Researcher Mirza Khorma: What the Iraqi Institute for Dialogue is Doing is of Great Importance

The Baghdad International Dialogue plays a vital role in reshaping Iraq’s relationships with major regional and international powers in several ways.

Mirza Khorma, Director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center for Scholars, believes that this conference and the important work carried out by the Iraqi Institute for Dialogue in terms of research and analysis are crucial for opening diverse channels of communication and dialogue with researchers from around the world—particularly between Iraqis and foreign scholars and academics.

She adds that these types of conferences and dialogue sessions, which the Institute holds annually, always provide an opportunity to generate creative ideas and solutions for the many challenges facing the region, in addition to offering analysis of opportunities and avenues for cooperation.

Khorma emphasizes that the role of the Institute is truly important not only in research and analysis, but also in bridging the gap with the policymaking community in Iraq.

She points to the importance of having academic voices capable of working closely with the government, as well as with regional governments, to provide actionable recommendations that can be used by the Iraqi government or in regional initiatives to enhance relations and national security interests. Therefore, she sees the Institute as playing a critical role in this regard.