Middle East Studies at MCU

New issue of "MES Insights," the flagship bimonthly publication of Middle East Studies, in partnership with Marine Corps University Press, feat. "Passive Defense Measures in Saving Iran’s Ballistic Missile Arsenal," by Mehran Atashjameh

MES Insights, vol. 15, no. 4 For decades, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s ballistic missile program has been securitized by the West as a threat to peace. To compensate for economic sanctions, arms sanctions, and limitations on air power, Iran focused on enhancing its ballistic missile program. As a result, its ballistic missi...

VIDEO: MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone & Naval Postgraduate School's Dr. Tim Jones, "CTX Conversations - The Future of Insurgencies and Radical Groups in Africa"

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Newly released episode on updates on "Axis of Resistance" groups aligned with Iran (recorded in early June) with MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone, "Navigating Complexity Series: Axis of Resistance II":

https://youtu.be/PcBb1n4rF00?si=fTx41kKtUouR6rFi

The Brute Krulak Center Marine Corps University

Navigating Complexity, Ep 9: Axis of Resistance II with Dr. Christopher Anzalone On February 7th 2024, we published an episode on the Axis of Resistance (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQdkJBAGv6w) looking mostly at the Houthi's after th...

MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone has a new piece, "A Retrospective and Future Look at al-Shabab's Governance," in the Washington Institute for Near East Studies monograph "Jihadist Governance and Statecraft":
https://www.washingtoninstitute.org/sites/default/files/pdf/PolicyFocus180MargolinZelin.pdf

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Double header June issue of "MES Insights" featuring an article by MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone, "Security Challenges of African VEOs: A Bird's-Eye View":

MES Insights, vol. 15, no. 3B Political violence, including both the number of attacks and the fatalities caused by them, carried out by African militant Islamist violent extremist organizations (VEOs) continues to pose significant security challenges in West Africa and the Sahel, East Africa (particularly in Somalia and northea...

Double header June issue of "MES Insights" featuring an article by MES Director Dr. Amin Tarzi, "ISKP Moving Beyond Khorasan: Threats to the U.S. Homeland"

MES Insights, vol. 15, no. 3A Islamic State–Khorasan Province (ISKP), which officially emerged in Afghanistan in 2014 as an affiliate of Islamic State (IS), has not only reemerged as a terrorist threat within the historic or attributed boundaries of Khorasan but also stuck targets in Moscow, and individuals potentially aligned...

Interview with MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone on the expansion of Islamic State affiliates in Africa & reports that IS-Somalia leader Abdulqadir Mumin has moved up the ranks:

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Abdulqadir Mumin as IS caliph would challenge its dogma, says Christopher Anzalone After reports named Abdulqadir Mumin as global leader of ISIS, Geeska interviewed expert Christopher Anzalone to discuss IS-Somalia’s growing influence in the

MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone has a new Oxford University Press article published as part of the "Oxford Bibliographies" series, "The Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL) in Africa":

https://www.oxfordbibliographies.com/display/document/obo-9780199743292/obo-9780199743292-0322.xml?rskey=DGUGIr&result=1&q=islamic+state

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MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone will join the Naval Postgraduate School's Dr. Tim Jones on the next "CTX Conversations" virtual event to discuss "The Future of Insurgencies and Radical Groups in Africa" on 9 JULY, 12:00 PST:

https://nps.edu/web/ecco/ctx-conversations

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Middle East Studies Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone was interviewed for this CNN report about possible weapons transfers between the Houthis and Al-Shabaab.

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US intelligence assesses Houthis in Yemen in talks to provide weapons to al-Shabaab in Somalia, officials say | CNN Politics US intelligence has learned of discussions between Houthis in Yemen to provide weapons to the Somali militant group al-Shabaab, in what three American officials described to CNN as a worrying development that threatens to further destabilize an already violent region.

New episode from The Brute Krulak Center Marine Corps University with MES Director Dr. Amin Tarzi:

"Navigating Complexity, Ep 7: Iran After Raisi"

Navigating Complexity, Ep 7: Iran After Raisi w/ Dr. Amin Tarzi In this episode, Dr. Tarzi is back and discusses the affects on Iran of the death of Ebrahim Raisi, former president of Iran and Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, fo...

