Capturing the Islamic State’s Words: Manichaeism, Ideology, Propaganda
Capturing the Islamic State’s Words: Manichaeism, Ideology, Propaganda Speaker: Benraad, M. (University of Leiden) Date: 20 April 2018 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Dr. Myriam Benraad (University of Leiden) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. During this session, Dr. Benraad presented the main points of her research, […]
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US Retain Stability in Post-Kurdish Referendum Iraq
Question (R6.8): What is the role of the United States and coalition partners in maintaining stability as Iran, Iraq, Turkey, as other groups grapple with the Iraqi Kurdish independence referendum? Authors | Editors: Aviles, W. (NSI, Inc.) Overview Since the controversial September referendum for Iraqi Kurdish independence, the political stability of the Kurdistan Regional Government […]
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Challenges in Multilateral Work, Iraq 2009-2014: Lessons Learned
Challenges in Multilateral Work, Iraq 2009-2014: Lessons Learned Speaker: Allan, J. (independent) Date: 27 March 2018 Speaker Session Preview SMA hosted a speaker session presented by Mr. Jeffrey Allan (Independent) as a part of its SMA CENTCOM Speaker Series. Mr. Allan worked as a United Nations political affairs officer for the United Nations Assistance Mission […]
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Alleviating US-Iran Tensions
Question (R4.6): What are the competing national interests of the United States and Iran in the Middle East and what are the options for alleviating United States / Iranian tensions to mutual satisfaction and improved regional stability? Author | Editor: Astorino-Courtois, A. (NSI, Inc). Executive Summary The US and Iran have the same types of […]
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Promoting greater stability in post-ISIL Iraq, Volume 1
Promoting greater stability in post-ISIL Iraq, Volume 1: Analysis of the drivers of legitimacy, security, and social accord for key Iraqi stakeholders. Author | Editor: Bragg, B., & Polansky (Pagano), S. (NSI, Inc.) Executive Summary United States Central Command (CENTCOM) posed the following question to the Strategic Multi-layer Assessment (SMA) virtual reach back cell: What […]
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Promoting Greater Stability in Post-ISIL Iraq, Volume 2
Promoting greater stability in post-ISIL Iraq, Volume 2: Why do groups form and why does it matter for stability in Iraq? When the social becomes political. Author | Editor: Bragg, B., & Polansky (Pagano), S. (NSI, Inc.) Executive Summary United States Central Command (CENTCOM) posed the following question to the Strategic Multi-layer Assessment (SMA) virtual […]
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Prioritized Iranian Interests in the Middle East
Question (R6.9): How does Iran prioritize its influence and presence in the region? Author | Editor: Canna, S. (NSI, Inc). Executive Summary Hoping to answer the question of how Iran prioritizes its influence and presence in the Middle East, we asked fifteen experts to list—in rank order—Iran’s key interests, how it seeks to realize those […]
Continue ReadingPopulation’s Positive View of ISIL
To what extent do populations maintain positive views of ISIL or ISIL’s ideology, particularly in European, N. African, and Arabian Peninsula countries most associated with foreign fighter flows into Syria and Iraq? What are the general perceptions associated with ISIL endorsed themes, to include: 1) desire for re-establishing the Caliphate; 2) imposition of Shariah law; […]
Continue ReadingCounter Extremism in Sunni Communities
Question (V2): What are the key factors that would impact the wave of violent extremism and ideological radicalism that affect the Sunni community? Author | Editor: Canna, S. (NSI, Inc). Executive Summary The Sunni community is not homogenous, and contributors expressed their discomfort making broad generalizations for a number of reasons. Most Sunni Arabs still […]
Continue ReadingCounter-Messaging to Prevent Radicalization
Question (R6.4): Knowing that religion is only one (and not the most important) stimulus for disgruntled Islamic youth to join VEOs, what could/should be the domestic messaging to youth to prevent their “radicalization” and joining the VEOs? To what extent could a continued presence of Western military in the Middle East (even only as instructors/trainers) […]
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