Posts

Showing posts with the label Development

From the shadows to supreme power: why Iran chose Ahmad Vahidi to lead its confrontation with the United States

Image
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Who Is Ahmad Vahidi? The Secretive IRGC Commander now shaping Iran's confrontation with the United States From the founding of the Quds Force to commanding the Revolutionary Guards, Ahmad Vahidi's rise signals a new era in Iran's military-led decision-making. As Tehran braces for a prolonged confrontation with Washington, one of Iran's most secretive and hardline military figures has emerged at the center of power—signaling a dramatic shift in how the Islamic Republic intends to wage its geopolitical struggle. Who is Ahmad Vahidi? Explore the rise of Iran's IRGC commander and how his growing influence could reshape Tehran's strategy toward the United States and the Middle East. For decades, Ahmad Vahidi remained largely behind the scenes, shaping Iran's military doctrine and regional strategy away from the public spotlight. Today, however, he stands at the heart of Iran's national security apparatus, overs...
Post a Comment
Read more

Education in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq: Building Knowledge, Innovation, and the Future

Image
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis   The Kurdistan Region has transformed its education system through major investments in schools, universities, research, and international partnerships, making education one of the foundations of its economic and social development. Introduction Education has long occupied a central place in the history, culture, and development of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Throughout centuries, knowledge, scholarship, literature, and learning have shaped Kurdish society, producing generations of poets, philosophers, scientists, political leaders, and intellectuals whose influence extended far beyond the mountains of Kurdistan. Today, education remains one of the Kurdistan Region's highest priorities and is widely regarded as one of the principal drivers of economic development, social progress, democratic governance, and international engagement. Since the establishment of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) in 1991, the education sector...
Post a Comment
Read more

Can the KRG build the Middle East's next investment powerhouse?

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The Kurdistan Regional Government says investment has surpassed USD 25.3 billion across 856 strategic projects, marking one of the largest economic transformation programmes in the Region's history. Spanning housing, tourism , manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, education and banking, the investment drive reflects a long-term strategy to reduce dependence on oil and position Kurdistan as an emerging commercial hub linking the Middle East, Türkiye and Central Asia. Investment in the Kurdistan Region has surpassed USD 25.3 billion across 856 projects, highlighting the KRG's strategy to diversify the economy, expand private investment, and reduce dependence on oil. A Quarter-Trillion Dinar Transformation For much of the past two decades, the Kurdistan Region's economy has been viewed through the prism of oil exports and fiscal disputes with Baghdad. Today, however, a different story is beginning to emerge. According ...
Post a Comment
Read more

From oil to tourism: Kurdistan's $7.68 Billion bet on becoming the Middle East's next tourism powerhouse

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis Tourism has emerged as one of the Kurdistan Region's fastest-growing economic sectors, attracting $7.68 billion in investment over the past seven years and signalling a strategic shift toward economic diversification beyond oil. As more than 80 major tourism projects reshape the Region, Erbil is positioning itself as a leading destination for investment, employment, and regional tourism. The Kurdistan Region has attracted $7.68 billion in tourism investment over seven years, strengthening economic diversification, creating jobs, and positioning itself as a leading regional tourism destination. Kurdistan's New Economic Success Story For years, discussions about the Kurdistan Region's economy have been dominated by oil. Today, however, another sector is rapidly transforming the Region's economic landscape. According to the Kurdistan Region Investment Board , tourism has attracted $7.68 billion in investment over the...
Post a Comment
Read more

Popular posts from this blog

Lindsey Graham Passing Reshapes Republican Foreign Policy—and Raises Questions for the Kurds

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis The sudden death of one of Washington's most influential Republican hawks removes a powerful congressional advocate for Ukraine, Israel, a hardline Iran policy, and Kurdish aspirations in the Middle East. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurds, Ukraine, Israel, and a tougher US policy toward Iran. Lindsey Graham's Sudden Death Leaves a Strategic Void in Washington WASHINGTON — Senator Lindsey Graham , one of the Republican Party's most influential foreign policy voices and one of President Donald Trump's closest congressional allies, has died at the age of 71 following a sudden illness, according to a statement released by his office. His unexpected death comes at a particularly volatile moment in American and Middle Eastern politics. Graham had recently traveled to Ukraine, remained deeply involved in congressional debates over Iran and Israel, and was p...
Read more

Lindsey Graham's Death Leaves a Void in US-Kurdish Relations

Image
  By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj | Kurdish Policy Analysis     The passing of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of the most influential American advocates for the Kurdish people, raising questions about the future of bipartisan support for Kurdistan amid shifting US foreign policy priorities. The death of Senator Lindsey Graham removes one of Washington's strongest advocates for the Kurdish people, creating uncertainty for future US-Kurdish relations. The Loss of a Longstanding Friend of Kurdistan The sudden death of U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham has prompted an outpouring of tributes not only across Washington but throughout the Kurdistan Region, reflecting the rare position he occupied as one of the most consistent and influential American advocates for Kurdish interests. The Washington Kurdish Institute described Graham as a steadfast supporter whose commitment to the Kurdish people extended beyond political rhetoric, offering condolences to his family while highlighting...
Read more

Can the stateless Nation of Kurdistan help save the Global Order?

Image
By Dr. Pshtiwan Faraj A new geopolitical analysis argues that Kurdistan's experience of survival, mediation, and pragmatic diplomacy offers unexpected lessons as the international order faces its deepest crisis since World War II. A new geopolitical analysis argues Kurdistan's experience offers vital lessons for rebuilding international order amid the Iran war and global instability. As the World Fragments, Kurdistan Offers an Unexpected Lesson The international system is under unprecedented strain.  Russia's war in Ukraine, escalating tensions between Iran and the West, the paralysis of the United Nations, and growing competition among major powers have raised a fundamental question: Who still defines the rules of international order? According to a new geopolitical analysis by Greg Mills and Basil Gavalas , the answer may not come from Washington, Moscow, Beijing, or Brussels—but from an unlikely place: Iraq's Kurdistan Region . While lacking international r...
Read more