... traditions of the North. The aggressive dissemination of a proselytizing form of radical Salafism through a network of religious institutes (
maahid ‘ilmiyya
), supervised by al-Islah, was perceived by communities as a state policy that alienated society from the state. Dissatisfaction with the socioeconomic and political situation in the country took the form of identity-based conflicts, unprecedented in the country’s history. These conflicts had nothing in common with Sunni–Shia antagonisms ...
International response remains fragmented
As of the fall of 2025, the Gaza Strip is in the grip of a profound humanitarian crisis. After nearly two years of conflict, which began in October 2023, the toll on civilians is catastrophic. Weakened by a long blockade, the enclave’s population now stands on the brink of humanitarian disaster: tens of thousands of people dead, mass displacement, collapsing infrastructure, famine and outbreaks of disease.
Conflict dynamics
The war in Gaza began on October...
The primary objective of "Kurdish-Turkish reconciliation" is Turkish foreign policy
Upon reaching an agreement with the Turkish state, Turkey has taken the first definitive step towards executing the “
Terror-Free Turkey
” plan, which seeks to find a legal and constitutional approach for the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) to disband and lay down its arsenal. Last October, PKK leader Abdullah Ocalan backed this plan, which was
promoted
by Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet...
The Islamic Republic appears to be deliberately seeking to strengthen Iranian-Islamic identity by combining Islamic revolutionary values with elements of nationalism
For the first time in three weeks, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has made a public
appearance
, attending a significant Shiite Muslim religious ceremony. Reformists and others from Iran's political spectrum have praised Khamenei's come back, which comes amid increased fears of an Israeli assassination attempt. This...
The West is trying to lay the groundwork for gaining leverage over the current authorities in Damascus
It has been six months since the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham [
1
] group led by Abu Mohammad al-Julani (now known as Ahmed al-Sharaa) seized power in Syria. Shortly before that, half a world away, Donald Trump had won the U.S. presidential election, and all eyes turned to see what his foreign policy would look like. Nobody was watching more closely than Syria’s new authorities, who were well aware that...
Report No. 99 / 2025
Report No. 99 / 2025
The following report focuses on the Middle Eastern policies of extra-regional actors and their transformation in changing conditions. It concentrates on studying the strategies pursued by Russia, the U.S., the EU, China and India in the Middle East. The report also examines how Middle Eastern countries perceive extra-regional actors as they aspire to build pragmatic and balanced relationships with external partners.
Extra-Regional Actors in the Middle East...
... artificial intelligence (AI), which is massively changing not only our working world, but also our lives.
Our reality is determined by trade wars, tariff increases, new borders, the expansion of old border fortifications and numerous divisions in our society.
Globalization has reached its boiling point. Ever more, ever higher and ever further. When will enough finally be enough?
Jacques Ancel or the identity of the heart
One vision, an approach that is becoming more relevant today than ever before,...
The expansion in the Northern direction offered the nation a variety of unique opportunities, but it also created numerous challenges that other Europeans never confronted
Russia is a distinctly Nordic country. Its Arctic coastline stretches for twenty-four thousand kilometers, and almost two thirds of Russia’s territory is covered by permafrost. Among all Arctic states, Russia has by far the most numerous resident communities in the region in total exceeding two million people (approximately a...
... the most radical supporters have managed to destabilize the system. While some tightening of the existing order under wartime conditions was inevitable, the system has avoided sliding into a totalitarian model with excessive and demotivating control. Society, too, has shown resilience to extreme conditions. Initial confusion quickly gave way to adaptation. The high human cost of military actions and economic challenges, including inflation, have not led to any disintegrative processes. Society remains ...
The current challenge Pakistan faces is dangerous and surrounded by concerns and risks
On the day of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan, Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Chief, General Faiz Hameed, was seen sipping coffee at the Serena Hotel in Kabul. A news channel reporter captured this moment on video and asked, “Will you be meeting with the senior leaders of the Taliban?” The then-Director General (DG) of ISI replied: “No, I am not sure,” pointing to then-Pakistan Ambassador to...
