SPI -

Hasan Ismaik

SPI Chairman

Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the International Strategic Institute for Studies and Research

Writings by

Arab policy

My Third Message to Our Arab Shia Brothers: A Call to Reason and Reality

I renew the call to our Arab Shia brethren: Let your belonging rise above all else and let your loyalty be to your Arab nation—away from involvement in any partisan or external orientation. Face the present challenges with a spirit of responsibility and courage despite the successive losses that have drained and weighed heavily upon you. Reassess your path with honesty and distance yourselves from false loyalties that have brought nothing to you and your homeland but blood, destruction, and calamities.

Opinion and Thought

So That All Is a “Majority” in Syria

The issue of “minorities” remains a prominent concern in Arab politics. It is a central part of discussions surrounding democracy and human rights in the Arab world, as well as the construction of a unified national identity and the civil state based upon it. Moreover, the topic of minorities is not new to Arab politics or political literature, but it vanishes and reappears depending on the different historical and political contexts that have shaped our region since the advent of modern political thought and action.

Ba’ath Regime in Syria Has Fallen. So When Do the Sanctions Fall?

The economic sanctions imposed by many countries on Syria—which are still in place—have led to restrictions on foreign trade, the freezing of Syrian assets abroad, and the prevention of necessary investments and aid for the country’s reconstruction. Therefore, lifting the sanctions on Syria remains the most crucial step in rebuilding the devastated Syrian economy, which will, in turn, serve as a foundation for establishing civil peace and coexistence, both of which will be undermined if the sanctions continue.

New Syria: A Moment with History is Here

Syrians realize the magnitude of the tremendous challenges they face and understand the dangers that threaten them. This is because the effects of a long period of tyranny cannot disappear overnight. Moreover, building nations cannot succeed through mere wishes and good intentions alone; it requires careful and well-thought-out planning, as well as extending a hand to everyone to ensure the unification of efforts and maximizing their outcomes.

Arab policy

A Call to Arab Countries: Support Our Shia Brothers’ Return to Their Arab Identity!

This article urges Arab countries to take the initiative in Lebanese affairs and work towards ending the war, protecting Lebanese civilians, and preventing Iran from using the Lebanese Shiite community as a pawn in its conflicts under the guise of historical grievances. To achieve this, Arab countries must intensify their moral, scientific, political, and economic support for the Lebanese people, especially the Shiite community, whose members are suffering the most due to the ongoing war.

Deception and Illusion: Is there a difference between political Islam and economic Islam?

An opinion article dealing with the topic of Islamic banks, their financial systems, and the difference between them and conventional banks.

Arab policy

Emirates and Syria: A Relationship that May Redraw the Future of the Region

Syria represents the region’s past strengths and the UAE its present influence; by working together they can secure the region’s future.

Transformations in the International Order

Biden's visit: Who will lose and who will gain?

In general, the points of agreement between Washington and Riyadh transcend the contentious issues between the two countries.

Opinion and Thought

Biden's upcoming SA visit: What will be discussed? - comment

Needless to say, the kingdom must prepare all regional issues, as the matter is not limited to energy and combating terrorism, the traditional areas of US-Saudi cooperation.

Opinion and Thought

The world is at stake... Wise people of the world come together!

Today, the increasing reliance on “logic of power”, which has led to widespread conflicts and wars, threatens the outbreak of a global war that could lead the world into an unknown future. This calls the wise and the advocates of humanity to raise their voices demanding a solution to disputes and the "power of logic" to prevail.

Opinion and Thought

Speaking Truth to Power..

Opinion and Thought

Why does Israel insist on remaining isolated from its surroundings? - opinion

If Israel is unable to enter into peace negotiations, it nevertheless remains responsible for the bloodshed, demolitions of homes and storming of religious sites.

Opinion and Thought

US must solve challenges in east — But solve own problems first - opinion

Amid growing concern about inflation, its national debt is more than $30 trillion. Its infrastructure is crumbling. White supremacist, anti-government and other violent right-wing groups are growing.

