ARB - All Content

Photo Essay: When Only Walls Can Talk

Fri, 09 Jan 2015 14:56:34 +0000

Although Tripoli appears calm, graffiti covering much of the city’s walls hints at the political divisions simmering beneath the surface in Libya’s capital.

Hamas’s Choices

Wed, 07 Jan 2015 16:26:38 +0000

With few viable options at its disposal to address Gaza’s pressing social and economic needs, Hamas may be forced to extend its unity government with Fatah.

Sisi’s Moralism

Fri, 19 Dec 2014 14:51:08 +0000

The Sisi government’s crackdown on perceived immorality is the latest attempt to instill in Egypt a state-sanctioned interpretation of Islam.

Saving Libya’s Constitution-Making Body

Thu, 18 Dec 2014 19:29:59 +0000

The dissolution of Libya’s House of Representatives is putting extra pressure on the Constitution Drafting Assembly to negotiate a new political order in the country.

The Islamic State and Partisanship in Turkey

Wed, 17 Dec 2014 16:42:37 +0000

The war in Syria has polarized Turkey’s political landscape and reignited hostilities between Islamists and secularists.

Photo Essay: Arsal Caught Between Lebanon and Syria

Fri, 12 Dec 2014 18:10:45 +0000

The inability of the Lebanese state to figure out where Arsal stands has made public and state perceptions increasingly hostile toward the town.

Libya’s Southern Rivalries

Wed, 10 Dec 2014 17:14:43 +0000

Rival factions in Libya have allied themselves with groups in the south, intensifying local conflicts and disrupting security in the border zone.

Sinai Campaign a Boon to the Islamic State

Fri, 05 Dec 2014 17:27:05 +0000

Support for the Islamic State in Sinai and across Egypt has risen as youth grow convinced that the state’s violence can only be met with counter-violence.

The Case Against an Alliance With Assad

Tue, 02 Dec 2014 16:54:48 +0000

Realpolitik, rather than ethics, provides the most powerful arguments against the growing calls to forge a deal with the Syrian regime.

The Politics of the Egypt-Gaza Buffer Zone

Tue, 25 Nov 2014 20:34:31 +0000

The new buffer zone being set up on the Egyptian side of the Rafah border will worsen social grievances underpinning much of Sinai’s violence.

Boycott in Bahrain

Fri, 21 Nov 2014 14:58:06 +0000

Upcoming elections in Bahrain are likely to prompt more opposition protests, rather than providing a means of channeling and containing opposition activity.

Geopolitics of Kurdish Peace

Thu, 20 Nov 2014 15:23:26 +0000

Although Kobani has spurred a KRG-PYD strategic rapprochement, Kurdish unity across borders remains elusive.

Seeking Wealth, Taking Power

Tue, 18 Nov 2014 16:21:01 +0000

The Egyptian military’s economic interests are driving it to seek further political control.

Algeria’s Police Riots

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 17:40:47 +0000

The power struggle between the Algerian presidency and DRS prevents any fundamental reforms that could address the underlying demands of police protesters.

A New Sectarian Force for Iraq

Thu, 13 Nov 2014 17:23:14 +0000

Plans to build a national guard force risk widening sectarian divisions in Iraq and pushing more Sunnis toward the Islamic State.

Jerusalem in Turmoil

Wed, 12 Nov 2014 16:34:20 +0000

Social and economic grievances among Palestinian residents and the contentious politics of the Israeli right underlie East Jerusalem’s turmoil.

Kobani and Kurdish Nationalism in Turkey

Thu, 06 Nov 2014 15:58:37 +0000

Regardless of whether Kurds can successfully defend Kobani, the PKK stands to gain support for its nationalist claims in Turkey.

Ennahda’s Next Move

Tue, 04 Nov 2014 15:38:23 +0000

Ennahda’s failure to address Tunisia’s socio-economic challenges led to its electoral defeat, which may accelerate the movement’s split into a religious and political wing.

Nidaa Tounes and the Prospects of a Unity Government

Tue, 04 Nov 2014 15:10:27 +0000

Although a unity government between Nidaa Tounes and Ennahda would widen their internal divisions, for each party it is the best option.

Brotherly Love in the GCC

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 14:31:37 +0000

Renewed high-level diplomatic activity between Qatar and Saudi Arabia may end their historic row as the GCC seeks policy alignment, particularly on security issues.

Houthis on the Rise in Yemen

Fri, 31 Oct 2014 14:17:56 +0000

Although the Houthis are well-poised to acquire new territories and increase their influence within Yemen, neither development will bring about peace or prosperity for the country.

Egypt’s 1984

Tue, 28 Oct 2014 15:25:31 +0000

President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi’s steps to quash dissent exceed the Mubarak era’s in scope and intensity.

The Challenges of Rebuilding Gaza

Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:29:12 +0000

Gaza cannot be rebuilt in a political vacuum; and conditions alone placed on international funding of Gaza’s reconstruction are not likely to work.

ISIS, a Game Changer for Algeria

Tue, 21 Oct 2014 16:04:09 +0000

The rise of ISIS gives Algeria an opportunity to regain the regional influence it lost following its failure to play an effective role in the Mali conflict.

Taking Advantage of Morocco’s Security Threat

Fri, 10 Oct 2014 16:11:18 +0000

Although Morocco is not immune to terrorism, the authorities’ exaggeration of the security threat does more to serve the Ministry of Interior than to fight terrorism.

