Hamzeh Hadad
@hamzehhadad.bsky.social
Adjunct Fellow at the Center for a New American Security. All views are my own.
I had the pleasure of participating in the @fms-foundation.bsky.social’s webinar on Iraqi elections with my colleagues Salman Khairalla & Abdulrahman Al Bo Ragheef. www.youtube.com/live/OCJl_X0...
After Iraq’s Elections 2025 — What Happens Now?
YouTube video by Foundation Max van der Stoel
www.youtube.com
November 13, 2025 at 2:40 PM
I had the pleasure of participating in the @fms-foundation.bsky.social’s webinar on Iraqi elections with my colleagues Salman Khairalla & Abdulrahman Al Bo Ragheef. www.youtube.com/live/OCJl_X0...
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
This piece by two of Iraq's most eminent analysts @marsin.bsky.social and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social is a must-read ahead of Iraq's crucial general elections next week.
www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
Why Iraq’s stability demands deeper democratic reforms | Brookings
If change is to occur in Iraq, outside actors must press for meaningful reforms through parliamentary opposition.
www.brookings.edu
November 7, 2025 at 4:32 PM
This piece by two of Iraq's most eminent analysts @marsin.bsky.social and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social is a must-read ahead of Iraq's crucial general elections next week.
www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
As Iraqis head to the polls next week, @marsin.bsky.social and I write for @brookings.edu on the need to raise the bar for democratic performance. www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
Why Iraq’s stability demands deeper democratic reforms | Brookings
If change is to occur in Iraq, outside actors must press for meaningful reforms through parliamentary opposition.
www.brookings.edu
November 7, 2025 at 3:56 PM
As Iraqis head to the polls next week, @marsin.bsky.social and I write for @brookings.edu on the need to raise the bar for democratic performance. www.brookings.edu/articles/why...
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
@hamzehhadad.bsky.social and @marsin.bsky.social compare Iraq and Syria's experiences of post-Ba'ath constitution-drafting and state-building, advocate for inclusive federalism in Syria: www.brookings.edu/articles/ira...
Iraqi lessons for Syria’s post-Baathist constitution | Brookings
The parallels between Iraq and Syria offer a valuable opportunity for Syria to learn from its eastern neighbor.
www.brookings.edu
October 23, 2025 at 1:44 PM
@hamzehhadad.bsky.social and @marsin.bsky.social compare Iraq and Syria's experiences of post-Ba'ath constitution-drafting and state-building, advocate for inclusive federalism in Syria: www.brookings.edu/articles/ira...
This is a really important piece as we near the end of UNAMI mandate. It sheds light on the current situation of NGOs in Iraq, which have played a major role in Iraqi society for decades.
1001iraqithoughts.com/2025/10/21/t...
1001iraqithoughts.com/2025/10/21/t...
The Decline of NGOs and the Challenges Iraq Faces - 1001 Iraqi Thoughts
1001iraqithoughts.com
October 21, 2025 at 8:03 PM
This is a really important piece as we near the end of UNAMI mandate. It sheds light on the current situation of NGOs in Iraq, which have played a major role in Iraqi society for decades.
1001iraqithoughts.com/2025/10/21/t...
1001iraqithoughts.com/2025/10/21/t...
My latest piece with @marsin.bsky.social for @brookings.edu on the 20th anniversary of the Iraqi constitution & lessons for Syria, primarily regarding federalism. www.brookings.edu/articles/ira...
Iraqi lessons for Syria’s post-Baathist constitution | Brookings
The parallels between Iraq and Syria offer a valuable opportunity for Syria to learn from its eastern neighbor.
www.brookings.edu
October 20, 2025 at 3:31 PM
My latest piece with @marsin.bsky.social for @brookings.edu on the 20th anniversary of the Iraqi constitution & lessons for Syria, primarily regarding federalism. www.brookings.edu/articles/ira...
Second episode of Iraqi Voices since our return. We dive deeper into the upcoming elections as we discuss the changes of reverting back to provincial-wide districts & first past the post voting. open.spotify.com/episode/1vYu...
Why Iraq’s 2025 Elections Matter
open.spotify.com
October 18, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Second episode of Iraqi Voices since our return. We dive deeper into the upcoming elections as we discuss the changes of reverting back to provincial-wide districts & first past the post voting. open.spotify.com/episode/1vYu...
