Addison Penn

Matthew Pheneger is an attorney and writer on culture and politics. He holds a J.D. from Case Western Reserve University School of Law, where he was a Vattel International Law Scholar, and a B.A. in Classics and International Studies from Ohio Wesleyan University.

Key Issues Shaping 2025 Iraq Parliamentary Elections

Situation Reports - Aug 13, 2025

Iraq Election abstraction, Generated by Google Gemini AI on August 13, 2025. All flags, maps, and likenesses contained within this image are not necessarily accurate representations of reality.

Iraq is gearing up for a critical test of the state’s political stability in November, with a number of internal and external factors potentially shaping the outcome of the 2025 Parliamentary elections.

Counterterrorism Initiatives in Mali: Not Fit for Purpose

Situation Reports - Jun 20, 2025

120404 Mali faces sanctions as Islamists rebels advance | مالي تحت الحصار مع تقدم المقاتلين الإسلاميين | Le Mali confronté aux sanctions et à l'avancée des rebelles islamistes / cc Magharebi, modified, https://www.flickr.com/photos/magharebia/6904946068

The Mali state’s fight against terrorism continues to be constrained by governance factors (regime rollover and illegitimacy) as well as tactical ones (conducting counterterror as opposed to counterinsurgent operations).