Tunisia’s Uncertain Elections

Wed, 08 Oct 2014 15:05:24 +0000

Talk of Tunisia’s elections has focused on parties and individuals, not issues, leaving many citizens unsure for whom to vote.

Hamas After the Ceasefire

Thu, 25 Sep 2014 15:10:56 +0000

Hamas’s small tactical gains are unlikely to translate any short-term popularity boost into long-term political capital.

Saleh Bites Back

Thu, 18 Sep 2014 16:26:28 +0000

Former Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh is seeking to take advantage of the Houthi conflict to reestablish his influence and pave the way for his son to take power.

Liberty and Security in Tunisia

Tue, 16 Sep 2014 14:51:18 +0000

The increased role of Tunisia’s security apparatus is generating fears of a potential return of the police state.

Confronting the Islamic State

Thu, 11 Sep 2014 17:59:58 +0000

Airstrikes against ISIS will provide the Syrian opposition an opportunity to work alongside countries that long doubted its ability to rule a post-Assad Syria.

Photo Essay: Worshiping the Egyptian State

Tue, 09 Sep 2014 17:11:24 +0000

New art by young Egyptians aims to jolt viewers out of their worship of strongmen.

The Islamic State and the Cost of Governing

Thu, 04 Sep 2014 17:05:13 +0000

Although the Islamic State gained access to significant resources in Syria and Iraq, budgetary constraints will hinder the group’s expansionist aims.

Egypt’s Judiciary, Coopted

Wed, 20 Aug 2014 18:40:17 +0000

The executive branch’s persistent efforts to discourage and punish independent judges have left the judiciary weak and coopted.

Photo Essay: Jordan’s Other Refugees

Thu, 14 Aug 2014 16:31:08 +0000

Jordan’s attempt to prioritize Syrian and Iraqis refugees leaves its other asylum seekers underserved.

Debating a Kurdish State

Tue, 12 Aug 2014 15:10:19 +0000

Prospects for an independent Kurdish state are hampered by security challenges, internal competition, and insufficient international support.

Securing Lebanon, Widening Divides

Thu, 31 Jul 2014 16:15:04 +0000

Heightened tensions in Tripoli are prompting new measures meant to allay Sunni concerns, but these will not work unless the root causes of discontent are addressed.

The Islamists Ahead in Morocco

Tue, 29 Jul 2014 16:18:27 +0000

With the exception of the Islamists, Morocco’s political parties have failed to take advantage of the post-2011 openings in political space.

Sisi’s Dilemma

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 16:29:51 +0000

As long as Sisi remains heavily dependent on the military and other state institutions, he can neither push too hard against their interests nor count on them to always back his policies.

Sisi’s Economic Call to Arms

Thu, 24 Jul 2014 16:11:54 +0000

Sisi’s gradual introduction of subsidy reforms has forestalled major unrest, but public dissatisfaction will mount if these are seen as coming at the expense of the poor.

Legitimizing Crackdown on Dissent in Jordan

Tue, 22 Jul 2014 16:26:24 +0000

Proposed amendments to Jordan’s anti-terror law threaten free expression and may exacerbate the very problem they are hoping to address.

The Syrian Refugees Problem

Thu, 17 Jul 2014 14:11:16 +0000

Fears of a potential shift in Lebanon’s confessional balance are driving power brokers to enact harsher restrictions on incoming Syrian refugees.

Individuals Before Parties in Egypt’s Elections

Tue, 15 Jul 2014 19:18:33 +0000

Egypt’s new parliamentary elections law will empower old networks.

Islamic State in Syria, Back With a Vengeance

Mon, 14 Jul 2014 16:02:18 +0000

The Islamic State is trying to consolidate its presence in Syria and gain territory using new strategies during its latest push.

Hamas and Israel at the Brink

Tue, 08 Jul 2014 17:10:47 +0000

A mutual desire to show strength has escalated the conflict, and although neither side wants another war, it may already be too late to pull back.

Will the Palestinian Unity Government Survive?

Wed, 02 Jul 2014 14:43:03 +0000

Fundamental flaws in the Hamas-Fatah reconciliation deal, including disputes over security cooperation with Israel, may lead to the fall of the unity government.

Hezbollah’s Iraq Problems

Thu, 26 Jun 2014 14:35:43 +0000

The return of Shia fighters to Iraq has left Hezbollah overstretched in Syria and vulnerable at home.

The Lebanese Army and the Confessional Trap

Wed, 25 Jun 2014 14:26:12 +0000

Lebanon will be unable to maintain its precarious confessional balance in the long term if the army is seen as growing closer to Hezbollah.

The Rise of ISIS, a Golden Opportunity for Iraq’s Kurds

Thu, 19 Jun 2014 14:16:07 +0000

As Iraq’s central government struggles against ISIS, the Kurds quietly take another step towards independence.

More Than ISIS, Iraq’s Sunni Insurgency

Tue, 17 Jun 2014 14:46:47 +0000

Maliki’s alienation of Sunni actors is at the heart of ISIS’s success in Iraq.

ISIS and the Anbar Crisis

Thu, 12 Jun 2014 14:46:37 +0000

Despite recent success in Mosul, ISIS is still trying to solidify its fragile gains in Anbar province, particularly following heavy losses in Syria.