MEC - Security

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.

An Unexpected Result in Algeria’s Parliamentary Elections

Alexey Malashenko — Wed, 23 May 2012 19:07:38 +0000

The Islamists’ defeat in Algeria’s recent parliamentary elections is a product of the pragmatism of the ruling Algerian elite and shows that the regime is sensitive to society’s demands. The results are likely an exception to the trend of rising Islamist influence in the Arab world.

Syrian Crisis Spreads to Lebanon

Paul Salem — Mon, 21 May 2012 21:07:52 +0000

While Lebanon is not currently headed toward a widespread collapse, regional players and the international community must recognize the danger of using Lebanon as a proxy battle for another Arab country.

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.

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.

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.

Tribal Governance and Stability in Yemen

Nadwa Al-Dawsari — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 11:58:19 +0000

Tribal governance and conflict resolution traditions will play a part in helping to ease tensions and mitigate conflicts that will arise as Yemen moves toward political transition.

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.

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.

Negotiating with Iran: Istanbul and Its Aftermath

Vali Nasr, Ray Takeyh, George Perkovich, Karim Sadjadpour — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 04:00:00 +0000

Nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group are scheduled for April 13 and 14 in Istanbul. Is it possible for the United States to successfully engage Iran, or are negotiations with Tehran an exercise in futility?

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.

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.

Palestine: Economic Challenges and Political Implications

Robert Danin, Oussama Kanaan, Firas Raad, Marwan Muasher — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

The Palestinian economy made significant advances in recent years under Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, yet questions remain regarding the sustainability of such progress in light of the ongoing diplomatic stalemate with Israel.

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.

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.

Simmering Discontent in the Western Sahara

Anouar Boukhars — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 09:00:00 +0000

Morocco’s friends in the West, especially the United States and France, must pressure Rabat to expedite a significant devolution of power to the Western Sahara to limit the threat of instability.

Iran is the Great Distraction

David Rothkopf — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Israel and the United States have focused on the security threat from Iran's nuclear program, but this threat may be overstated. Indeed, both Israel and the United States may have bigger security concerns closer to home.

Mauritania’s Islamists

Alex Thurston — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Islamists in Mauritania, an important political force, are not currently a threat to the United States as the mainstream of the movement appears committed to democracy and unlikely to take power.

Russia Should Move to Save Syria

Paul Salem — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

Russia has the opportunity to move beyond saving the doomed Syrian regime to save the country itself from civil war and devastation and to bring about a political transition that leads to a stable and democratic Syria.

The Thin Red Line: Six Observations on Obama's Iran Policy

Jaclyn Tandler — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:00:00 +0000

With the Iranian nuclear crisis nearing a watershed, the question of the Obama administration's "red lines" on Iran's nuclear program is the subject of considerable speculation and debate.