian dependency

Food supply chains, energy partnerships, and political outlooks make it difficult for Arab states to pick a side in the Russia-Ukraine war

By Ruslan Suleymanov

Reuters

Economy and ecology

The Middle East’s food crisis spells disaster

As a result of the war in Ukraine, the Middle East is facing a major food crisis that could destabilise the entire region — if Europe doesn’t act now

By Stefan Lukas, Marius Paradies

Reuters

Democracy and society

How women in the Global South reclaim feminism

Female empowerment in the Global South was co-opted by the Western neoliberal development. Now, women are reclaiming their understanding of feminism

By Farah Daibes

Pexels

Economy and ecology

Middle-income countries’ debt trap

Public debt has skyrocketed in middle-income countries like Tunisia. Yet, the IMF and G20 are pushing for austerity measures, not debt relief

By Thomas Claes, Kristina Rehbein

Reuters

Democracy and society

In Iraq, you can't vote out the ‘muhasasa’

In 2019, the largest-ever mass protests in Iraqi history brought down the government. But the upcoming elections may further entrench a corrupt system

By Tim Petschulat