Since I started researching and polling public opinion in Iraq in 2003, I cannot remember more interesting findings than the ones from the recent nationwide survey conducted a few weeks ago. In general - and as a rule since 2003 - hundreds of previous quantitative and qualitative studies have shown that sectarian divisions are the key determinants Iraqi public opinion. Kurds
Read More
The Kurdish Regional Government's decision to hold an independence referendum in September, despite Baghdad's opposition, is expected to stir tensions in the region and could cause a row, particularly with its northern neighbor, Turkey The announcement made by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) that the semi-autonomous region will hold an independence referendum on Sept
Read More
Its Arab communities and the Kurds need to decide on their political status US leadership of the international coalition against Isis has brought Iraq to the brink of defeating the terrorists who took control of a third of the country. Thanks to the efforts of the Iraqi security forces, the Peshmerga and Hashd al-Shaabi, Isis will soon be pushed out of Mosul. Iraqi Prime Min
Read More
Global oil markets remain volatile ahead of OPEC’s May 25 ministerial meeting on expectations that the producer group and its non-OPEC partners will extend production cuts until the end of 2017. The alliance agreed to reduce production by a collective 1.8 million barrels per day (mb/d) from January to June in a bid to rebalance oversupplied oil markets. Mounting concern
Read More
Introduction: With the focus of the international community confined to a great degree to Iran’s nuclear capability, a trend has emerged in the MENA region with more and more countries vying for nuclear technology albeit for peaceful purposes, primarily as a mean to produce electricity preserving its hydrocarbon industry, i.e., the oil gas sector and maximizing its retu
Read More