Opinion and Thought

Arabs and the new world crisis; "disappointments" and "opportunities"

The discussion is renewed regarding the repercussions of any international crisis on the Arab region, politically, economically and in terms of security. This has recently emerged in the context of the Ukrainian crisis, from the perspective of the economy and food security.

Opinion and Thought

Invasion by Drugs: The Ethics and Values of Enmity!

Iran wants to destroy our youth by drugs, not for money, but to occupy us.

Opinion and Thought

The Saudi plan to contain Hezbollah, free it from Iranian influence – opinion

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Hassan Nasrallah share a far more important trait: They both want a strong and healthy Lebanon, free from war and outside influences.

Opinion and Thought

Computerization of Man: Education in the Arab States

The author presents his vision on the development of educational policies, through investing in educational systems and applications, that are concerned with quality rather than the quantity, due to the “significance of the quality” element in the equation of building the educated individual, and the developed country capable of solving problems and creating and developing possibilities, away from focusing on indoctrination of ideas and information, without being able to process them, or benefit from their suitability with our reality.

Opinion and Thought

Indeed, it is the "Absolute Power" of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia!

In his interview with The Atlantic, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman discussed several important issues, including the reforms in Saudi Arabia at various levels, the Saudi economy and its local identity, and Saudi Arabia's international relations with countries regionally and globally. In order to give the Crown Prince's interview, the care and attention it deserves, this paper provides a reading of his ideas, clarifications, and strategies.

Opinion and Thought

Syria in the Shadow of the War in Ukraine: Caught Between Rock of Victory and Hard Place of Defeat

Putin did it, he invaded Ukraine. His military operation continues there, with all force and determination, indifferent to all the "cold and slow" threats emanating from the West if compared to the heat and escalation of events.

Opinion and Thought

How NATO Sparked World War III?

The author presents a forward-looking vision, that starts from NATO's excess expansion eastward, up to such expansion's implications represented in the Russian-Ukrainian war. Concluding this war's outcome will lead to the emergence of a new Sino-Russian world order, that brings the America's unipolar hegemony to an end, and reshapes Europe's security structure.

Opinion and Thought

From Ukraine, Putin begins his battle against NATO... and the bipolar world has hit the wall

The Russian military operations in Ukraine reflect a shift in the Russian position towards NATO expansion and relations with Western powers, an event that may have reverberations for the post-war world order.

Opinion and Thought

The Kremlin is making all the preparations for war. Will it really break out?

Putin is contemplating his future legacy. He believes that he can still restore Russia as a global superpower with its strategic depth, and that is why he does not seem willing to allow Ukraine or Kazakhstan to move away from the Russian orbit.

Opinion and Thought

How did Jordan celebrate the King’s birthday?

On his sixtieth birthday, His Majesty King Abdullah II preferred not to limit his royal message on this occasion to accepting congratulations and blessings; it rather included a comprehensive political and social speech addressing Jordanians and calling for change. What is the change meant by this royal message? And how can this goal be achieved?

Opinion and Thought

Why Oman didn’t join the Abraham Accords - opinion

Oman’s reluctance to sign the Abraham Accords or a similar agreement stems from its commitment to the “Omani approach” of neutrality and noninterference in dealing with the regional conflicts.

Opinion and Thought

ISLAMOPHOBIA, AND MUSLIMS TURNING INTO THEIR OWN WORST ENEMY!

In the aftermath of 9/11 and subsequent media campaigns linking terrorism to Islam, the gap between Western culture and Islamic culture widened, leading to the phenomenon of Islamophobia, which has deepened to such an extent that it is no longer possible to ignore the necessity of integrating Islam and Western values, cooperating among major religious authorities, and establishing civilized dialogue between faiths and cultures, in order to normalize human relations between East and West.

Opinion and Thought

Peaceful coexistence ensures mutual survival and prosperity - opinion

Away from today’s geopolitical framework, Arabs and Jews get along very well.

