Bahraini Narratives About the United States

by Giorgio Cafiero The eruption of Bahrain’s political crisis seven-and-a-half years ago marked a watershed in Manama-Washington relations. It also transformed how both Bahrain’s regime and its Shia-dominated opposition viewed the United States. For decades, Bahrain’s leadership has seen the… Continue Reading

The Afrin Factor in Turkey-UAE Relations

by Giorgio Cafiero When they view Aden, Aleppo, Basra, Gaza, Ghouta, Mosul, and blockaded Qatar, Turks see grave injustices suffered by people in Arab lands once ruled by the Ottoman Empire. Such a perspective informs a popular Turkish narrative that… Continue Reading

The Trump Administration Shouldn’t Pressure Oman to Change its Foreign Policy

by Giorgio Cafiero Oman’s geography, Islamic identity, and alliances make confronting the threat of violent Islamic fundamentalism a high priority for Muscat. The Sultanate’s proximity to a host of war-torn countries in the Arabian Peninsula, West Asia, and Africa exposes… Continue Reading

Talking with an Unrepentant ISIS Fighter

by Giorgio Cafiero Situated at the Turkish-Syrian border’s intersection with the Mediterranean, Turkey’s southernmost Hatay Province has been highly vulnerable to spillover effects from Syria’s raging war. That’s been a function not only of geography and refugee waves, but also… Continue Reading