On the 8th anniversary of the passing of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, this passage from the introduction of “Shalash the Iraqi” shows a glimpse of what made him different from his peers.
October 3, 2025 at 2:24 PM
On the 8th anniversary of the passing of Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, this passage from the introduction of “Shalash the Iraqi” shows a glimpse of what made him different from his peers.
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
So glad to see @hamzehhadad.bsky.social and his colleagues back with the Iraqi Voices podcast after a long hiatus! Highly recommend if you're looking for calm, thoughtful conversations about Iraqi politics.
🎙️The best podcast on Iraq is back!
Hassan Hadad, @alwaeli.bsky.social, Ali Al-Mawlawi, and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social discuss how sustained political calm has translated into a stability dividend and examine what steps are needed to secure long-term prosperity.
open.spotify.com/episode/3LS5...
Hassan Hadad, @alwaeli.bsky.social, Ali Al-Mawlawi, and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social discuss how sustained political calm has translated into a stability dividend and examine what steps are needed to secure long-term prosperity.
open.spotify.com/episode/3LS5...
Understanding Iraq's Stability Dividend
open.spotify.com
October 2, 2025 at 1:30 AM
So glad to see @hamzehhadad.bsky.social and his colleagues back with the Iraqi Voices podcast after a long hiatus! Highly recommend if you're looking for calm, thoughtful conversations about Iraqi politics.
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
🎙️The best podcast on Iraq is back!
Hassan Hadad, @alwaeli.bsky.social, Ali Al-Mawlawi, and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social discuss how sustained political calm has translated into a stability dividend and examine what steps are needed to secure long-term prosperity.
open.spotify.com/episode/3LS5...
Hassan Hadad, @alwaeli.bsky.social, Ali Al-Mawlawi, and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social discuss how sustained political calm has translated into a stability dividend and examine what steps are needed to secure long-term prosperity.
open.spotify.com/episode/3LS5...
Understanding Iraq's Stability Dividend
open.spotify.com
September 30, 2025 at 1:29 AM
🎙️The best podcast on Iraq is back!
Hassan Hadad, @alwaeli.bsky.social, Ali Al-Mawlawi, and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social discuss how sustained political calm has translated into a stability dividend and examine what steps are needed to secure long-term prosperity.
open.spotify.com/episode/3LS5...
Hassan Hadad, @alwaeli.bsky.social, Ali Al-Mawlawi, and @hamzehhadad.bsky.social discuss how sustained political calm has translated into a stability dividend and examine what steps are needed to secure long-term prosperity.
open.spotify.com/episode/3LS5...
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
Coming from @stanfordpress.bsky.social in the summer of 2026! @lisablaydes.bsky.social and I edited a book "Ba'thist Iraq through Archives" with a star studded list of contributors!
September 29, 2025 at 3:46 PM
Coming from @stanfordpress.bsky.social in the summer of 2026! @lisablaydes.bsky.social and I edited a book "Ba'thist Iraq through Archives" with a star studded list of contributors!
“He warned that any effort aimed at preserving the SDF’s structure as is, would ‘put the region at great risk and may lead to a large-scale war’ and could also ‘put Iraq and Turkey at great risk, as well as the Syrian state.’” www.rudaw.net/english/midd...
www.rudaw.net
September 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
“He warned that any effort aimed at preserving the SDF’s structure as is, would ‘put the region at great risk and may lead to a large-scale war’ and could also ‘put Iraq and Turkey at great risk, as well as the Syrian state.’” www.rudaw.net/english/midd...
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
I wrote a piece for @jodemocracy.bsky.social on a little-noticed court decision last week to effectively permanently outlaw Jordan’s teacher’s union
www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
The Quiet Demise of Jordan’s Political Space | Journal of Democracy
In the shadow of Gaza’s destruction, the Jordanian regime has quietly repressed one of the main sources of the country’s political activism.
www.journalofdemocracy.org
August 5, 2025 at 2:03 PM
I wrote a piece for @jodemocracy.bsky.social on a little-noticed court decision last week to effectively permanently outlaw Jordan’s teacher’s union
www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
www.journalofdemocracy.org/online-exclu...