MES Insights, April 2024 Issue:

Dr. Victoria Clement, "Russia's Growing Presence in Africa: Mercenaries, Minerals, and Morality"
[MES Insights, vol. 15, no. 2]

MES Insights, vol. 15, no. 2 Even before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Moscow was asserting itself as the leader of a new world order. The Kremlin portrays itself in contrast to the West and is extending the civilizational struggle it is waging in Ukraine to other continents, such as Africa, as it ...

New issue of "MES Insights" with a feature article by the Middle East Institute's Iran Program Director, Mr. Alex Vatanka, "Ali Khamenei's Sham Elections":

The Brute Krulak Center Marine Corps University Press Marine Corps University Middle East Institute

MES Insights, vol. 15, no. 1 The Islamic Republic of Iran is set to hold two elections on 1 March 2024. One is for the 290-seat Majlis, or parliament, ostensibly the country’s main legislative chamber. The other is for the 88-seat Assembly of Experts, the chamber made up of senior clerics whose most important function is to o...

MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone's discussion with The Brute Krulak Center's BruteCast series on Yemen's Houthis, Iran-aligned Iraqi Shi'ite groups, & Lebanon's Hezbollah amidst the ongoing war in Gaza
https://youtu.be/eQdkJBAGv6w?si=x2N4cPTwAapAcoDO

Marine Corps University

Navigating Complexity, Ep 6: The Houthis w/ Dr. Christopher Anzalone In this episode of Navigating Complexity we're joined by Dr. Christopher Anzalone, the other half of the Middle East Studies here at Marine Corps University....

The December 2023 issue of "MES Insights," the flagship publication of Middle East Studies The Brute Krulak Center Marine Corps University, is out feat. an article by MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone:

"Excommunicating Hamas: Why Differences between Globalist and Nationalist Armed Islamist Groups Matter"

The article analyzes why political, religious, and other differences between globalist and nationalist armed Islamist groups matter for policymaking.

"MES Insights" is published in partnership with MC UPress.

MES Insights, vol. 14, no. 6 Following the brazen surprise attack on 7 October 2023 from Gaza into southern Israel, which was spearheaded by Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad (PIJ), together with other much smaller Gaza-based armed groups, there has been a concerted messaging campaign backed by the Israeli government and its....

Interview with MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone on Al-Shabaab, Al-Qaeda, and analysis of the former's recent documentary-style propaganda film marking the 30th anniversary of 1993's Battle of Mogadishu, with "Guardian" multimedia journalist Faisal Ali:

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Interview with Christopher Anzalone about Al Shabab's Battle for Mogadishu documentary In this instalment I interviewed Christopher Anzalone a leading expert on Al Shabab and similar organisations across Africa and the Middle East

Navigating Complexity, Ep 4: Israel & Hamas

Navigating Complexity, Ep 4: Israel & Hamas w/ Dr. Amin Tarzi We discuss new events and developments in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. During the episode, Dr. Tarzi mentions an article from the Middle Ea...

New issue of "MES Insights" with a feature article by retired Israel Defense Forces brigadier general Shlomo Brom, "The War in Gaza," published in partnership with MC UPress:

Marine Corps University The Brute Krulak Center

MES Insights, vol. 14, no. 5 On 7 October 2023, the Palestinian terrorist organization Hamas, in collaboration with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad organization and other smaller armed groups, started a war with Israel by initiating a surprise attack against Israeli towns, villages, and military installations bordering the Gaza S...

Navigating Complexity, Ep 3: Israel & Hamas

https://youtu.be/fIxKyxYYRF4?si=Z810XV41K53lhZNR

The Brute Krulak Center

Navigating Complexity, Ep 3: Israel & Hamas w/ Dr. Amin Tarzi We discuss new events and developments in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas with Dr. Amin Tarzi. All opinions expressed here are those of the ind...

Navigating Complexity, Ep 2: Gaza - Providing Historical Context w/ Dr. Amin Tarzi

The Brute Krulak Center

Navigating Complexity, Ep 2: Gaza - Providing Historical Context w/ Dr. Amin Tarzi Dr. Tarzi explains some of the history behind why Gaza is where it is and what it is. In our continuing series, we take a quick step back from current events...

MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone has a newly published book review of "The Country That Does Not Exist: A History of Somaliland" in "The Journal of the Middle East and Africa":

https://doi.org/10.1080/21520844.2023.2240221

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New issue of "MES Insights" with a feature article by U.S. Marine Corps Major Lonnie W. Carraway, an AY23 Krulak Scholars at The Brute Krulak Center Marine Corps University:

"Strengthening the Brittle Rare Earth Element Supply Chain amid Revisionist Alignment: Natural Resource Lessons from the Russia-Ukraine War"

Published in partnership with MC UPress

MES Insights, vol. 14, no. 4 The Russia-Ukraine War has significantly affected European energy supplies and demonstrated the varied vulnerabilities associated with a brittle supply chain, leading the International Energy Agency to characterize its impact as “the first truly global energy crisis.” In late 2022, Russia reduce...

