Month: March 2021
The Iraqi diaspora: roles and opportunities
This on the record discussion was based off a report published by the Atlantic Council last week entitled “Iraqi Diaspora Mobilization and the Future Development of Iraq.” The discussion focused on the mobilization of the Iraqi diaspora following the 2003 invasion and the demise of Saddam Hussein. The Iraqi diaspora remains strong, but remains what Oula Kadhum calls “a largely untapped resource.” Speakers were:
Ambassador Feisal Al-Istrabadi Founding Director, Center for the Study of the Middle East; Professor of the Practice of International Law and Diplomacy, Indiana University, Bloomington
Dr. Abbas Kadhim
Director, Iraq Initiative
Atlantic Council
Dr. Oula Kadhum
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
University of Birmingham
Dr. Marsin Alshamary (Moderator)
Postdoctoral Research Fellow
The Brookings Institute
Rebuilding Iraq: The Role of the Iraqi Diaspora:
Kadhum identifies two types of diaspora participation: top-down and bottom-up. The top down mobilization includes party politics and participation in civil society. A key reason the diaspora should be engaged in Iraqi social and political matters is the decades-long brain-drain.
Istrabadi notes ways that the Iraqi diaspora contributes to connectivity and potential opportunity for future growth and development in Iraq. Pre-2003, Iraq was isolated from the world and the diaspora remained largely disengaged. “Inpatriated” Iraqis, those who have never left the country, were disconnected from expatriated Iraqis. The largely expatriated political elite was more sectarian, creating division and resentment from the Iraqi population.
Kadhim also noted the dichotomy between those who are based in Iraq and those who have expatriated to the United States and Europe. Currently, there are no think-tanks operating in the country aside from the politically affiliated ones. By engaging with the development of independent think-tanks within Iraq, expatriates can contribute to the to the construction of a more engaged and intellectually strong inpatriated population.
A Generational Gap:
Kadhum noted that the diaspora that left pre-2003 face vastly different circumstances than the second generation diaspora. Those born abroad to Iraqi parents are also distinct. Different incentives need to be created and managed for the first generation and second generation. Creating a formal channel to engage the Iraqi diaspora from both the first and second generations could be a way to re-engage the diaspora into many sectors through training, knowledge transfers, and harnessing the skills the diaspora has to offer.
The security context has inhibited the re-integration of many Iraqis from the diaspora. The first generation is haunted by memories and experiences from a country riddled with war, sanctions, and distrust. The second generation, many of whom may have not experienced Iraq, feel disconnected as they don’t have experiences or memories of the country to engage within the country to the people on the ground.
The local needs of Iraqis, according to Kadhum, are apparent to the the expatriates, but there is a need for a social contract based on merit and technocracy, rather than the networks and patronage that generate fear of engaging the diaspora.
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Stevenson’s army, March 31
-Blinken broadens human rights categories.
-But keeps some of Trump’s Taiwan moves.
– Human rights report released. The text is here.
– NYT says the Taliban believe they’ve won.
– Top military quit in Brazil.
-Politico says CISA is in bad shape.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, March 30
– Politico says US has new proposal to Iran.
– US sanctions Myanmar; Russia cozies up.
– Long profile of SecState Blinken.
– CRS has report on Joint All-Domain Command & Control
And a summary of State/Foreign Ops programs.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Stevenson’s army, March 29
– Bob Gates says US needs a dual-hatted DHS/NSA deputy for domestic cyber.
– Kori Schake says Biden is wrong to sanction NordStream 2. But two GOP members of Congress criticize Biden for not being tougher on the issue. [FYI, Congress did pass a law requiring sanctions]
-The Hill says Biden is in no rush to change Cuba policy.
-Reminder: Nunn-Lugar is still working .
-The Hill says F-35 is in serious trouble.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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Peace Picks | March 29 – April 2, 2021
Peace Picks | March 29 – April 2, 2021
Notice: Due to public health concerns, upcoming events are only available via live stream.
- Ready for Reform? Upholding the Rule of Law in Ukraine | March 29, 2021 | 10:00 AM ET | Atlantic Council | Register Here
Ukraine’s Euro-Atlantic trajectory continues to face two immediate threats: vested interests and malign influence from the Kremlin. President Zelenskyy has recently taken important steps to fight back against these corrupt forces, shutting down Kremlin-backed Member of Parliament Viktor Medvedchuk’s pro-Russian TV channels and vowing to pursue criminal charges against other oligarchs, including Ihor Kolomoisky. Yet 2020 was a year of walking back from aspects of the post-Maidan anti-corruption program. Questions remain about Zelenskyy’s willingness to initiate broad-based reforms, which will require a coordinated, systemic approach to be successful in the long-term.
