Luciano Zaccara | Qatar University (original) (raw)

Books by Luciano Zaccara

Research paper thumbnail of China's Economic and Political Presence in the Middle East and South Asia

China's Economic and Political Presence in the Middle East and South Asia, 2022

This book explores a range of key issues connected to China's relations with countries in the Mid... more This book explores a range of key issues connected to China's relations with countries in the Middle East and South Asia. It discusses economic and political connections, and projects that have arisen as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. It covers both important countries in the Middle East, and also Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. It examines current contentious issues including Iranian sanctions and the war in Syria, and assesses the roles of other powers such as Russia, Turkey and Israel insofar as they affect China's relationships. Overall, the book presents many new perspectives on the subject, with most representing the view from the countries of the Middle East and South Asia.

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Research paper thumbnail of Foreign Policy of Iran under President Hassan Rouhani’s First Term (2013–2017)

Palgrave Macmillan, 2020

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Research paper thumbnail of Europe and Iran in a Fast-Changing Middle East

Brussels, Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Rome, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), June 2019, 145 p., ISBN 978-88-3365-221-4, 2019

The Trump administration's decision to unilaterally cease compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal a... more The Trump administration's decision to unilaterally cease compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal and implement a policy of "maximum pressure" towards Iran has scuttled the European Union's policy of conditional engagement with Tehran. This volume-the outcome of a joint IAI-FEPS project-delves into different dimensions of the current rivalries and geopolitical tensions characterising the Middle East, addressing their implications for Europe. The analysis addresses the growing economic hardship in Iran following the reimposition of US sanctions and the potential and prospects of EU-Iran cooperation in trade and energy domains. A final report addresses EU-Iran relations in the context of the geopolitical tensions surrounding the US's withdrawal from the nuclear deal and European interests vis-à-vis Iran and the region. Progressive recommendations targeting EU actors span multiple layers of EU-Iran cooperation, both within and beyond the nuclear domain.

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Research paper thumbnail of IRAN'S RELATIONS WITH THE ARAB STATES OF THE GULF: COMMON INTERESTS OVER HISTORIC RIVALRY

HC GCC-Iran relations are at the heart of important political dynamics in the Middle East today. ... more HC GCC-Iran relations are at the heart of important political dynamics in the Middle East today. This is not limited to the ongoing disputes in the Gulf, one of the most important strategic locations globally. Iran and the GCC states also find themselves on opposing sides.in the Syrian and to some extent the Iraqi conflicts. This volume traces the origins of the troubled relations between Iran and the majority of the GCC monarchies. It discusses not only geostrategic rivalries, but also matters of identity which have been of increased importance since 2010. While important differences are noticeable among the GCC monarchies in regard to their willingness to engage Iran, the difficult relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran puts a strain on the possibilities for engagement between Iran and the GCC as a whole. 186 All prices are net prices (without VAT), exclusive of postage & handling.

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Research paper thumbnail of Elecciones sin elección. Procesos electorales en Oriente Medio y el Magreb

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Research paper thumbnail of Los enigmas de Irán: sociedad y política en la República Islámica

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Book Chapters by Luciano Zaccara

Research paper thumbnail of Dealing with the Challenges: GCC Institutional Responses to the Covid-19 and Arab Spring

N. Kozhanov et al. (eds.), GCC Hydrocarbon Economies and COVID, 2023

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Research paper thumbnail of Political Participation in Qatar: The Central Municipal Council Elections (1999-2019)

Contemporary Qatar, 2021

Qatari citizens have been electing the Central Municipal Council (CMC) every four years since ele... more Qatari citizens have been electing the Central Municipal Council (CMC) every four years since elections were first instituted in 1999. Although elections for the Consultative Council have been announced on numerous occasions since 2003, until today, the CMC remains the only elective Qatari institution. With local attributions, the CMC is a single body at national level, made up of 29 members who have neither executive nor legislative powers and whose role is limited to advising the Ministry of Municipalities on problems that arise in every municipality of the country. Although Qatari authorities have shown great interest in carrying out exemplary elections, the interest shown by citizens has not been comparable and instead showed a very low registration rate on the electoral roll and a decreasing voter turnout since 2015. This chapter addresses the question of why Qatari citizens have been reluctant to engage in the only election conducted in the country in high numbers, as could be expected and although they clearly express interest in 'political issues' in a number of different surveys. A preliminary conclusion for this question is the lack of attributions granted to the CMC and the low added value that the CMC has for the Qatari population.

