Christopher Boucek
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The Crisis in Yemen
While the political crisis in Yemen is important, the failure of the country's economy could be catastrophic, with potentially serious consequences on a regional and global scale.
Source: WHYY Radio

Boucek discussed why the situation in Yemen gives him cause for concern. Yemen faces both a political and an economic crisis. Water, food, and fuel prices are rapidly rising, the value of the Yemeni currency continues to fall, and there are concerns the country is in economic meltdown. Boucek pointed out that Yemenis are among the most well-armed populations in the world, and with “too many guns and too many grievances there is the potential for the country to spiral into chaos and violence.” While the political crisis in the country is important, the failure of the Yemeni economy could be catastrophic and demands the attention of domestic and international policymakers.
About the Author
Former Associate, Middle East Program
Boucek was an associate in the Carnegie Middle East Program where his research focused on security challenges in the Arabian Peninsula and Northern Africa.
- Yemen After Saleh’s Return and Awlaki’s ExitQ&A
- Rivals—Iran vs. Saudi ArabiaQ&A
Christopher Boucek, Karim Sadjadpour
Recent Work
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
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