Is Zelenskyy ready to restart the reforms he began in 2019? How can Ukraine’s leading reformers work together to create a more just Ukraine?
Daniel Bilak,
Senior Counsel, Kinstellar
Sergii Ionushas,
Deputy Chair of the Verkhovna Rada’s Law Enforcement Committee
Oleksandr Novikov
Chair of the National Agency for the Prevention of Corruption
Anastasia Radina,
Chair of the Verkhovna Rada’s Anti-Corruption Committee,
Ruslan Ryaboshapka,
Former Prosecutor General of Ukraine, and
Artem Sytnyk,
Director of the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine
Melinda Haring (Moderator)
Deputy Director of the Eurasia Center
2. A Strategic Proxy Threat: Iran’s Transnational Network | March 29, 2021 | 12:00 PM ET | Middle East Institute | Register Here
Iran’s influence throughout the Middle East has grown dramatically in the past decade, in large part due to its expanding regional network of militias and their assertion of influence in unstable environments. Through the IRGC’s Quds Force and Iranian allies such as Lebanese Hezbollah, the Popular Mobilization Units (PMUs) in Iraq, and the Houthis in Yemen, Iran’s pursuit of regional hegemony through the removal of Western influence threatens stability.
What are the main challenges and threats posed by Iran’s regional network? How best should they be dealt with? Can diplomacy remove the incentive for Iranian proxy aggression? How must the United States and the wider international community respond to Iran’s direct and proxy involvement in conflicts across the Middle East?
Speakers:
Nadwa Al-Dawsari
Non Resident Scholar, Middle East Institute
Hanin Ghaddar
Friedmann Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Michael Knights
Jill and Jay Bernstein Fellow, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Charles Lister, (Moderator)
Senior Fellow and Director, Syria and Countering Terrorism and Extremism Programs, Middle East Institut
3. Nonviolent Action and Civil War Peace Processes | March 30, 2021 | 10:00 AM ET | United States Institute of Peace | Register Here
Civilians are often assumed to be victims or passive agents in civil war. However, civil society actors and nonviolent movements are far more active than is often acknowledged and they have used a vast array of nonviolent action tactics to foster peace — from forming local peace communities to organizing protests and strikes to demanding warring parties come to the negotiating table. Civil society actors have also participated in negotiation processes, either as negotiation delegations themselves or as observers, and have played active roles in the monitoring and implementation stages of peace processes as well. But what civilian nonviolent action strategies are effective in promoting peaceful conflict resolution in civil war?
Speakers:
Jacob Bul Bior
Cofounder and Media Coordinator, Anataban Arts Initiative
Luke Abbs
Researcher, BLG Data Research Centre, University of Essex
Esra Cuhadar
Senior Expert, Dialogue and Peace Processes, U.S. Institute of Peace
Marina Petrova
Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Università Bocconi
Waheed Zaheer
Journalist and Peacebuilding Trainer
Jonathan Pinckney, (Moderator)
Senior Researcher, Nonviolent Action, U.S. Institute of Peace
4. Equity, Violence and the Law: Policing Lessons for Europe and the United States | March 30, 2021 | 10:00 AM ET | Wilson Center| Register Here
The deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other individuals energized the Black Lives Matter movement and sparked calls for police reforms not only in the United States, but in Europe and around the world. With the trial of former police officer Derek Chauvin scheduled to begin on March 29, it is time to assess the impact of such efforts over the past year. While some U.S. states banned chokeholds or explored community-centered policing models, the use of deadly force by police in America is 10 to 20 times higher than in Europe. Still, policy brutality is very real for people of color in Europe.
How do U.S. and European approaches to safety and policing differ? What can we learn from each other? Who needs to be at the table to make sure police are adequately equipped to respond? Join us for a transatlantic discussion on police reforms, how to re-imagine public safety and assure policing equity for all citizens.
