Yemen on the Edge

{
  "authors": [
    "Christopher Boucek"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
    "Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center"
  ],
  "collections": [
    "Arab Awakening"
  ],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "Yemen",
    "Gulf"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform",
    "Economy"
  ]
}

In The Media

Yemen on the Edge

As international attention remains focused on the protests calling for the removal of Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, the country’s manifold economic problems threaten Yemen and the region.

By Christopher Boucek

Published on Jun 11, 2011

Source: CSPAN's Washington Journal

The Arab Spring has had a profound effect on Yemen, Carnegie’s Christopher Boucek explained on CSPAN’s Washington Journal. Following the protests that broke out in Tunisia and Egypt, youth protesters and civil society activists took to the street in Yemen to demand greater accountability, an end to corruption, elections, and greater economic and social opportunities. Eventually the official political opposition parties, the Joint Meeting Parties (JMP), and elites outside the government joined the protesters on the street, Boucek said. “The one issue uniting these disparate groups is a call for President Ali Abdullah Saleh to leave power and a transformation of the old regime,” explained Boucek.

However, Boucek warned that while international attention focuses on the political protests, Yemen’s struggling economy is being overlooked. If drastic measures aren’t taken to address Yemen’s manifold economic problems, Boucek said, it could lead to disastrous consequences.

Political Reform Economy Middle East Yemen Gulf

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.

More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Baku Proceeds With Caution as Ethnic Azeris Join Protests in Neighboring Iran
Baku may allow radical nationalists to publicly discuss “reunification” with Azeri Iranians, but the president and key officials prefer not to comment publicly on the protests in Iran.
Bashir Kitachaev
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
How Yulia Tymoshenko Returned to the Center of Ukrainian Politics Yet Again
The story of a has-been politician apparently caught red-handed is intersecting with the larger forces at work in the Ukrainian parliament.
Konstantin Skorkin
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
What Russia Will—and Won’t—Do for Its Embattled Ally Iran
It’s one thing to export Russian helicopters to Iran to fight the insurgency, and it’s easy to imagine Moscow becoming a haven for fleeing Iranian leaders. But it’s very difficult to imagine Russian troops defending the Iranian regime on the ground.
Nikita Smagin
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Why Did Zelensky Make a Spymaster His Chief of Staff?
While appointing Kyrylo Budanov will help shore up Zelensky’s political authority and balance the president’s inner circle, the spy chief’s political ambitions mean he could be a threat.
Konstantin Skorkin
Commentary
Carnegie Politika
Azerbaijan’s “Neither War Nor Peace” Strategy Is Limiting Rapprochement With Armenia
While signaling internationally that it wants peace, the Azerbaijani regime continues to promote anti-Armenian sentiment at home to mobilize domestic support.
Bashir Kitachaev

More Work from Carnegie Russia Eurasia Center

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Baku Proceeds With Caution as Ethnic Azeris Join Protests in Neighboring Iran

Baku may allow radical nationalists to publicly discuss “reunification” with Azeri Iranians, but the president and key officials prefer not to comment publicly on the protests in Iran.

Bashir Kitachaev

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

How Yulia Tymoshenko Returned to the Center of Ukrainian Politics Yet Again

The story of a has-been politician apparently caught red-handed is intersecting with the larger forces at work in the Ukrainian parliament.

Konstantin Skorkin

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

What Russia Will—and Won’t—Do for Its Embattled Ally Iran

It’s one thing to export Russian helicopters to Iran to fight the insurgency, and it’s easy to imagine Moscow becoming a haven for fleeing Iranian leaders. But it’s very difficult to imagine Russian troops defending the Iranian regime on the ground.

Nikita Smagin

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Why Did Zelensky Make a Spymaster His Chief of Staff?

While appointing Kyrylo Budanov will help shore up Zelensky’s political authority and balance the president’s inner circle, the spy chief’s political ambitions mean he could be a threat.

Konstantin Skorkin

Commentary

Carnegie Politika

Azerbaijan’s “Neither War Nor Peace” Strategy Is Limiting Rapprochement With Armenia

While signaling internationally that it wants peace, the Azerbaijani regime continues to promote anti-Armenian sentiment at home to mobilize domestic support.

Bashir Kitachaev