Opinion and Thought

US, UK, Israel should help form an Arab NATO - opinion

The US and UK helped Islamic militias flourish in the MENA region; they can help defeat them now.

Opinion and Thought

The Trilogy of Political Islam: Sanctification, Politicization, and Failure

“Islam is the solution”, is the slogan of the so-called Islamists, political Islam groups, or Islamic fundamentalists. Despite the different names, they all share the same narrow view of Islam, and the Islamization of everything. Islamists rely on polarization, mobilization, and authoritarianism between political action and the religiously sacred. However, Islamic societies have taken a broader perspective, deeming them to be a threat to stability and the opposite of prosperity.

Opinion and Thought

Digitization of Humans or Humanization of Machine?

Between human creativity and innovation, and the speed and accuracy of machine, Hassan Ismaik tries to dispel human concerns about the development of machines that compete with man on equal terms in the economic, human, and production spheres. He also presents his vision of a complementary relationship between the innovative human and the assisting machine.

Opinion and Thought

From Jordan Begins the End of Syria's Isolation

There has been no clear international or regional attempt to deal with the Syrian crisis. Therefore a new strategy based on self-interest became necessary to bring everyone down back to reality and to break the ice that has been building up on the road to Damascus for ten years. And no other country in the region has the capabilities, qualifications, and advantages needed to take up this thorny task as Jordan does.

Opinion and Thought

Afghanistan Is Falling Apart

The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan is set to be completed by September 11, 2021. Yet the dramatically escalating trajectories, along with the Taliban’s sudden and easy entry into the capital after the collapse of the Afghan army and the escape of President Ashraf Ghani, are indications that the Islamic Emirate might be established before that date and that the U.S. military presence was brought to an end overnight.

Opinion and Thought

Kais Saied Is Not a Dictator

Tunisia’s controversial president is seeking to preserve the legacy of the Arab Spring by stamping out corruption and promoting decentralized democracy.

Opinion and Thought

Will London Side with Tunisians and Abandon Political Islam?

After the failure of its political Islam-based project, the UK’s position on the events in Tunisia will determine the future positions of the West in general, particularly the United States which seems to have learned from the lessons of the Egyptian case by not considering what is happening in Tunisia as a coup, according to a White House statement.

Opinion and Thought

Arab Nationalism When the solution turns into a new problem

How did the Arab nationalist movement take shape? And did the nationalist parties succeed in achieving the slogans calling for Arab nationalism?

Opinion and Thought

Levant: All Eyes on East

in any upcoming Cold War, or any form of competition for mapping influence in the Middle East and the world, the American and European West will continue to have a preferential position among the Arab peoples in general, but this position is exposed to strong “Eastern” competition, and it needs a great deal of work and effort to consolidate and strengthening it.

Opinion and Thought

US-Arab Relations... "From George Washington to Mohammed ben Abdallah: Greetings"

The Moroccan-American Treaty of Peace and Friendship signed in 1778 is the oldest US treaty of its kind still in force, and the longest unbroken relationship in American history. Nearly two and a half centuries later, what does the US-Arab relations look like?

Opinion and Thought

What if Peace Brought Since Oslo?

‘What if peace had really been brought since the Oslo Accords?’ It is the question that reflects the hope in a peace between Palestinians and Israelis— a peace which, if it came true, would have closed the door on the significant losses of life and economy and opened another to great opportunities. The following article is a call for saving time and seeking safe and well-off life for future generations.

Opinion and Thought

What is Behind Arab Ideologies' Decline?

Abandoning ideology or at least its intolerant aspects is an urgent necessity, because of the damage it has caused in the structure of our societies. Therefore, ideology should assume a historical responsibility to transcend backdated thought that has on no occasion been in the interest of people.

Opinion and Thought

U.S. Sanctions Are Killing Innocent Syrians

Is the US Caesar Act, intended to protect civilians in Syria, achieving its intended goal? Or is it having the opposite effect, harming Syrians? And should the new US administration lift the economic sanctions included in this law?

