Society

Actions of fans at the World Cup have brought world attention to the issue of Palestine, a result both of activism in Qatar in the run-up to the tournament and a lack of popular enthusiasm in the region to normalizing relations with Israel.

For many of Qatar’s neighbors, the World Cup has been an economic boon, potentially paving the way for future cooperation.

On December 7, AGSIW hosted a conversation with Kim Ghattas, host of the new podcast "People Like Us."

New laws and policies allowing longer residency and more possibilities for upward mobility for intergenerational migrants and long-term residents could help Gulf governments address key labor market and productivity challenges.

Easing away from its embrace of controversial regional political positions, Qatar refreshes its regional and international branding with soft power tourism, sports, and labor reforms.

Pope Francis’ visit to Bahrain showcases the kingdom’s decadeslong effort to champion religious tolerance and interfaith dialogue while also providing critics with a high-profile occasion to question the sincerity of these government efforts and raise human rights concerns.

Lama Al-Oraiman, a winner of this year’s Emerging Space Leaders award, pushes for more space education in Kuwait, the development of a local space strategy, and the increased participation of women in the field.

Recent Iranian military developments are a signal of the regime’s growing perception of vulnerability amid domestic unrest; its suppression strategy benefits from a military operation outside Iran’s borders that it can use to overstate separatist threats.