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Research paper thumbnail of Qatar and Iran: Regional Roles, Risks and Opportunities

Iran’s Interregional Dynamics in the Near East, 2021

Qatar has the most complex yet pragmatic relations with Iran among the six members of the Gulf Co... more Qatar has the most complex yet pragmatic relations with Iran among the
six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), i.e., Bahrain, Oman,
Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The
Qatari- Iranian partnership has withstood decades of volatile Gulf policies— a region prone to recurring crises and hostilities— and enabled Qatar to stay stable while sitting as a small state between the two most powerful regional countries in the Persian Gulf, i.e., Saudi Arabia and Iran.1 Having one of the world’s largest arms importers, i.e., Saudi Arabia, and a revolutionary state, i.e., Iran, in its proximity has required Qatar to balance its policies with both neighbors so as to comfortably maintain somewhat equal relations with them.
For Qatar, this policy choice is not an option but a question of survival given that as a small state, it is required to seek regional partnerships to protect itself against volatile events.

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Research paper thumbnail of Irán y los países del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo

Iran a 40 años de Revolución: Sociedad, estado y relaciones exteriores, 2020

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Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait’s Islamist Proto-parties and the Arab Uprisings: Between Opposition, Pragmatism and the Pursuit of Cross-Ideological Cooperation

Hendrik Kraetzschmar & Paola Rivetti (Ed.), Islamists and the Politics of the Arab Uprisings Governance, Pluralisation and Contention, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Iran’s Permanent Quest for Regional Power Status

This chapter is part of the book Diplomatic Strategies of Nations in the Global South. The Search... more This chapter is part of the book Diplomatic Strategies of Nations in the Global South. The Search for Leadership. Editors: Braveboy-Wagner, Jacqueline Anne (Ed.). Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.

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Research paper thumbnail of Elections and Authoritarianism in the Islamic Republic of Iran

in Mahmoud Hamad & Khalil Al-Anani (Eds.) "Elections and Democratization in the Middle East: The Tenacious Search for Freedom, Justice, and Dignity. , 2014

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Research paper thumbnail of 'Irán 2009-2011: del Movimiento Verde a la Primavera Árabe'

in Western, W.; Galindo, A. & Bernal, I. (eds), Voces, tramas y trayectorias: las protestas populares en Medio Oriente y norte de África, 2014

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Research paper thumbnail of Saudi Arabia: Family, Religion, Army and Oil

in Ferran Izquierdo (Ed.) Political Regimes in the Arab World: Society and the Exercise of Power, 2012

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Research paper thumbnail of The Iranian Presidential Elections 2009 in Comparative Perspective

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Research paper thumbnail of Experiencias electorales en Irán (1979-2009)

en Elecciones sin elección. Procesos electorales en Oriente Medio y el Magreb (Alvarez-Ossorio & Zaccara Eds.), 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Arabia Saudí: familia, religión, ejército y petróleo

Poder y regímenes en el mundo árabe contemporáneo, Ferran Izquierdo (Ed.), 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of La política exterior de Irak: pasado, presente y futuro

Irak: invasión, ocupación y caos, 2006

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Research paper thumbnail of Comparando elecciones y sistemas políticos en Irán y Argelia: ¿estructuras o superestructuras electorales?

Europa y el mediterrneo, 2006

COMPARANDO ELECCIONES Y SISTEMAS POLÍTICOS EN IRÁN Y ARGELIA:¿ ESTRUCTURAS O SUPERESTRUCTURAS ELE... more COMPARANDO ELECCIONES Y SISTEMAS POLÍTICOS EN IRÁN Y ARGELIA:¿ ESTRUCTURAS O SUPERESTRUCTURAS ELECTORALES? Rafael Bustos Luciano Zaceara 1. EL ENFOQUE COMPARATIVO La comparación en ciencias sociales es reconocida como uno de los ...