Opinion and Thought

The Need for Arab Think Tanks

In a region suffering from “knowledge crisis” like ours, focusing attention on think tanks is an urgent necessity. The following article highlights the importance of such institutions, especially with regard to the production of new "political knowledge" based on evidence-supported facts, as well as their contribution to providing solutions to decisionmakers.

Opinion and Thought

US--Syria Relationship: When will it be straightened out?

The election of a new US president raises hundreds of questions about his foreign policies on some issues, most notably the Syrian crisis. This article reviews the history of US-Syrian relations, the tensions between them, and the way in which the two countries deal with each other.

Opinion and Thought

The ideology of political Islam between the succession of the Sultan and the Guardianship of the Islamic Jurist

How is the ideology of political Islam being used today? How does the political use of Islam threaten the region and the region? ‎

Opinion and Thought

Biden And The Challenge Of Iraq

The Biden administration is now at stake regarding the Iraqi file, as it has to deal with a legacy of years of inaction and inconsistent blurry strategies that have left Iraq up for grabs in the face of sectarian divisions, extremism and regional, particularly Iranian, ambitions. How should the new administration deal with the Iraqi file?

Opinion and Thought

Francis Fukuyama: Political Order and the Dilemma of Decay as an Alternative to Liberal Democracy

Today, the world is changing, and it is no longer in the Arabs interest, to stand by idly.

Opinion and Thought

A Businessman's Reflections On Culture

Edward Said succinctly diagnosed the situation of the Arabs by noting, “The problem of the Arabs is that they do not participate in the making of civilization, but only watch it.” Is it not time for Arab intellectuals to give up their role as spectators and assume responsibility regardless of the obstacles?

Opinion and Thought

Boredom Opens the Door to Isolation and, Depression–and Terrorism

In this article, we review the reasons why youth in general and Arab youth in particular join extremist groups and embrace terrorism, along with the role that Arab governments can play to curb this phenomenon.

Opinion and Thought

The West and the Syrian-Iranian alliance: a card that should be played

I believe it is necessary to emphasize that dealing with Syria should be different to dealing with Iran. Syria does not have an expansionist project in the region, and should not be punished for opposing Israel which still occupies Syrian territories and Damascus has not yet found any just proposals to motivate it to choose peace.

Opinion and Thought

Gifts and Inheritance: The Middle East from Trump to Biden

Biden's success in the Middle East depends on building on what has been achieved, namely by accepting the "gifts" of the previous administration in Iran and in the peace process, while breaking the deadlocks of its "inheritances" in places such as Turkey and Syria.

Opinion and Thought

Saudi Arabia’s G20 leadership reflects the Kingdom’s move into a new era

As this turbulent year ends, and the Kingdom leads the G20, we should all rally around Saudi Arabia with support and solidarity; Saudi Arabia’s progress through the successful realization of its reform program is the key to progress in the Middle East and beyond.

Opinion and Thought

Pandora’s Box ... Radicalization and counter-radicalization in France

Radicalization and counter-radicalization in France

Opinion and Thought

The Donkey & Elephant Race

Since it is not just a presidential election, but an inauguration of the “most powerful leader” in the world who will be on the throne of the largest economy and military capabilities, the latest and most accurate technology, and the most political power in the world, the US presidential election occurrence had become a global media event that people closely follow it from the primaries until after polling day, despite the rare coverage of the US foreign policy during its campaigns.

Opinion and Thought

Is War Really Coming?

The specter of the Great War was never far from modern political history; does that mean that war between the U.S. and China is evitable? If there is a war coming, what kind of war will it be? what mechanisms and tools will be used? In case a direct war is not coming, what are the key factors that reduce the possibility of its outbreak?

Opinion and Thought

In Defense of Islamic Religious Reform

In light of the numerous calls we are witnessing that request the renewal of the Religious Discourse, and in light of the tremendous progress of modern communication means, which we all live in general and young people in particular; there is an urgent need for a new presentation - in a contemporary and up-to-date manner - of religious and moral beliefs and concepts in order to move towards change and creativity. What are the characteristics of the approach that must be formulated for reform which is appropriate for our time, especially after the spread of hardline rhetoric by some terrorist organizations? Why is such a reform an urgent necessity?

