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This is Abu Aardvark's MENA Academy, a newsletter about Everything MENA Political Science and Politics.
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Sharaa shoots his shot
Crazy things happen in world politics all the time, yes, but there really aren't many scenes as surreal as Ahmed Sharaa – not so long ago a leading jihadist insurgent in Iraq and Syria and now Syria's president – triumphantly visiting the White House. But unlike a lot
Israel can't bomb its way to hegemony
My new article for Foreign Affairs (no paywall) argues that Israel's belief that its unchecked air campaign bombing Lebanon, Syria, Yemen and Iran with impunity can be the path to regional hegemony is a dangerous fantasy. Hegemony requires more than just military dominance – and even the military dominance
What were the Abraham Accords?
Plus a full roundup from the MENA Academy and a new publication on gender and sexuality in Africa It's time for our regular roundup of research and articles from the MENA Academy and it's a really rich crop! But first, I'm delighted to share
Echoes of Iraq in the Gaza ceasefire
It is difficult to share Trump’s optimism that the cease-fire has unlocked a broader transformation of the Middle East—or even that it will survive contact with reality on the ground in Gaza. I have a new article out in Foreign Policy (the first I've published there