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Research paper thumbnail of China's Economic and Political Presence in the Middle East and South Asia

China's Economic and Political Presence in the Middle East and South Asia, 2022

This book explores a range of key issues connected to China's relations with countries in the Mid... more This book explores a range of key issues connected to China's relations with countries in the Middle East and South Asia. It discusses economic and political connections, and projects that have arisen as part of China's Belt and Road Initiative. It covers both important countries in the Middle East, and also Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan. It examines current contentious issues including Iranian sanctions and the war in Syria, and assesses the roles of other powers such as Russia, Turkey and Israel insofar as they affect China's relationships. Overall, the book presents many new perspectives on the subject, with most representing the view from the countries of the Middle East and South Asia.

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Research paper thumbnail of Foreign Policy of Iran under President Hassan Rouhani’s First Term (2013–2017)

Palgrave Macmillan, 2020

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Research paper thumbnail of Europe and Iran in a Fast-Changing Middle East

Brussels, Foundation for European Progressive Studies (FEPS) and Rome, Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), June 2019, 145 p., ISBN 978-88-3365-221-4, 2019

The Trump administration's decision to unilaterally cease compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal a... more The Trump administration's decision to unilaterally cease compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal and implement a policy of "maximum pressure" towards Iran has scuttled the European Union's policy of conditional engagement with Tehran. This volume-the outcome of a joint IAI-FEPS project-delves into different dimensions of the current rivalries and geopolitical tensions characterising the Middle East, addressing their implications for Europe. The analysis addresses the growing economic hardship in Iran following the reimposition of US sanctions and the potential and prospects of EU-Iran cooperation in trade and energy domains. A final report addresses EU-Iran relations in the context of the geopolitical tensions surrounding the US's withdrawal from the nuclear deal and European interests vis-à-vis Iran and the region. Progressive recommendations targeting EU actors span multiple layers of EU-Iran cooperation, both within and beyond the nuclear domain.

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Research paper thumbnail of IRAN'S RELATIONS WITH THE ARAB STATES OF THE GULF: COMMON INTERESTS OVER HISTORIC RIVALRY

HC GCC-Iran relations are at the heart of important political dynamics in the Middle East today. ... more HC GCC-Iran relations are at the heart of important political dynamics in the Middle East today. This is not limited to the ongoing disputes in the Gulf, one of the most important strategic locations globally. Iran and the GCC states also find themselves on opposing sides.in the Syrian and to some extent the Iraqi conflicts. This volume traces the origins of the troubled relations between Iran and the majority of the GCC monarchies. It discusses not only geostrategic rivalries, but also matters of identity which have been of increased importance since 2010. While important differences are noticeable among the GCC monarchies in regard to their willingness to engage Iran, the difficult relationship between Saudi Arabia and Iran puts a strain on the possibilities for engagement between Iran and the GCC as a whole. 186 All prices are net prices (without VAT), exclusive of postage & handling.

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Research paper thumbnail of Elecciones sin elección. Procesos electorales en Oriente Medio y el Magreb

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Research paper thumbnail of Los enigmas de Irán: sociedad y política en la República Islámica

Bookmarks Related papers MentionsView impact

Research paper thumbnail of Dealing with the Challenges: GCC Institutional Responses to the Covid-19 and Arab Spring

N. Kozhanov et al. (eds.), GCC Hydrocarbon Economies and COVID, 2023

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Research paper thumbnail of Political Participation in Qatar: The Central Municipal Council Elections (1999-2019)

Contemporary Qatar, 2021

Qatari citizens have been electing the Central Municipal Council (CMC) every four years since ele... more Qatari citizens have been electing the Central Municipal Council (CMC) every four years since elections were first instituted in 1999. Although elections for the Consultative Council have been announced on numerous occasions since 2003, until today, the CMC remains the only elective Qatari institution. With local attributions, the CMC is a single body at national level, made up of 29 members who have neither executive nor legislative powers and whose role is limited to advising the Ministry of Municipalities on problems that arise in every municipality of the country. Although Qatari authorities have shown great interest in carrying out exemplary elections, the interest shown by citizens has not been comparable and instead showed a very low registration rate on the electoral roll and a decreasing voter turnout since 2015. This chapter addresses the question of why Qatari citizens have been reluctant to engage in the only election conducted in the country in high numbers, as could be expected and although they clearly express interest in 'political issues' in a number of different surveys. A preliminary conclusion for this question is the lack of attributions granted to the CMC and the low added value that the CMC has for the Qatari population.