Environment and Climate

Coronavirus and the Renewed Geostrategic Competition: Will the Pandemic Spark a Nuclear War?

Many analyses and outlook insights have predicted an inevitable war between the United States and China, due to the threat posed by China to the geostrategic weight of U.S. influence, therefore, is making a decision to launch a nuclear war a rational act? and Is the central mind in Washington serious about neutralizing the Chinese economic threat before it turns into a military threat? What are the Chinese strengths that the U.S. sees as a direct threat? Are these strengths important indications of worsening Chinese-U.S. tension, which may be a catalyst for some U.S. entities to develop the novel Coronavirus as part of its hybrid war against China? Did the "Corona" crisis intensify U.S. contradictions and exacerbate the differences between Western countries?

Opinion and Thought

Will China Pay Trillions of Dollars for its Coronavirus Mistakes?

In light of the current Coronavirus crisis which countries are still suffering from its repercussions, the list of countries demanding China to pay for its Coronavirus mistakes is getting longer; claiming that China is responsible for the outbreak of the virus, presented disingenuous preventive means, or reported misleading numbers of its human losses. Will China prevail in the world - as some predict - in the post-Corona phase? Or will it lose its place as a superpower after this crisis?

Opinion and Thought

Will the Collapse of U.S. Oil Collapse Lead to Trump's Downfall?

The world is witnessing a weak demand in the energy market given economic and productive activities' stoppage due to the Coronavirus pandemic, so what is the reason for this historic WTI decline? Will the collapse of U.S. crude cause Trump's downfall? In light of the chaos of expectations for oil prices in the near future, will the demand for oil remain weak if the Coronavirus crisis does not end?

Opinion and Thought

Coronavirus Becoming a Political Behemoth

What is being written about the novel Coronavirus and its future implications is but mere analyses and theories, however, the truth will be disclosed in the coming months or even years. Therefore, whether this virus is real or manufactured, this article highlights the extent to which it has spread terror all over the globe, and how great politicians have contributed to turning this epidemic crisis into a dangerous political game, threatening the entire world.

Opinion and Thought

The Impact of Quarantine on Youth Lives

The quarantine we experience in light of the ‘COVID-19’ crisis has forced people in most parts of the world to live an unexpected life. Nevertheless, all age groups, youth in particular, are living an unprecedented forcible seclusion. Therefore, how can people, namely youth, benefit from such opportunity? How can they be glass-half-full, not glass-half-empty people?

Opinion and Thought

The Iraqi Personality Between Today and Yesterday

This article by the Chairman of STRATEGIECS Board of Trustees, Mr. Hasan Ismaik, presents a review of “The Personality of the Iraqi Individual” by Ali Al-Wardi; this book attempts to identify characteristics distinguishing Iraqis from others while addressing the characteristics that distinguish the human character in general.

Opinion and Thought

Youth's Queries & Us

Many thoughts and questions arise in the minds of young people, especially when it comes to belief, existence and ideologies, so how can we answer these questions? Do we treat it as a problem or do we view it as the beginning of a new future that welcomes a rational and religious faith embraced by youth?

Opinion and Thought

Artificial Intelligence: Serving Humans or Surpassing them?

With the recent global rapid acceleration in technological advancements, technology, in its trans-geographical sense, has become an essential component for measuring the development and progress of societies. This article, therefore, discusses the impact of technological development and artificial intelligence on community behaviors, addressing whether they pose a threat that neutralizes humans and their capabilities.

Opinion and Thought

Mergers & Acquisitions: A Strategy to Explore Better Opportunities

Why do we lack multiple economic entities with global reach and operating offices across world's east and west, whereby knowledge and technology are transferred to the Arab world to equip future generations with scientific and practical knowledge? This article explores this question and the concept of Mergers and Acquisitions (M&A) and their impact, in addition to presenting real-life examples of companies that arose through M&A transactions.