The legitimacy trap: How international institutions sustain the Houthis' hold on Yemen

The legitimacy trap: How international institutions sustain the Houthis' hold on Yemen

For years, the prevailing assumption was that the Houthis' survival depended on battlefield victories and Iranian support. Both are essential, but there is a third critical and often overlooked factor: the weaponization of international engagement. In a pattern that continues to repeat itself, engagement without accountability strengthens rather than moderates Houthi behavior.