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Research paper thumbnail of Qatar and Iran: Regional Roles, Risks and Opportunities

Iran’s Interregional Dynamics in the Near East, 2021

Qatar has the most complex yet pragmatic relations with Iran among the six members of the Gulf Co... more Qatar has the most complex yet pragmatic relations with Iran among the
six members of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), i.e., Bahrain, Oman,
Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The
Qatari- Iranian partnership has withstood decades of volatile Gulf policies— a region prone to recurring crises and hostilities— and enabled Qatar to stay stable while sitting as a small state between the two most powerful regional countries in the Persian Gulf, i.e., Saudi Arabia and Iran.1 Having one of the world’s largest arms importers, i.e., Saudi Arabia, and a revolutionary state, i.e., Iran, in its proximity has required Qatar to balance its policies with both neighbors so as to comfortably maintain somewhat equal relations with them.
For Qatar, this policy choice is not an option but a question of survival given that as a small state, it is required to seek regional partnerships to protect itself against volatile events.

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Research paper thumbnail of Irán y los países del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo

Iran a 40 años de Revolución: Sociedad, estado y relaciones exteriores, 2020

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Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait’s Islamist Proto-parties and the Arab Uprisings: Between Opposition, Pragmatism and the Pursuit of Cross-Ideological Cooperation

Hendrik Kraetzschmar & Paola Rivetti (Ed.), Islamists and the Politics of the Arab Uprisings Governance, Pluralisation and Contention, 2018

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Research paper thumbnail of Iran’s Permanent Quest for Regional Power Status

This chapter is part of the book Diplomatic Strategies of Nations in the Global South. The Search... more This chapter is part of the book Diplomatic Strategies of Nations in the Global South. The Search for Leadership. Editors: Braveboy-Wagner, Jacqueline Anne (Ed.). Palgrave Macmillan, 2016.

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Research paper thumbnail of Elections and Authoritarianism in the Islamic Republic of Iran

in Mahmoud Hamad & Khalil Al-Anani (Eds.) "Elections and Democratization in the Middle East: The Tenacious Search for Freedom, Justice, and Dignity. , 2014

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Research paper thumbnail of 'Irán 2009-2011: del Movimiento Verde a la Primavera Árabe'

in Western, W.; Galindo, A. & Bernal, I. (eds), Voces, tramas y trayectorias: las protestas populares en Medio Oriente y norte de África, 2014

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Research paper thumbnail of Saudi Arabia: Family, Religion, Army and Oil

in Ferran Izquierdo (Ed.) Political Regimes in the Arab World: Society and the Exercise of Power, 2012

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Research paper thumbnail of The Iranian Presidential Elections 2009 in Comparative Perspective

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Research paper thumbnail of Experiencias electorales en Irán (1979-2009)

en Elecciones sin elección. Procesos electorales en Oriente Medio y el Magreb (Alvarez-Ossorio & Zaccara Eds.), 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of Arabia Saudí: familia, religión, ejército y petróleo

Poder y regímenes en el mundo árabe contemporáneo, Ferran Izquierdo (Ed.), 2009

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Research paper thumbnail of La política exterior de Irak: pasado, presente y futuro

Irak: invasión, ocupación y caos, 2006

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Research paper thumbnail of Comparando elecciones y sistemas políticos en Irán y Argelia: ¿estructuras o superestructuras electorales?

Europa y el mediterrneo, 2006

COMPARANDO ELECCIONES Y SISTEMAS POLÍTICOS EN IRÁN Y ARGELIA:¿ ESTRUCTURAS O SUPERESTRUCTURAS ELE... more COMPARANDO ELECCIONES Y SISTEMAS POLÍTICOS EN IRÁN Y ARGELIA:¿ ESTRUCTURAS O SUPERESTRUCTURAS ELECTORALES? Rafael Bustos Luciano Zaceara 1. EL ENFOQUE COMPARATIVO La comparación en ciencias sociales es reconocida como uno de los ...

