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Commentary

Understanding the Protests in the Arab World

Massive demonstrations in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen have already toppled one government and threaten to bring down others. What can be learned from the fate of the Ben Ali and Mubarak regimes, are the protests likely to continue spreading across the region, and what options are available to U.S. policy makers?

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By Marina Ottaway, Michele Dunne, Christopher Boucek
Published on Feb 4, 2011

Massive demonstrations in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan, and Yemen have already toppled one government and threaten to bring down others.

Middle East experts Marina Ottaway, Michele Dunne, and Christopher Boucek discussed the fate of the Ben Ali and Mubarak regimes, whether the protests are likely to continue spreading across the region, and what options are available to U.S. policy makers.

About the Authors

Marina Ottaway

Former Senior Associate, Middle East Program

Before joining the Endowment, Ottaway carried out research in Africa and in the Middle East for many years and taught at the University of Addis Ababa, the University of Zambia, the American University in Cairo, and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.

Michele Dunne

Former Nonresident Scholar, Middle East Program

Michele Dunne was a nonresident scholar in Carnegie’s Middle East Program, where her research focuses on political and economic change in Arab countries, particularly Egypt, as well as U.S. policy in the Middle East.

Christopher Boucek

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.

Authors

Marina Ottaway
Former Senior Associate, Middle East Program
Marina Ottaway
Michele Dunne
Former Nonresident Scholar, Middle East Program
Michele Dunne
Christopher Boucek
Former Associate, Middle East Program
Christopher Boucek
Political ReformDemocracyForeign PolicyMiddle EastNorth AfricaEgyptTunisiaJordanYemen

Carnegie India 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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