Speakers:
Artika R. Tyner
Professor and Director of the Center on Race, Leadership and Social Justice, University of St. Thomas
Kimmo Kimberg
Director of the Police University College, Finland
Ojeaku Nwabuzo
Senior Research Officer, European Network Against Racism
Teresa Eder (Moderator)
Program Associate, Global Europe Program
5. Sanctions and Tools of Economic Statecraft: Getting Allies’ Act Together | March 30, 2021 | 12:00 PM ET | German Marshall Fund| Register Here
The Biden administration has shown itself ready and willing to use sanctions as a tool of foreign policy, already having enacted a robust package of sanctions against Russia for its treatment of Alexei Navalny. The EU, for its part, recently passed a new human rights sanctions regime with which it hopes to better punish countries for human rights abuses. In this Transatlantic Tuesday, we will discuss how these developments are likely to impact U.S. and European sanctions policy going forward, as well as the prospects for allied coordination of sanctions. #TransatlanticTuesdays
Speakers:
Daniel Fried
Former US Ambassador to Poland, 1997-2000 and Weiser Family Distinguished Fellow, Atlantic Council
Markus Ziener
Professor of Journalism at the University of Applied Sciences Berlin (HMKW), Incoming Helmut Schmidt Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States & Zeit-Stiftung Ebelin und Gerd Bucerius
6. Yemen’s War: Current Developments and Regional Dynamics | March 30, 2021 | 1:00 PM ET | Chatham House| Register Here
In the last week of March 2015, Saudi Arabia announced that a coalition of twelve countries will begin Operation Decisive Storm in Yemen, a nation troubled by civil war and severe humanitarian crisis.
The Saudi-led intervention aimed at retaliating against the Shia Houthi rebels and restoring the exiled international government of Yemeni President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi. Six years later, regional and international dynamics have changed, and Yemen has become even more fragmented with Yemeni civilians paying the heaviest price as they find themselves in what the UN has called the worst humanitarian crisis in the world.
Within the Gulf, reconciliation between GCC countries is picking up after more than three years of diplomatic crisis between Qatar and a number of regional countries led by Saudi Arabia. In addition, the United Arab Emirates, Saudi’s main ally in the Yemen war, has withdrawn from the country.
In the United States, the new Biden administration has ended its military support for offensive operations by Saudi-led allies in Yemen including a freeze of arms sales.
In this webinar, organized by the Chatham House Middle East Programme, speakers will reflect on the last six years of war in Yemen and discuss prospects for peace.
• How has the conflict changed since 2015?
• What does the UAE military withdrawal from Yemen mean for the different parties involved?
• Is the UN framework for peace process still viable?
• How have the wider dynamics in the Gulf and the Middle East impacted the Yemen war, and vice versa?
• What is Iran’s end game in Yemen? And how has the regional order changed since 2015?
Speakers:
Farea Al-Muslimi, Chairman and Co-founder, Sanaa Center for Strategic Studies; Associate Fellow, MENA Programme, Chatham House
Mohammed Alyahya, Editor in Chief, Al Arabiya English
Sanam Vakil, Deputy Director and Senior Research Fellow, MENA Programme Chatham House
Moderator: Lina Khatib, Director, MENA Programme, Chatham House.
7. Analyzing Israel’s Fourth Election: Will there be a Fifth? | March 30, 2021 | 2:00 PM ET | Carnegie Endowment for International Peace| Register Here
On March 23, for the fourth time in a little over two years, Israelis went to the polls to choose their next government. All votes have yet to be counted, but results so far suggest continued stalemate and the possibility of a fifth election.
Please join us as Daniel C. Kurtzer, Natan Sachs, and Dahlia Scheindlin sit down with Aaron David Miller to analyze the results, unpack the coalition negotiations to follow, and interpret the implications for Israel, the Middle East, and relations with the United States.
Speakers:
Daniel C. Kurtzer
Professor of Middle East Studies, Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs
Natan Sachs
Director, Brookings Institution Center for Middle East Policy
Dahlia Scheindlin
Strategic Consultant and Researcher; Fellow, Century
Aaron David Miller (Moderator)
Senior Fellow, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
8. Women of the Revolution: A Vision for Post-War Yemen | March 31, 2021 | 10:00 AM ET | Wilson Center| Register Here
This event features some of the brightest female stars in Yemeni diasporic society. These women participated in Yemen’s revolution and have since risen to prominence in advocacy organizations, academia, and journalism. Each has been a vocal advocate for change in Yemen and has been on the forefront of considering possibilities for the country’s political future that go beyond the short-term solutions to the current conflict. They will provide a vision of post-war Yemen – how will the country be reconstituted, and what will its future look like? What can be done economically and socially to create a more stable and prosperous country?