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Research paper thumbnail of Las políticas de ciudadanía en los estados del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo

Relaciones Internacionales, 2017

Este artículo explora los marcos legales de ciudadanía y naturalización de los seis estados del C... more Este artículo explora los marcos legales de ciudadanía y naturalización de los seis estados del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo, y analiza cómo han sido utilizados desde el establecimiento de los estados modernos hasta la actualidad, con especial atención a los acontecimientos posteriores a la Primavera Árabe. En este contexto, se investiga en qué medida ha afectado el carácter rentista de los estados del Golfo al diseño de sus políticas de ciudadanía y naturalización; cuáles son los principales aspectos de dicha legislación en cada país; qué diferencias hay entre la utilización de los marcos legales antes y después de la Primavera Árabe; qué reformas legales se han llevado a cabo tras de la Primavera Árabe; y con qué objetivos se ha concedido o revocado la ciudadanía. El artículo concluye que las políticas de ciudadanía de los estados del CCG han sido un aspecto fundamental de la construcción del Estado-nación y del establecimiento de la relación Estado-sociedad, así como parte esencial de una muy elaborada estrategia para garantizar la estabilidad, supervivencia y legitimación de los regímenes políticos, con mayor énfasis desde la Primavera Árabe. PalabRas clave Ciudadanía; naturalización; Primavera Árabe; Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo. Las políticas de ciudadanía en los estados del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo luciano ZaccaRa y maRta saldaña * *Luciano Zaccara, Research Assistant Professor, Centro de Estudios del

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Research paper thumbnail of Migrants, Refugees, and Displaced Persons in the Middle East and North Africa THE GLOBAL SOUTH

REMHU, Rev. Interdiscip. Mobil. Hum., 2021

This article aims to introduce aspects involved in studies on migratory dynamics in the Middle Ea... more This article aims to introduce aspects involved in studies on migratory dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In this sense, we present some historical dynamics for defining the territories of what is considered the MENA region, as well as highlighting the participation of these countries in the context of the migratory and humanitarian crises that have characterized the dynamics of mobility in and in the region. In such a context, we draw attention to the politicization of migratory phenomena and to the still sparse study and research initiatives that analyze the migratory dynamics of countries in the MENA region to the global south. Finally, the article introduces the discussions on migrations in the MENA region that are part of this dossier, inviting the reader to dialogue with different theoretical-methodological approaches on the migration phenomenon in that context.

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Research paper thumbnail of The Islamic Republic s Foreign Policy through the Iranian Lens Initiatives of Engagement with the GCC

International Spectator, 2021

Despite the often perceived rigidity of its ideology and inflammatory rhetoric, Iran’s foreign po... more Despite the often perceived rigidity of its ideology and inflammatory
rhetoric, Iran’s foreign policy is inherently pragmatic while nonetheless moving within the institutionalised frame of its revolutionary discourse. An alternative perspective on the Islamic Republic’s and Persian Gulf relations is offered by analysing Iran’s discursive and practical initiatives of constructive engagement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries during Hassan Rouhani’s presidency through the Iranian lens. This includes strategies of discursive persuasion and initiatives such as “World Against Violence and Extremism” (WAVE) as well as the “Hormuz Peace Endeavor” (HOPE), both aimed at building confidence and improving Iran’s legitimacy in the region.

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Research paper thumbnail of Iran 2021: The year of Transition

Asia Maior, 2022

The election of Ebrahim Raisi as the new president of Iran in June has been the most significant ... more The election of Ebrahim Raisi as the new president of Iran in June has been the most significant development in Iran during 2021. It represented the end of an era-the reformist-pragmatist one-and the beginning of a new one controlled by the conservative establishment. This article analyses the domestic and international implications of such transition, including assessing Rouhani's performance and legacy. It also analyses the evolution of the Iranian economy, still marked by the sanctions and the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides, it describes and assesses the evolution of the nuclear negotiations transferred from the outgoing to the new administration.