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
My latest for @ecfr looks at efforts to find 100s of 1000s of Iraqis who are missing.Many are believed to be in mass graves. #Iraq has so many mass graves it has a specialized directorate. It even has a Mass Graves Day.Every number is a person who was part of a family that is integral to a community
Visiting Fellow @raniaab.bsky.social's policy brief documents the ongoing attempt to identify and bring justice, dignity and closure to the disappearance and killings of hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq, many of whom are believed to be in mass graves @ecfrmena.bsky.social
buff.ly/9iQFPoX
buff.ly/9iQFPoX
Unearthing the past: Iraq’s mass graves and the quest for justice
A European-backed UN body explored mass graves in Iraq between 2018 and 2024, supporting steps towards justice and reconciliation—and providing wider lessons for the region…
ecfr.eu
August 1, 2025 at 7:26 AM
My latest for @ecfr looks at efforts to find 100s of 1000s of Iraqis who are missing.Many are believed to be in mass graves. #Iraq has so many mass graves it has a specialized directorate. It even has a Mass Graves Day.Every number is a person who was part of a family that is integral to a community
Unearthing the past: Iraq’s mass graves and the quest for justice: ecfr.eu/publication/...
Unearthing the past: Iraq’s mass graves and the quest for justice
A European-backed UN body explored mass graves in Iraq between 2018 and 2024, supporting steps towards justice and reconciliation—and providing wider lessons for the region…
ecfr.eu
September 10, 2025 at 6:18 PM
Unearthing the past: Iraq’s mass graves and the quest for justice: ecfr.eu/publication/...
As the regional conflict spreads, this paper from IISS explains how Iraq has managed to stay out of it for the most part.
www.iiss.org/publications...
www.iiss.org/publications...
Iraq: avoiding conflict amid regional upheaval
Amid escalating violence between Israel and Iran, Iraq has successfully maintained neutrality, navigating regional tensions through diplomatic restraint rather than military engagement. Yet forthcoming elections and factional pressures may challenge Baghdad’s balancing act.
www.iiss.org
September 9, 2025 at 6:47 PM
As the regional conflict spreads, this paper from IISS explains how Iraq has managed to stay out of it for the most part.
www.iiss.org/publications...
www.iiss.org/publications...
Why Iraq gives Syria a hand
www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/t...
www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/t...
Why Iraq gives Syria a hand
By welcoming Syria’s new leader – a former Al Qaeda terrorist – Iraq shows a generosity born of its own violent past to lift a neighbor emerging from conflict.
www.csmonitor.com
April 23, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Why Iraq gives Syria a hand
www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/t...
www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/t...
🇮🇶 Iraq officially has 19 provinces now with Halabja.
It will be interesting to see if there will be noticeable change for the people of Halabja. Previously as part of Sulaymaniyah in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, there has been dissatisfaction with centralization by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
It will be interesting to see if there will be noticeable change for the people of Halabja. Previously as part of Sulaymaniyah in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, there has been dissatisfaction with centralization by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
April 14, 2025 at 3:19 PM
🇮🇶 Iraq officially has 19 provinces now with Halabja.
It will be interesting to see if there will be noticeable change for the people of Halabja. Previously as part of Sulaymaniyah in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, there has been dissatisfaction with centralization by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
It will be interesting to see if there will be noticeable change for the people of Halabja. Previously as part of Sulaymaniyah in the Iraqi Kurdistan region, there has been dissatisfaction with centralization by the Kurdistan Regional Government.
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
📰 Read Visiting Fellow @hamzehhadad.bsky.social 's comments on #Iran’s waning influence in Iraq for @lemonde-en.bsky.social here 👇
Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei is the main obstacle to negotiations with the US
With the considerable risk of war with Israel and a worsening economy, the government temporarily eases its grip on civil society.
www.lemonde.fr
March 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
📰 Read Visiting Fellow @hamzehhadad.bsky.social 's comments on #Iran’s waning influence in Iraq for @lemonde-en.bsky.social here 👇
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
A stabilising transition in Syria is far from assured. My piece after recent visit calling for Western govs to urgently step up support amid deep challenges & some worrying signs. Should start with more direct assistance given sanctions relief unlikely to be short-term answer ecfr.eu/article/the-...