Rather than seeing through the eyes of foreign pundits or Yemeni men commenting on events at home from abroad, this panel will offer the perspectives of Yemen’s women who are the defenders and peacemakers of their homeland.
Speakers:
Afrah Nasser
Researcher, Human Rights Watch
Summer Nasser
CEO, Yemen Aid
Maha Awadh
Found and Director, Wogood Foundation for Human Security
Asher Orkaby
Fellow, Research Scholar, Transregional Institute, Princeton University
Merissa Khurma,
Program Director, Middle East Program, Wilson Center
Amat Alsoswa (Moderator)
Founder, Yemeni National Women’s Committee
9. Who’s Voices Count on Afghanistan? The Politics of Knowledge Production | April 1, 2021 | 9:00 AM ET | Atlantic Council | Register Here
Over the last two decades, Afghanistan has rebuilt its academic and expert capability, with an increasingly vibrant research and academic community who are at the frontlines of the challenges and opportunities the country is grappling with. Yet these voices and their ideas are often sidelined, dismissed, and rarely at the center of debates on Afghanistan. The political nature of knowledge production and how it shapes narratives, understandings, processes, and outcomes is becoming increasingly apparent in the Afghan context.
The soft power of experts working in and on these conflict spaces is considerable. Experts can shape policies and practices, structure whose ideas and voices are suppressed or promoted, and can even disrupt or determine resource flows for elites, civil society, and communities. This makes it imperative that we recognize how research and policy analysis involves making ethical and political choices about whose knowledge counts and whose voices are heard.
Speakers:
Orzala Nemat
Director
Political Ethnographer and Veteran Researcher on Afghanistan
Afghanistan Research and Evaluation Unit
Bashir Safi
Former Senior Adviser
CT, CVE, and Propaganda in Conflict Zone
Afghan National Security Council
Mariam Safi
Co-Director
Women, Peace, and Security, and Peace Processes
The Afghanistan Mechanism for Inclusive Peace
Obaid Ali
Co-Director
Political Analyst and Veteran Researcher on Afghanistan
Afghanistan Analysts Network
Sahar Halaimzai (Introductory Remarks)
Non-resident senior fellow
Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center
Mustka Dastageer (Moderator)
Lecturer
Anti-Corruption Expert
American University of Afghanistan
10. Improving Civilian Protection in Conflict | April 1, 2021 | 1:00 PM ET | Center for Strategic and International Studies | Register Here
The United States has been involved in armed conflict continuously for the past two decades. While the U.S. military has invested time and effort in processes and technologies for avoiding collateral damage on the battlefield, the larger challenge of protecting civilians during operations has proved to be a recurring challenge. Despite substantial efforts in multiple campaigns, the protection of civilians remains an area for improvement, including in efforts to reduce civilian casualties, measuring the impact to civilians in military operations, and in providing compensation for such injuries.
Please join the CSIS Humanitarian Agenda for a discussion with Sarah Holewinski, Washington Director of Human Rights Watch, and Larry Lewis, Vice President and Director of the Center for Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence at the Center for Naval Analyses. The panel will explore the history of civilian protection in U.S. military operations, the nature of and reasons for recurring challenges, and steps the Biden administration can take to improve policy and practice on this crucial humanitarian mandate.
Speakers:
Sarah Holewinski
Washington Director, Human Rights Watch
Larry Lewis
Director, Center for Autonomous and Artificial Intelligence, CNA
Jacob Kurtzer
Director and Senior Fellow, Humanitarian Agenda
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Stevenson’s army, March 28
– Peter Scoblic tells which government agencies are best at imagining the future.
– USTR tells WSJ that US isn’t ready to lift Chinese tariffs.
– Foreign Service careers rebound: 40% increase in interest in test since October.
-Politico says Biden people wary of naming cyber czar.
– NYT has backgrounder on Commerce bureau that monitors China tech issues.
My SAIS colleague Charlie Stevenson distributes this almost daily news digest of foreign/defense/national security policy to “Stevenson’s army” via Googlegroups. I plan to republish here. To get Stevenson’s army by email, send a blank email (no subject or text in the body) to stevensons-army+subscribe@googlegroups.com. You’ll get an email confirming your join request. Click “Join This Group” and follow the instructions to join. Once you have joined, you can adjust your email delivery preferences (if you want every email or a digest of the emails).
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