The most prominent things published by studies and research centers in the week news

Between October 24 and October 30, 2025, studies and research websites published several studies, the most important of which are:

Al Jazeera Center for Studies

1- Parliamentary elections and the challenges of rebuilding the Syrian state

Read also

list of 2 itemsend of list

The study talks about the electoral process conducted by Syria on October 5, 2025, which used the indirect voting mechanism with the aim of strengthening internal and external legitimacy.

The study analyzes the election results in terms of geographical, ethnic, and sectarian representation, and indicates the dominance of the conservative movement in the majority of seats, with the weak presence of secular parties and minority components.

It confirms that the ability of the new parliament to exercise effective legislative authority will determine whether the government will gain national and international confidence, or remain under the weight of a legitimacy crisis.

2- The military confrontation between Afghanistan and Pakistan: roots, repercussions and future scenarios

The study deals with the escalation of military tension between Afghanistan and Pakistan due to the historical dispute over the Durand Line and the activity of the Pakistani Taliban, as Islamabad accuses Kabul of harboring elements of the movement, while Kabul considers the Pakistani strikes a violation of its sovereignty.

It indicates that this conflict has gone beyond security borders to include humanitarian, economic and regional dimensions, with a warning that its continuation may destabilize South Asia, while the chances of calm remain dependent on the will of both parties for dialogue and cooperation.

International Crisis Group

1- Maximizing the gains of the Trump-Xi meeting

The study talks about the meeting between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in South Korea on October 30, 2025, and choosing it as a platform to reset the relationship between the two largest economies in the world.

The study reveals that the opportunity lies in the two parties identifying concrete steps towards cooperation in the fields of economics, technology, and reducing escalation, but the success of this depends on formulating effective follow-up and oversight mechanisms.

2- Risky promises…challenging Ukraine’s security guarantees

The study reviews the situation in Ukraine after the war with Russia, which made the issue of security guarantees central, but it faces major obstacles: Western promises are not clear enough, and the absence of expanded involvement from NATO or the United States makes the guarantees remain more of a symbolic nature than a decisive commitment.

While Russia seeks to exploit this vacuum to impose its conditions, the Ukrainians doubt whether the West’s commitments will provide real protection for the future.

3- Containing the serious electoral crisis in Cameroon

The study focuses on the electoral crisis in Cameroon following the announcement of President Paul Biya’s victory in the elections of October 12, 2025, and finds that this announcement increases deep political tensions and contributes to undermining confidence between the government and the opposition.

The study warns that failure to take these measures could lead to the continuation of the electoral crisis as a catalyst for military escalation or the disintegration of state institutions, and stresses that the solution is not to cancel the elections, but rather to transform them into a real process of transparency and accountability.

Atlantic Council

1- The return of American energy companies to Iraq and politics threaten their gains

The study talks about the return of American energy companies to work in the Iraqi oil sector after years of decline, driven by great investment opportunities.

The study believes that the government of Muhammad Shia al-Sudani is using this return to strengthen its political position internally and gain Washington’s support. However, it notes that the volatile political landscape, the influence of armed groups, and the relationship with Iran may threaten the viability of these investments.

2- Trump in Southeast Asia… the truce and limited regional diplomacy

The study indicates that the US President’s visit to the Southeast Asian Summit (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur, to announce the signing of a truce between Thailand and Cambodia, in a celebratory event that formed a strong image of the American presence in Southeast Asia.

The study focused on the fact that this achievement was as symbolic as it was political, and that its achievement depends on continuous implementation and not just the signing of documents. She warns that a good diplomatic portrayal does not necessarily change the deep reality of tensions in the region, especially in the face of competition between the United States and China.

3- Reimposing sanctions on Iran strengthens its growing alliance with Russia

The study believes that reactivating the sanctions that were imposed on Iran before the 2015 nuclear agreement, the “trigger mechanism,” increases its strategic interdependence with Russia, as Tehran considers these sanctions illegal, and benefits from Russian support to obstruct their implementation, which pushes it to turn east towards Moscow and China, and strengthen economic, diplomatic and military cooperation, in the face of the policy of isolation practiced by Western countries.

Al-Zaytouna Center for Studies and Consultations

Milestones on the Israeli path to dividing Syria

The paper talks about the challenges that Syria is exposed to on the partition path by Israel, within a broader strategic context of dismantling the Arab region. The study includes Israel’s steps and the challenges that the Syrian state faces in this regard.

Vision for research and studies

1- The urgent efforts in Gaza today and their impact on the next day

The study addresses the acute humanitarian situation in Gaza, focusing on basic services such as health, municipalities and education, as urgent pressure points at this stage.

It also indicates that civil society action and activating the civil sector are key to confronting recurring crises, and not relying solely on foreign aid. She explains that relief operations must be linked to establishing a basis for reconstruction and sustainability, and not be limited to an immediate response only.

2- Reasons for the Chinese rise

The study focuses on the factors behind China’s rapid rise in industrial and technological fields, such as the government’s strategic planning (such as the Made in China 2025 plan), its heavy investment in infrastructure and cheap energy, and digital development, along with a skilled workforce and private sector entrepreneurship.

It also analyzes why the United States failed to offset this rise, and points to the decline in infrastructure investment, dependence on obtaining technology abroad, weak industrial vision, and regulatory barriers that limit the ability of American production and innovation.

Carnegie Center for International Peace

Are we on the brink of a new war in Lebanon?

The study examines the hypothesis that a new war between Hezbollah and Israel could break out soon, and concludes that the current situation is not an option for lasting peace, but that there is a combination of pressures and drivers that make all-out escalation less likely than assumed, that is, the “timing of war” is not clear.

It is noted that Israel currently has a broad mandate with American support and effective influence in southern Lebanon, which reduces the incentive to launch a comprehensive military operation, especially after the depletion of its army in previous operations.

Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies

1- The Moroccan Sahara between Trump’s passion and the plight of the “Polisario”

The study examines the American role in the Western Sahara conflict, focusing on the policies pursued by President Donald Trump that restored Moroccan sovereignty over the region.

The challenges facing the Polisario Front also emerge as a result of this shift in the American position, and the resulting increasing political and diplomatic pressures.

2- Iraq…the first parliamentary elections in light of the decline of Iran’s regional influence

The study talks about the Iraqi parliamentary elections scheduled to be held in November 2025, which are the first after the decline of Iranian regional influence, with the disintegration of internal political alliances and strong competition between the main powers.

It is expected that these elections will determine the features of the Iraqi political scene and the level of Iran’s influence in the country in the coming years.

3- Mediterranean Charter 2025: Prospects for security cooperation between Egypt and the European Union

He talks about the new charter between Egypt and the European Union that enhances cooperation in the fields of development, security, migration and economics, with a focus on confronting common challenges in the Mediterranean region, such as illegal migration, crises and disasters, and developing education, skills and job opportunities.

Abaad Center for Strategic Studies

Repercussions of the advance of the Rapid Support Forces in El Fasher

The study talks about the multiple dimensions of the control implemented by the Rapid Support Forces in the northern Darfur region of Sudan, and its impact on the political, security and humanitarian scene.

It highlights that progress is not just a military matter, but rather carries implications for restructuring regional authority, dividing influence, and perhaps drawing new equations of control in Darfur.