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Research paper thumbnail of Iran 2019-2020: The double impact of crippling sanctions and the COVID -19 pandemic

Asia Maior, 2020

Two main external developments marked the years 2019 and 2020 in Iran: the unilateral sanctions r... more Two main external developments marked the years 2019 and 2020 in Iran: the unilateral sanctions re-imposed by the United States in late 2018 after abandoning the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and the COVID-19 Pandemic that had its first case in Iran in February 2020. The heavy burden represented by the combination of both situations severely affected Iran’s economy, its domestic policies and its foreign relations.

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Research paper thumbnail of The Iranian foreign policy in turbulent times: The Arab uprisings, the nuclear deal and the GCC crisis

Revista Española de Ciencia Política, 2021

Using the Foreign Policy Analysis framework and the concept of Authoritative Decision Units, this... more Using the Foreign Policy Analysis framework and the concept of Authoritative Decision Units, this article analyzes three cases that required an Iranian response: the Arab Uprisings, the nuclear negotiations, and the 2017 GCC Crisis. The article argues that it was not a single actor taking the foreign policy decisions in those cases, but a combination of individual and collective actors that formed the decision units that designed and implemented Iranian foreign policy. It also contends that those decisions were in line with the overall Iranian foreign policy objective —which is to convert Iran into a regional power— and, to that aim, variations of non-alignment strategies were implemented.

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Research paper thumbnail of The impact of COVID-19 on Iranian politics

Global Discourse, 2020

The first city officially affected by COVID-19 was Iran’s religious centre, Qom, on 19 February 2... more The first city officially affected by COVID-19 was Iran’s religious centre, Qom, on 19 February 2020. However, as this paper shows, Qom is not only the Islamic Republic’s most important city when it comes to religious matters, but also when it comes to political issues. In consequence, the pandemic quickly spread from the initial epicentre throughout the country in three waves with, to date, more than 600,000 positive cases and 36,000 deaths. In stark contrast to other countries, a very large proportion of members of Iran's clerical and political establishment as well as government institutions had been infected. Despite the alarming figures, Iranian authorities tried to avoid strict confinement measures to prevent not only the healthcare system but also the already enormously strained economy from collapsing. COVID-19 in combination with crippling US sanctions have had severe impacts on the Iranian economy and its government, whose credibility and performance had already been called into question. The article provides an early analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on the Islamic Republic and its political system, enquiring into immediate and future challenges for the current and the next government in dealing with the effects of the pandemic in combination with the US's maximum pressure campaign.

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Research paper thumbnail of Iran 2018: The year of living dangerously

Asia Maior, 2019

Two developments marked the year 2018; the reimposition of unilateral sanctions by the United Sta... more Two developments marked the year 2018; the reimposition of unilateral sanctions by the United States, which under President Donald Trump decided to abandon the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA); and the protests, strikes and economic grievances that seriously affected Iranian society and economy. Both of these events influenced the conduct of Rouhani's administration, which has since struggled to regain support from the political establishment and population.

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Research paper thumbnail of Kuwait Islamists: From Institutionalized to Informal Opposition

International Studies Journal, 2019

This article analyses the evolution of the Islamist political associations and groups, both Shiit... more This article analyses the evolution of the Islamist political associations and groups, both Shiites and Sunnis since the independence of Kuwait in 1962 to the last legislative elections which was held in 2016. It tries to assess the roles which the Islamist groups played in a relatively open political environment established by the constitution and the popular support these groups obtained along with the interrupted electoral history in which the country witnessed. It also assesses the transformations which the Sunni Islamist groups suffered from the institutionalized opposition role they played until the Arab Spring events to the more informal opposition style since then. The article concludes by stating that this transformation negatively affected the popular support granted to the Islamists and hindered their influence in the policymaking process in Kuwait, losing the opportunity that the Arab Spring uprisings provided for them.