The road ahead: Six ways Europeans can urgently support a stable Syria
After the fall of Assad, many Syrians hope for a better future. But intense political and economic challenges risk derailing the transition. Europeans urgently need to do more to help stabilise Syria’...
ecfr.eu
March 6, 2025 at 9:22 AM
A stabilising transition in Syria is far from assured. My piece after recent visit calling for Western govs to urgently step up support amid deep challenges & some worrying signs. Should start with more direct assistance given sanctions relief unlikely to be short-term answer ecfr.eu/article/the-...
My interview with @theworld.org regarding Iraq’s census results. theworld.org/segments/202...
Iraq's population grows to 46 million people following nationwide census - The World from PRX
Iraq’s population now stands at 46 million people following a nationwide census that was held in November of 2024. The census, the first in 40 years, has been billed as a success by Iraq’s government....
theworld.org
March 5, 2025 at 9:28 PM
My interview with @theworld.org regarding Iraq’s census results. theworld.org/segments/202...
Reposted by Hamzeh Hadad
Debating US Primacy in the Midde East - introducing my new essay and spectacular collection of IR theories and Middle East experts trying to make sense of the nature and limits of US power.
abuaardvark.substack.com/p/debating-u...
abuaardvark.substack.com/p/debating-u...
Debating US Primacy in the Middle East
Announcing a new and rather relevant new publication at a regrettably pivotal time
abuaardvark.substack.com
February 11, 2025 at 3:54 PM
Debating US Primacy in the Midde East - introducing my new essay and spectacular collection of IR theories and Middle East experts trying to make sense of the nature and limits of US power.
abuaardvark.substack.com/p/debating-u...
abuaardvark.substack.com/p/debating-u...
Once again, Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s comments on post-2003 Iraq & what he did there are nauseating & insulting.
I guess, trying to downplay the fact he was a foreigner joining a terrorist group that blew up innocent Iraqis on a daily basis is part of the rehabilitation campaign.
I guess, trying to downplay the fact he was a foreigner joining a terrorist group that blew up innocent Iraqis on a daily basis is part of the rehabilitation campaign.
New @therestpolitics.bsky.social LEADING - from Al Qaida fighter and leader to President of Syria. The life and times - and massive challenges ahead - of Ahmed al-Sharaa. alastaircampbell.org/2025/02/120-...
120. The New President of Syria: Trump, Palestine, and having a $10 million bounty on your head (Ahmed al-Sharaa)
How did Ahmed al-Sharaa go from an imprisoned al-Qaeda fighter to the leader of Syria? What is the psychological impact of living a secret life for over twenty years? What is the future of Syria? Ahme...
alastaircampbell.org
February 10, 2025 at 8:39 PM
Once again, Ahmed Al-Sharaa’s comments on post-2003 Iraq & what he did there are nauseating & insulting.
I guess, trying to downplay the fact he was a foreigner joining a terrorist group that blew up innocent Iraqis on a daily basis is part of the rehabilitation campaign.
I guess, trying to downplay the fact he was a foreigner joining a terrorist group that blew up innocent Iraqis on a daily basis is part of the rehabilitation campaign.
My first piece for 2025, co-authored with @marsin.bsky.social for @brookings.edu.
www.brookings.edu/articles/ira...
www.brookings.edu/articles/ira...
Iraq’s search for security and sovereignty after Assad’s collapse
Iraq must recalibrate its relationship with a weakened Iran, in dialogue with the new Trump administration.
www.brookings.edu
January 21, 2025 at 7:07 PM
My first piece for 2025, co-authored with @marsin.bsky.social for @brookings.edu.
www.brookings.edu/articles/ira...
www.brookings.edu/articles/ira...
Recently appointed head of Iraqi intelligence Hameed Al-Shatri is the first Iraqi official to visit Damascus post-Ba’ath. There were a handful of Iraqi officials that were in charge of handling relations with Syria during Ba’ath regime. No surprise that a new but trusted figure was sent by Baghdad.
December 26, 2024 at 6:34 PM
Recently appointed head of Iraqi intelligence Hameed Al-Shatri is the first Iraqi official to visit Damascus post-Ba’ath. There were a handful of Iraqi officials that were in charge of handling relations with Syria during Ba’ath regime. No surprise that a new but trusted figure was sent by Baghdad.