Analysis Report
The Middle East Analysis Report is a detailed analysis of a specific issue in the Middle East by a Middle East Research Institute researcher or an outside author.
- No.R22-12 2023/01/23
- Review of the Situation in the Middle East in 2022 and Future Prospects Overview: The political and economic effects of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine
- No.R21-11 2022/01/06
- A Retrospective of the Middle East Situation in 2021 In 2021, the Middle East had experienced various political upheavals and clashes, significantly impacting the region and beyond. The Middle East Institute of Japan has compiled the following overview to provide a general picture of the Middle Eastern region in 2021.
- No.R20-12 2021/01/13
- A Review of the Situation in the Middle East in 2020 Various conflicts and clashes occurred in the Middle East throughout 2020, and this had impacts inside and outside the region. The Middle East Institute of Japan has put together the following retrospective overview of the fundamental situation in the Middle East in 2020.
- No.R20-10 2020/10/20
- Developments in Iran-China Relations and Future Outlook While Iran is under severe economic sanctions from the United States, the growing closeness between Iran and China is attracting attention. For Iran, which is struggling with both sanctions and the spread of COVID-19 infections, a stronger relationship with China could be a godsend. Meanwhile, the Belt and Road Initiative advocated by China involves expansion into the Middle East, which is causing some concern in the international community. Research Fellow Kenta Aoki analyzes the current state of Iran?China relations, the challenges related to these relations, and the future outlook.
- No.R19-04 2019/08/23
- Iran’s Hardline Posture Regarding the Iran Nuclear Deal —The context and other aspects, with a focus on domestic factors– In May 2018, the US withdrew unilaterally from the Iran nuclear deal and imposed extremely severe economic sanctions on Iran under their “maximum pressure” policy. Conversely, in July 2019, Iran embarked on the partial suspension of the deal. From the recent movements on the Iranian side, it appears as if they will inevitably be isolated by the US, but the situation can be seen differently by thinking from the Iranian position. Researcher Aoki analyzes the problem and its context.
- No.R19-03 2019/07/25
- Saudi Vision 2030 As a Form of Ideological Control Currently, “Saudi Vision 2030” has attracted attention as a plan that exceeds the framework of economic reforms and aims to change the status of traditional Saudi society, such as by empowering women and expanding the entertainment industry. However, Vision 2030 has aspects of ideological control wherein the government exerts increasing pressure on dissidents. Researcher Takao analyzes the issues dealt in this movement and its context.
- No.R19-01 2019/04/10
- The Decline of the Islamic State Through the Perspective of Food The Islamic State, which transformed into a global safety and security threat from 2011, has recently lost much of its military, political, and social influence. Considering the attributes of the Islamic State, which possessed a large number of military personnel, massive amount of ammunition and equipment, and vast occupied territory, it is possible to analyze, evaluate, and predict the rise and fall of the Islamic State through observations of its logistical activities and the lifestyles of its frontline fighters. In this paper, Chief research fellow Takaoka provides an analysis based on the results of the study by the Middle East Institute of Japan Islamic Extremist Monitoring Team.
- No.R18-08 2019/01/30
- A Review of the State of Affairs in the Middle East in 2018 A variety of disputes and conflicts have continued in the Middle East in 2018, which have had a significant impact both within the region and outside of it. The Middle East Institute of Japan, looking back on the 2018 year, has surveyed the fundamental situation in the Middle East region and this is summarized below.
- No.R18-04 2018/09/20
- The Status of the JCPOA Regarding the US Withdrawal from the JCPOA and the Resumption of Sanctions Against Iran Various effects have occurred from the withdrawal of the US from the JCPOA and the resumption of sanctions against Iran. In particular, Iran is suffering from severe economic deterioration accompanying sanctions. In Japan, since many companies had planned to resume trade with Iran, there have been many expressions of despondency. Also, fears that Iran will withdraw from the JCPOA due to this situation have expanded, and Iran is becoming increasingly cornered internationally. Accordingly, Research Fellow Kondo considers the possibility of Iran’s withdrawal from the JCPOA given a summary and analysis of the important actions taken to this point.
- Special Report 2018/09/18
- a special lecture by Foreign Minister Taro Kono On September 18th, 2018 (Tues.), a special lecture by Foreign Minister Kono, hosted by the Yomiuri Shimbun Company and the Middle East Institute of Japan, took place at the Nippon Press Center.
- No.R18-03 2018/09/11
- The Decline of the Islamic State as Seen from Its Public Relations The Islamic State, which has been a global safety and security problem since 2011, has recently continued to lose military, political, and social influence. Considering the attributes of the Islamic State, which adopts terrorism as a form of political behavior, it is possible to analyze, evaluate, and predict the rise or fall of this group by observing its public activities. In this case, Chief Research Fellow Takaoka provides analysis based on the results of the activities of the Islamist Extremist Monitor Team of the Middle East Institute of Japan.
- No.R17-09 2017/12/27
- Repercussions of President Trump’s Recognition of Jerusalem as Israel’s Capital On December 6, U.S. President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel. Arab and Muslim nations, as well as the rest of the international community, were surprised by the announcement and are urging Trump to rescind his decision. There are concerns that the declaration by the U.S. could become a new source of instability in the Middle East. While the repercussions of President Trump’s decision will likely last through 2018, we have prepared a summary of the situation as of the end of December 2017.
- No.R17-06 2017/12/19
- Outlook for the 2018 Egyptian Presidential Election In Egypt, a presidential election is scheduled to be held around the middle of 2018. While three people have announced their candidacy, President Sisi has not made his intentions clear so far. Egyptian popular dissatisfaction with the government has grown due to recent price increases. If Sisi runs, however, his victory is predicted to be virtually certain. Please find below an analysis report prepared by Misa Kanaya, our research fellow, on reasons behind such a prediction and the risks inherent in the current administration’s approach to governance.
- No.R17-02 2017/06/30
- Syrian people’s view of the current situation The protracted fighting in Syria has resulted in a mass exodus of Syrian civilians, fleeing the country as migrants and refugees, and has led to a decline in the standard of living and a rise in poverty among the remaining population. Yet there are very few objective and academically reliable sources of information on how people are actually living their lives, and how they view the current situation. Recently, the results of a public opinion survey conducted through a Syrian research organization were published. The survey was part of “An Empirical Study of the Political System and Its Change in the Middle East by Means of Public Opinion Surveys,” a project funded through the Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research 2015–2018 (Basic Research Program (B) 15H03132) provided by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science. Please find below an analysis report on these results prepared by Yutaka Takaoka, our senior researcher.