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Research paper thumbnail of Iran 2017: from Rouhani’s reelection to the December protests

Asia Maior, 2018

The 2017 was a challenging year for the President Hassan Rouhani despite his reelection. The Pres... more The 2017 was a challenging year for the President Hassan Rouhani despite his reelection. The Presidential and Municipal elections in May represented a clear and strong support for his administration and the nuclear deal or famously the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) agreement. But lack of visible improvements at economic levels ended the year with widespread protests in several Iranian cities with 25 deaths and thousands detained. Despite new contracts in infrastructure and transportation sectors signed, anticipated reforms in banking system, the creation of jobs and attracting greater foreign investments are still pending issues at the economic level. At the international level, the new approach coming from the Trump administration has challenged the Iranian commitment with the JCPOA and created frictions within the establishment regarding the US policies. However, there has been no change in the Iranian stance in the nuclear deal. Moreover, the GCC crisis that erupted in May seemed to have benefited Iran leverage itself at the regional level.
While its participation in the regional arena has been neglected by mainly the US, Israel and Saudi Arabia, the year 2017 has proved to be the year in which Iranian position on regional issues such as Syrian conflict, Kurdistan and intra-GCC relations was counted.

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Research paper thumbnail of Iran 2016: From the Saudi Embassy Attack to the Demise of Rafsanjani

Asia Maior, 2017

The year 2016 was an internal and external test for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The Februar... more The year 2016 was an internal and external test for Iranian President Hassan Rouhani. The February legislative elections represented strong support for his administration and the nuclear accord with the P5+1 group of nations. But the lack of visible improvements at the economic level, the increasing internal criticism from the hardliners, and the demise of Hashemi Rafsanjani, the second most powerful man in Iran, made this the most difficult year of Rouhani's tenure so far. At the international level, the confrontationist policy towards Saudi Arabia and direct military involvement in Syria caused a deterioration in the country's external image, generating an increasing regional isolationism, despite the successful conclusion of the nuclear deal. The implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in January brought to an end the nuclear-related international sanctions and started a slow and gradual process of Iranian normalization within the international commercial and financial markets. However, the election of US President Donald Trump and his impending inauguration in 2017 introduced measures that would potentially endanger the continuity of the US-Iran honeymoon.

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Research paper thumbnail of Las políticas de ciudadanía en los estados del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo

Este artículo explora los marcos legales de ciudadanía y naturalización de los seis estados del C... more Este artículo explora los marcos legales de ciudadanía y naturalización de los seis estados del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo, y analiza cómo han sido utilizados desde el establecimiento de los estados modernos hasta la actualidad, con especial atención a los acontecimientos posteriores a la Primavera Árabe. En este contexto, se investiga en qué medida ha afectado el carácter rentista de los estados del Golfo al diseño de sus políticas de ciudadanía y naturalización; cuáles son los principales aspectos de dicha legislación en cada país; qué diferencias hay entre la utilización de los marcos legales antes y después de la Primavera Árabe; qué reformas legales se han llevado a cabo tras de la Primavera Árabe; y con qué objetivos se ha concedido o revocado la ciudadanía. El artículo concluye que las políticas de ciudadanía de los estados del CCG han sido un aspecto fundamental de la construcción del Estado-nación y del establecimiento de la relación Estado-sociedad, así como parte esencial de una muy elaborada estrategia para garantizar la estabilidad, supervivencia y legitimación de los regímenes políticos, con mayor énfasis desde la Primavera Árabe.

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Research paper thumbnail of Los países del Consejo de Cooperación del Golfo e Iraq

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Research paper thumbnail of Cambio y estabilidad política en las monarquías del Golfo tras la primavera árabe

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Research paper thumbnail of Los desafíos del nuevo  presidente de Irán. ¿Hacia dónde va Rohaní?

Dossier de análisis, 4, Apr 2014

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Research paper thumbnail of Reflections on Iran’s 2013 Presidential Elections

Orient, German Journal for Politics, Economics and Culture of the Middle East, vol IV, Issue 54, Oct 2013

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Research paper thumbnail of Comparing Elections in Gulf Cooperation Council Countries after the Arab Spring: The United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Kuwait

Journal of Arabian Studies, Jun 27, 2013

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Research paper thumbnail of Del “11S” a la “primavera árabe”: ¿Qué nos dice la opinión pública árabe?

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Research paper thumbnail of Elecciones en el Golfo: resistir la ‘primavera árabe’

Politica Exterior, no 148, Jul 2012

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