The Irony Of Tahrir Square
The main difference between 2011 and 2013: In 2011, there was hope that the standoff would end in a way that allows Egyptian politics to become normal. In 2013, that seems less likely. Read Here – Foreign Affairs
Tag: Arab Spring
Morsi Toppled; Egypt’s Uncertain Political Future
Egypt’s armed forces overthrew Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, sparking wild rejoicing in the streets at the prospect of new elections as a range of political leaders backed a new political transition. Read Here – Reuters
Protesting Protestors
The protests have many different origins. In Brazil people rose up against bus fares, in Turkey against a building project. Indonesians have rejected higher fuel prices, Bulgarians the government’s cronyism. In the euro zone they march against austerity, and the Arab spring has become a perma-protest against pretty much everything. Each angry demonstration is angry […]
The Ghost Within
Amid the Arab Spring unrest seen among many of its neighbors, the United Arab Emirates has painted itself as a bastion of stability and progress. But the outcome of a trial this week will mark the culmination of the wealthy Gulf state’s little-publicized crackdown on domestic dissent, which critics say has been marked by torture and […]
Is Egypt Preparing For A Second Revolution?
Millions of Egyptians flooded into the streets on the first anniversary of President Mohamed Mursi‘s inauguration to demand that he resign in the biggest challenge so far to rule by his Muslim Brotherhood. Read Here – Reuters
Qatar Will Not Be The Same After Hamad
The former emir had made his country, and more so himself, the ultimate decider on many regional issues. To leave it all at this critical stage, and hand over power to his son Tamim, does not make much political sense. Read Here – Gulf News
Policy Problems
The United States hoped to build Turkey into a model democracy in the Middle East, and to wait out the turmoil of the Arab Spring. Both policies have failed. Read Here – The European
How Can The U.S. Win OVer The Arab Street
Citizens across the Middle East recognize that there is much to gain from closer ties with the United States. A carefully designed U.S. foreign policy should incorporate, rather than alienate, them, says Amaney A. Jamal. Read Here – Foreign Affairs
Can Saudi Arabia Outlive North America’s New Energy Boom?
Current trends in the global energy market don’t look good for Saudi Arabia. First, the International Energy Agency projected in November 2012 that the United States will surpass the Gulf petrogiant as the world’s top energy producer by 2020. Then, last week, it revealed that North America, buoyed by the rapid development of its unconventional oil industry, […]
The Changing Map of Middle East Power
The eruption of the Arab revolts in late 2010 and early 2011 put power relations among Middle Eastern countries in a state of flux, and both winners and losers have emerged. But, given that the strengths and weaknesses of most of the actors are highly contingent, the regional balance of power remains highly fluid. Read […]
looking beyond borders 