International Policies

This study examines how the so-called “Islamic State” (ISIS) shifted from the model of a centralized caliphate-previously directed from Iraq and Syria-to a decentralized structure built on relatively autonomous local franchises across Africa. This transformation followed the collapse of the organization’s central command in the Levant and the emergence of a highly unstable African environment marked by state fragility. Multiple…

On 24 November 2025, United States President Donald Trump issued an executive order that took a half-step that three decades of precedent suggested was based on inaccurate information and analysis.  The order claimed that it “sets in motion  a process by which certain chapters or other subdivisions of the Muslim Brotherhood shall be considered for designation as Foreign Terrorist Organizations.”…

The draft bill recently introduced in the U.S. Congress marks a pivotal moment in the trajectory of Israeli control over Jerusalem. For the first time, this trajectory shifts from the realm of on-the-ground policies and administrative measures to the level of binding U.S. legislation, effectively granting Israel an extraterritorial legal shield to consolidate its religious sovereignty over al-Aqsa Mosque. This…

As Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman arrives in Washington today, U.S. President Donald Trump is framing the visit within Washington’s broader push to persuade Saudi Arabia to engage in direct normalization with Israel and join the Abraham Accords. Trump has already laid out what he describes as a “grand bargain,” emphasizing the potential approval of advanced F-35 fighter jet…

The Politics and Society Institute held a specialized discussion session titled: “Jordan and India: Prospects for a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a Changing Regional Order,” with the participation of experts, diplomats, and researchers in international politics and regional affairs. The session was convened as part of an ongoing study conducted by the Institute, in cooperation with the Embassy of the…

The region is experiencing an exceptionally complex moment, as the repercussions of the Gaza war continue to reshape power configurations and patterns of interaction among regional and international actors. This remains the case even after the conflict has transitioned into a post-ceasefire phase marked by intensive deliberations over ‘the day after’ arrangements. Within this fluid landscape, Jordan’s recent diplomatic moves…

Today, major cities are undergoing a phase of redefining their political, economic, and cultural roles. They are no longer merely urban spaces for residence and work but have become centers of decision-making and influence on global issues such as climate change, migration, equality, and sustainable development. As the nation-state’s capacity to monopolize representative authority shrinks, the city rises as an…

The United States is no longer an alliance-based state foreign policy, but one that operates by virtue of a network of transient instruments employed in a bid to achieve its objectives, and jettisoned once obsolete. Washington, as expressed in the political and media discourse from certain corners, does not see its allies as “allies,” but as “means” to construct its…

The visit of Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa to Moscow and his meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on October 15, 2025, generated widespread discussion and debate about its underlying motives and political implications. The timing was particularly significant, coming at a critical geopolitical juncture for both Syria and the wider region. The visit coincided with an accelerating Arab and…

Recently, significant shifts occurred in international positions on the Palestinian question. Influential states such as the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Portugal recognized the State of Palestine in a political move that exerted additional pressure on Israel. On September 22, 2025, six new countries (France, Andorra, Belgium, Luxembourg, Malta, and Monaco)1 joined in recognizing Palestine. This brought the total number…