New issue of "MES Insights" is out, published in partnership with Marine Corps University Press, with a feature article by Marine Corps University Press The Brute Krulak Center China political and military strategy subject matter expert Mr. Daniel Rice:

"China's Engagement in Africa: Security Initiatives and United Nations Voting"
https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/MES-Publications/MES-Insights/Chinas-Engagement-in-Africa-Part-2/

The article is the second of a two-part series on Chinese diplomacy and strategies with African states.

The first article, "China's Engagement in Africa: Foreign Policy and Economics," was published in the February 2023 issue of MES Insights:
https://www.usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/MES-Publications/MES-Insights/Chinas-Engagement-in-Africa/

MES Insights, vol. 14, no. 3 Daniel Rice discusses how the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) has sought to exert greater leadership on the international stage and expand economic opportunities abroad, Africa has become one of the critical regions for China’s future ambitions as a global leader.

MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone was a panelist at a VOX-Pol workshop (Swansea University), "Evolving Contours of (Online) Extremism and P/CVE in Sub-Saharan Africa":

Evolving Contours of (Online) Extremism and P/CVE in Sub-Saharan Africa This workshop focusses on the phenomenon of extremism and especially online extremism in the context of sub-Saharan Africa. This workshop brought together ac...

MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone has an article in the new issue of the Hoover Institution's (Stanford University) "The Caravan" journal,

"Somalia’s State of Flux: Opportunities and Challenges in the War against Al-Shabaab"

The Brute Krulak Center Marine Corps University

Somalia’s State of Flux: Opportunities and Challenges in the War against Al-Shabaab Somalia is in a pivotal period of its history, seeking to take on one of al-Qaeda’s most lethal regional affiliates.

MES Research Assistant Professor Dr. Christopher Anzalone has a new book chapter on rebel/insurgent proto-state governance in the Horn of Africa published in a new edited volume by Oxford University Press (https://global.oup.com/academic/product/the-rule-is-for-none-but-allah-9780197690390?cc=us&lang=en& #).

MES Director Dr. Amin Tarzi was interviewed about the Afghan Taliban's attempt to rebuild the country's air force:

Taliban Effort To Resurrect Afghan Air Force Runs Into Turbulence The Taliban is trying to revive the Afghan Air Force by using and repairing aircraft inherited from the former Afghan government. But the scarcity of trained pilots, a spate of deadly accidents, and international isolation are hampering the effort.

MES The Brute Krulak Center Marine Corps University is pleased to share the new issue of "MES Insights" w/a feature article by Dr. Chloé Berger: “The War in Ukraine: A Watershed Moment for Enhancing MENA Food Resilience?” It is published in partnership with Marine Corps University Press.

The article analyzes the impact of Russia's invasion of Ukraine on food security, agrifood governance, and prospects for food resilience in the Middle East and North Africa. It was adapted from a seminar presentation delivered as part of the AY23 Krulak Scholars program.

MES Insights, vol. 14, no. 2 Chloé Berger discusses how, after more than a year, the general rise in prices on international food and energy markets caused by the conflict in Ukraine continues to weigh significantly on the socioeconomic stability of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Due to the blockade of Black S...

MES at Marine Corps University at the International Studies Association convention in Montréal, Canada:

Newly published with MC UPress: The February 2023 issue of "MES Insights," Middle East Studies' bimonthly publication entering its 14th year, featuring an article by
Marine Corps University's resident China SME, Mr. Daniel Rice, "China's Engagement in Africa: Foreign Policy and Economics": https://usmcu.edu/Outreach/Marine-Corps-University-Press/MES-Publications/MES-Insights/Chinas-Engagement-in-Africa/

This is the first of two articles by Daniel Rice that analyze China's security, political, and economic strategies with African states. The second article will be published in a forthcoming "MES Insights" issue later this year.

MES Insights, vol. 14, no. 1 Daniel Rice discusses China's ongoing efforts to expand and entrench its reach abroad, the paradox of looking abroad to enable domestic development is becoming more prescient for its foreign policy.