Research Papers
Number: 39
Author:
Increased tensions between Syrian Kurds and Turkey resulting in cross-border shelling during the month of November underline the complex system of conflict unfolding in northern Syria with the emergence of a Kurdish-dominated federation across the Jazira (Hassaka and Qamishli) and Euphrates (Kobani and Tell Abyad), and encompassing more recently the Deir ez-Zour governorate and Raqqa. Afrin is also theoretically included in the structure but is nonetheless currently under Turkish occupation. In this mosaic, multiple local and regional forces with rivaling interactive agendas are complicating the final phase of the war against the so-called Islamic
Number: 38
Author:
This study attempts to shed light on the geopolitical importance of the Red Sea and attempts to find an approach to the definition of the Red Sea and the Maritime Strategy, in addition to highlighting Saudi Arabia's efforts to preserve the security of the Red Sea, which is a common Arab security front. Many Arab states bordering the Red Sea share the collective responsibility to protect it. The Suez Canal and the Bab al-Mandab Strait are the main entrance points of the Red Sea and for the security and navigation of it. The security of the Red Sea is part of the security of the surrounding countries, As well as its importance to the major Power
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Author:
Faris Al-Sulayman
Large fiscal deficits brought about by the precipitous decline in oil prices in late 2014 and long-standing challenges concerning youth unemployment have been two of the dominant underlying themes driving economic policy in Saudi Arabia in recent years. These challenges, though not unique in the region, loom particularly large when compared to those of some of the Kingdom’s “super-rentier” neighbors, and they have engendered a sense of urgency at the policy-making level.
These trends have also formed the backdrop
Number: 39
Author:
Habib Al-Badawi
At the beginning of the 21st century, Japan adopted a new approach toward the international community and called it the "Indian-Pacific Ocean Strategy, Free and Open Area" as a geostrategic concept to strengthen its leading global position through the establishment of an international network of relations, allowing free and smooth flow of the elements of the capitalist system, human and economic, with a hidden objective to curb the Chinese dragon.
The English translation of this study is currently not available
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Author:
Steffen Hertog
Among all the economic challenges on the road to Vision 2030, job creation for Saudi citizens is the politically most important one—and after an initial focus on other Vision-related policy areas, it is increasingly taking center stage in the kingdom’s economic policy debate. However, a formula to guarantee sufficient, sustainable jobs for Saudi citizens is still missing: The Nitaqat employment-quota system has created significant employment since its introduction in 2011, but it has also imposed significant costs on business, and many of the Nitaqat-induced jobs appear to
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Author: Makio Yamada
The development of ecosystems targeting the growth of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is one of the major challenges facing the Kingdom. Such ecosystems are indispensable to achieving what economists refer to as “inclusive growth” – economic growth, not only with high and increasing competitiveness, but also with the creation of broad employment opportunities. In this respect, it is worth paying attention to the experiences of other countries that have previously achieved such growth relatively well in order to benefit from the lessons these experiences can provide.
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Dr. Mohammed Al-Sbitli
The African Horn has recently witnessed a regional movement that ends the two decades of conflict between the countries of the region and the emergence of alliances in the context of border disputes and historical differences inherited from the colonial era, represented by ethnic diversity and international and regional conflicts in East Africa and the Red Sea. In a short period of time, the African Horn has shifted from one of the most tense regions of the continent to a model territory in the search for historic reconciliations and settlements.
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Dominik Krell
The Saudi legal system is on the verge of the arguably most significant transformation in its history: There are reports that Saudi Arabia will soon introduce a binding codification of Islamic law that will encompass private law, criminal law and family law. Until now, large areas of Islamic law have remained uncodified. Judges refer to Islamic jurisprudence in their judgments, which are full of references to medieval and late medieval legal treatises like Ibn Qudāma’s (d. 1223) book al-mughnī or al-Bahūtī’s (d. 1641) kashshāf al-qanāᶜ. In areas that have not been a
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Author:
Othman Ali Almazyad
Since the visit of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Tokyo in 2016 (then Deputy Crown Prince), and the visit of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdul Aziz in 2017, the strategic cooperation between the two countries is booming and deepening. These two historical visits culminated in deepening bilateral cooperation through the establishment of the Joint Vision Group (Saudi Arabia Joint Vision 2030), which aims to invest in new industries and push the economic wheel in compatible with Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030.
Number: 37
Author:
This article will situate the recent Aktau Agreement reached by all coastal states of the Caspian Sea within the context of Iran’s protracted quest for sovereignty over parts of the Caspian, an endeavor that has been in place since the emergence of boundary confrontations and diplomacy with its northern neighbors during the eighteenth century. It will seek to either verify or dispel myths and rumors that have emerged within Iranian public opinion on the extent of territorial waters and coastline that Iran is entitled to, and has exercised control over during the past few centuries. The role of public opinion is heightened by the extent of popular