At a time of profound regional and international transformations that extend beyond the political, Middle Easterners in general and Arabs in particular ponder their future, as well as how to best preserve and protect their interests and, equally important, their cultures.  As non-Arabs interpret and opine about Arab civilization far more than indigenous thinkers, how can we understand what motivates scholars and opinion-makers, and how can Arab analysts highlight indigenous perspectives? What are the core factors that separate non-Arab scholars from their Arab counterparts? Can the perceptions of nearly 500 million individuals

The Russian-Israeli intersections in the Middle East sway sometime from being distinctly pragmatic to peculiar arenas when it comes to the ongoing Syrian conflict. Through adopting the lens of Neoclassical Realism as a theory of international relations, this paper demonstrates how the Syrian conflict - due to its importance to both Israel and Russia - leads both countries to participate in positional competition in the region, engage in limited but effective cooperation, and try to stem the erosion of state-centric governance. The unique ties between the two countries in terms of their religious

At the end of September 2015, Russia stepped to the fore as an openly intervening power in Syria. Since then, pro-Assad forces have reestablished a firm military foothold, recaptured vast swaths of land, and safeguarded what is now a largely uncontested Alawite sphere of influence along the Mediterranean governorates of Latakia and Tartus, extending further south along the Syrian-Lebanese border to the capital, Damascus.  Probably the most striking characteristic of Russia’s military involvement stems from the heedlessness of its conduct: Moscow’s fast-paced, unpredictable, and agile diplomatic moves have pro

 This commentary aims to examine the linguistic divergences in the Daesh’s communication strategies in attempts to attract and recruit women from various social and geographic backgrounds through Daesh media platforms. It is argued that while Arabic texts tend to employ a more theological rhetoric; English and francophone1 texts tend to employ a rhetoric emphasizing social inclusivity as means to attract North American and European (Western) women to join Daesh. This commentary refers to adaptation as a Daesh recruitment strategy, which takes into account the significant variety of motivations amongst Daesh supporters. 

This study presents a comprehensive portrayal of one of the critical actors in the Syrian arena, and one whose role recently became more prominent: the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF.) It discusses the conditions that led to its formation, its structure, its funding mechanisms and support, its military capabilities, and its grassroots base. The study also presents maps displaying the SDF’s influence and control in Syria, its areas of influence, and its military tactics, which depend primarily on the People’s Protection Forces (YPG). The study also presents prominent international and regional actors’ positions regarding Syria’s Democrati

.English Translation Currently Unavailable

Publication Title: The Fallout of Russia’s Syria Campaign in the North Caucasus Author: Sebastian Maier Date of Publication: 1st of June, 2016. The latest news coverage on war-torn Syria has been overwhelmingly dominated by the strong symbolic message sent by the Damascene regime by gaining ground against Islamic State as it recaptured the ancient city of Palmyra in the Syrian desert at the end of March 2016. At the same time, but largely unnoticed by the international media, Islamic State’s Caucasus governorate, proclaimed in sum

The Iranian and Persianate Societies Studies Unit focuses on the academic study of modern Iranian politics, international relations, energy security, intellectual history and culture, and their broader significance for the history of the region, as well as those of other Persianate societies. Given Iran’s geostrategic position in the Gulf and its many contributions to statesmanship and scientific learning, a comprehensive and analytically sophisticated understanding of this country is indispensable to grasping regional dynamics and transformations, both past and present. The unit endeavors to draw upon the latest theoretical and methodological approaches offered in the disciplines o

This foundational unit is concerned with research, teaching, training, and innovation in the field of the Arabic language. It addresses the learning and instruction of Arabic in Arabic-speaking societies, as well as Arabic as a second language in the West. The unit studies and produces literary critiques as well as writings by learners of Arabic related to the subject of the Arabic language. The unit emphasizes collaboration with linguists of various East Asian languages to enrich the language references for Arabic and East Asian languages. For more information on Arabic Language Studies in the Research Department at KFCRIS: Dr. Arwa Obaidat, Senior Fellow He

The North African and Arab Maghreb Studies Unit is the regional research unit concerned with North Africa in general and the Arab Maghreb in particular. Its research areas span geopolitical, political, cultural, and social studies, as well as developments in the area. The unit focuses on the study and analysis of the shifts in the region and on presenting assessments of the changes, phenomena, and future of Maghrebi regimes and societies. It follows and analyzes trends and active forces in various sociopolitical arenas and monitors internal and regional conflicts, tracing their sources and consequences. For more information on North African and Arab Maghreb Studies in the Resear