MEC - Regional Relations

The Crisis in Northern Mali

H.E. Maman Sidikou, Rudolph Atallah, Anouar Boukhars, J. Peter Pham — Thu, 31 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

While much attention has been focused on the crisis provoked by the March 22 coup in Mali's capital, events in the northern part of the country may have greater regional implications.

The Emerging Order in the Middle East

Sinan Ülgen, Nathan Brown, Marina Ottaway, Paul Salem — Thu, 24 May 2012 16:02:09 +0000

The best hope for reconciliation and democracy promotion in the Arab world comes from a focus on economic reform and other concrete issues.

Lebanon Edges Closer to Syrian Crisis

Paul Salem — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:48:33 +0000

As armed clashes last weekend show, north Lebanon is becoming a growing support base for the Syrian revolution. Sunni mobilization in support of the uprising in Syria is mounting and the Lebanese government is losing its ability to maintain its policy of neutrality.

Sudan: From Conflict to Conflict

Marina Ottaway, Mai El-Sadany — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:08:41 +0000

The failure of efforts thus far to bring peace to greater Sudan does not bode well for the chances of avoiding new conflict.

The Syrian Opposition Needs a Political Strategy

Yezid Sayigh — Fri, 11 May 2012 13:24:32 +0000

The Syrian opposition will fail to bring about change unless it develops a clear transition plan and a credible political strategy for winning over key sectors in Syria.

UNDP’s Arab Development Challenges Report 2011: Towards the Developmental State in the Arab Region

Fri, 11 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

To respond to the demands for social justice reverberating across the Arab world, Arab countries should adopt a “developmental state” model based on a new social contract of mutual accountability and shed the rentier-based political economy model.

War in the Sudan

Marina Ottaway — Wed, 09 May 2012 20:10:25 +0000

Hope for a lasting peace following South Sudan’s independence has receded with Sudan and South Sudan already engaged in acts of war. In many ways, both sides need conflict with the other as a diversionary tactic for their own internal problems so neither is anxious to reach a settlement.

Iraq’s Foreign Policy Future Rests with Syria

Maria Fantappie — Tue, 08 May 2012 07:30:14 +0000

Acting as an essential mediator in the Syrian crisis could fulfill Iraq's wishes to return to the regional scene and the Kurds’ goal of expanding their influence over neighboring regions.

Turkey and the Bomb

Pierre Goldschmidt, Eva Gross, Bruno Tertrais, Sinan Ülgen — Wed, 02 May 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Despite widespread concern that an Iranian nuclear weapon will lead to an arms race, most nuclear-capable states have chosen not to develop a nuclear arsenal. Turkey is no exception.

The Ayatollah Under the Bed(sheets)

Karim Sadjadpour — Mon, 23 Apr 2012 15:03:11 +0000

In essence, the Iranian regime's approach toward sex, like its philosophy of governance, is marked by expediency and used alternately as a tool of suppression, inducement, and incitement.

A Syrian Model

Dmitri Trenin — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 09:04:28 +0000

Leading Syria to peace is a responsibility which it is safer to accept than to ignore.

Islamists and Education in the Arab World

Muhammad Faour — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 09:18:09 +0000

The Islamist ascent to power in parts of the Arab world has stirred up concerns about the effect this Islamist rise might have on education in the region.

Action Needed as Sudan Heads into War

Paul Salem — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 08:28:41 +0000

As Sudan drifts again into war, the regional and international community must act quickly to save the lives of hundreds of thousands that are at risk. And political change in Khartoum might have to be part and parcel of a long-term solution.

Iraq’s Emerging Role, Syria, and the Middle East

Lizza Bomassi, Maria Fantappie — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

After years of instability and marginalization, Iraq has recently emerged as a key regional player.

Democracy and Human Rights in Iran: A Conference in Honor of Siamak Pourzand

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Even as the policy debate has intensified over Iran, the struggle of Iranians to advance democracy and human rights under increasingly repressive conditions is too often being overlooked.

Turkey’s Relations with the Syrian Opposition

Bayram Balci — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 20:18:15 +0000

Although Turkey is trying to avoid becoming even more entangled in the Syrian problem and is counting on the international community to find a solution, no such solution seems on the horizon.

The Syrian National Council Wins Recognition Abroad, But May Lose Out at Home

Yezid Sayigh — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 09:00:00 +0000

The Friends of Syria meeting held in Istanbul reinforced international commitment to political transition in Syria and granted further legitimacy to the Syrian National Council, but it has also left the council facing several major challenges.

The Arab League Summit and the Syrian Crisis

Paul Salem, Yezid Sayigh, Maria Fantappie — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Iraq hosted the Arab League summit last week, a significant development for a country that has been marginalized from its Arab neighbors. But as Arab relations with Iraq improve, relations with its neighbor Syria are deteriorating.

Turkey in the New Middle East

Sinan Ülgen, Paul Salem — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 09:00:00 +0000

With democratic change struggling to take root in the Arab world, it remains to be seen whether Turkey can serve as a model for those who hope to usher the region through the difficult transition to a more democratic order.

Dear Ayatollah Khamenei: Go Ahead, Shut Down That Strait

David Rothkopf — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Iran's threat to shut down the Strait of Hormuz and strangle the U.S. oil supply could provide a much-needed impetus for the United States to reconsider its energy policies.

“Yemen Solution” Remote but Possible in Syria

Gao Zugui, Dmitri Trenin — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

UN-Arab League envoy Kofi Annan is most likely looking to persuade Syria’s Bashar al-Assad to leave power and prevent a collapse of the Syrian state and civil war.

Turkey, Iran, and the Bomb

Sinan Ülgen — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Although policymakers worry that an Iranian atomic weapon would force the country's neighbors to explore the nuclear option, that is not the case for Turkey.

Russia Prepares for a Syria Without Assad

Matthew Rojansky — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Although Russia seeks to remain the critical broker between Bashar al-Assad and the Syrian opposition, its stance on Syria is beginning to shift as the prospects for Assad's long-term rule diminish.

The Method to Putin's Syria Madness

Matthew Rojansky — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Russia’s intransigence in the face of intense international pressure to halt the violence in Syria is confusing to much of the world, but there are real Russian financial and strategic interests at stake over Syria.

Turkey Eyes Syrian Crisis Through Lens of Kurdish Stability

Maria Fantappie — Fri, 23 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

The escalation of the Syrian crisis provides an opportunity for the Turkish Kurdistan Workers' Party to consolidate its influence within Syria and increase its presence on the Syrian-Turkish border.