Iraq was enjoying newfound peace and prosperity. Then came the Iran war. After decades of conflict, Iraqis have enjoyed increased political stability and a promising future, even embracing a unified national identity. But attacks by Iran, the United States, and homegrown m...

Quoted in this story about the implications of the Iran War for the Kurdistan region, which has been under pressure from Iraq, Iran and the U.S.

www.csmonitor.com/World/Middle...

An Economic Pipeline Economy Issue #91

Bayram is here, and so is the week's economic news recap, with comments by @shivanfazil.bsky.social. Inside:

1. Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline reopens
2 .Economic war impacts
3. Scandal scanner: Halkbank
4. International cash flow monitor
5. This week’s stat round-up

Iran War Forces Kurdish Groups into the Spotlight Without a political groundwork, a Kurdish-led military strategy risks deepening Iran’s internal fractures rather than accelerating political change.

The Iran war has thrust Kurdish groups into the spotlight—but is military strategy enough? My latest for explores the complex goals and strategies of various groups and why treating them in isolation heightens intra-group fragmentation. manaramagazine.org/2026/03/kurd...

Why intra-Kurdish rivalries could stall Iraq’s new government With Sunni and Shia blocs in rough consensus over the parliament speaker and prime minister, Kurdish parties are yet to agree on their selection for president

Quoted in this article examining how intra-Kurdish rivalries could once again stall #Iraq's gov. formation – having already provided certain forces in #Baghdad with an opening to exert concerted efforts to shrink #Kurdish autonomy by squeezing Kurdistan Regional Gov. www.newarab.com/analysis/why...

Iraq’s High-Stakes Elections Amid Shifting Regional Dynamics - 1001 Iraqi Thoughts

Today is election day in #Iraq. The vote will test Iraq's fragile power-sharing system and capacity for a peaceful transfer of power. My take on what’s at stake for the country's future and the wider region reeling from turmoil #IraqElection 1001iraqithoughts.com/2025/11/05/i...

Iraq’s High-Stakes Elections Amid Shifting Regional Dynamics - 1001 Iraqi Thoughts

Iraq’s upcoming elections will test its fragile power-sharing system and capacity for a peaceful transfer of power. My take on what’s at stake for the country’s future and the wider region. #Iraq🇮🇶 #Elections #MiddleEast
1001iraqithoughts.com/2025/11/05/i...

Delighted to share that my friend Prof. @baharbaser.bsky.social & I contributed a chapter on the #YezidiGenocide to the Palgrave Handbook of #KurdishGenocides, edited by Dr
Kaziwa Salih — a powerful collection on the histories, legacies & lasting impact of genocides against #Kurds shorturl.at/Hkhhx

Last night I had the distinct pleasure of meeting Nadia Murad, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, human rights activist, and survivor of the #Yazidi #genocide. Nadia spoke about women, power and justice. Nadia’s steadfast advocacy is a testament to her perseverance and determination against all the odds.

The comic book is based on extensive fieldwork— interviews & focus groups and builds on insights from a co-edited book & an open-access article, transforming academic research into a powerful visual, published before:

📄 Article: www.ijcv.org/index.php/ij...
📚 Book: www.tplondon.com/product/yout...

Kurdistan | PositiveNegatives Our research explores the lived experiences, aspirations, and frustrations of Kurdish millennials—often referred to as “Generation 2000”—who have come of age under Kurdish self-rule in the Kurdistan R...

Excited to share a new comic book that brings to life the hopes and frustrations of #youth in #Kurdistan. Based on fieldwork by Professor Bahar Baser and myself, it uses storytelling and art to spotlight how young people navigate identity, agency & change.

Drop It Like It's Hot – Because It Is! Economy Issue #61

Get the latest Turkey economy news here, with comments by @shivanfazil.bsky.social on the Turkey-KRG pipeline.

1. MPC dishes out hefty rate cut
2. Highs and lows of economic forecasts
3. From termination to proposal of Iraqi oil deal
4. FDI: Cash flow monitor
5. This week’s stat round-up

Can Turkey Make Multicultural Authoritarianism Work? Erdogan’s negotiations with the PKK seek peace and possibly pluralism without democracy. Will they succeed?

Some thoughts here from me on Ankara's peace talks with Öcalan and the sociopolitical imagination&desires behind it:

foreignpolicy.com/2025/07/30/t...

"Halabja"(song) and "Address" (poem) YouTube video by Sara Thomsen

#Halabja is #Iraq’s 19th province! Iraqi parliament’s vote was a symbolic & long overdue recognition for the survivors and families who endured the horrific 1988 chemical attack, acknowledging the immense pain they have carried since.
⚠️ video contains graphic content
www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8Au...

How inclusive, bottom-up approaches can address the intersection of environmental degradation & conflict in the #MENA region? In this panel, I will explore participatory approaches to #climatechange adaptation in #Iraq

📅 March 27
⏰ 10:00 AM EDT I 4:00 PM Baghdad us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

How inclusive, bottom-up approaches can address the intersection of environmental degradation & conflict in the #MENA region? In this panel, I will explore participatory approaches to #climatechange adaptation in #Iraq

📅 March 27
⏰ 10:00 AM EDT I 4:00 PM Baghdad us02web.zoom.us/webinar/regi...

To help communities adapt to #climatechange, it's important to listen to what they think and involve them in finding solutions. In this dossier, I underline the need for a participatory and community-led approach for climate #adaptation in #Iraq #participation
www.bosch-stiftung.de/en/publicati...

Join me for the next #MaqhaConversation as I explore the role of culture in #peacebuilding, focusing on post-conflict reconstruction in #Iraq to draw lessons for other contexts #peace
📆 March 11
⏰ 9:00 AM EST I 4:00 PM Baghdad
ewanacenter.org/activities/m...

Culture and Peacebuilding: Lessons from Iraq and beyond The upcoming Maqha Conversation will look into the influence of culture on peacebuilding and vice versa

How can cultural #heritage be leveraged to build lasting #peace? Join me for the next #MaqhaConversation as I explore the role of culture in #peacebuilding, focusing on post-conflict reconstruction in #Iraq to draw lessons for other contexts
📆 March 11
⏰ 8:00 AM EST I 4:00 PM Baghdad

I’m excited to share my revamped personal website! I plan to be more active and present here on @bsky.app as well. shivanfazil.com