U.S. Influence on Arab Regimes

{
  "authors": [
    "Sarah Yerkes"
  ],
  "type": "legacyinthemedia",
  "centerAffiliationAll": "dc",
  "centers": [
    "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace"
  ],
  "collections": [],
  "englishNewsletterAll": "menaTransitions",
  "nonEnglishNewsletterAll": "",
  "primaryCenter": "Carnegie Endowment for International Peace",
  "programAffiliation": "MEP",
  "programs": [
    "Middle East"
  ],
  "projects": [],
  "regions": [
    "Middle East",
    "North Africa"
  ],
  "topics": [
    "Political Reform",
    "Democracy"
  ]
}

In The Media

U.S. Influence on Arab Regimes

Democracy promotion has been a long-standing objective of U.S. foreign policy. Indeed, America’s role as the shining “city upon a hill” has shaped its foreign policy through decades of war and peace.

By Sarah Yerkes

Published on Oct 30, 2022

University of Michigan Press

About the Author

Sarah Yerkes

Senior Fellow, Middle East Program

Sarah Yerkes is a senior fellow in Carnegie’s Middle East Program, where her research focuses on Tunisia’s political, economic, and security developments as well as state-society relations in the Middle East and North Africa.

Recent Work

Article
Amid Iran War, Gulf Countries Slow the Pace of Reforms
- Sarah Yerkes, Amr Hamzawy
Commentary
The Iran War Is Making America Less Safe
- Sarah Yerkes

Political Reform Democracy Middle East North Africa

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 Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Commentary
Emissary
Bombing Campaigns Do Not Bring About Democracy. Nor Does Regime Change Without a Plan.
Just look at Iraq in 1991.
Marwan Muasher
Commentary
Diwan
Axis of Resistance or Suicide?
As Iran defends its interests in the region and its regime’s survival, it may push Hezbollah into the abyss.
Michael Young
Commentary
Diwan
When Football Is More Than Football
The recent African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco touched on issues that largely transcended the sport.
Issam Kayssi, Yasmine Zarhloule
Article
Can the Gulf Cooperation Council Transcend Its Divisions?
Without structural reform, the organization, which is racked by internal rivalries, risks sliding into irrelevance.
Hesham Alghannam
Commentary
The Middle East’s Promising Gen Z
Fifteen years after the Arab uprisings, a new generation is mobilizing behind an inclusive growth model, and has the technical savvy to lead an economic transformation that works for all.
Jihad Azour

More Work from Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

people watching smoke rising at sunrise from rooftops

Commentary

Emissary

Bombing Campaigns Do Not Bring About Democracy. Nor Does Regime Change Without a Plan.

Just look at Iraq in 1991.

Marwan Muasher

Commentary

Diwan

Axis of Resistance or Suicide?

As Iran defends its interests in the region and its regime’s survival, it may push Hezbollah into the abyss.

Michael Young

Commentary

Diwan

When Football Is More Than Football

The recent African Cup of Nations tournament in Morocco touched on issues that largely transcended the sport.

Issam Kayssi, Yasmine Zarhloule

GCC foreign minister meeting in Kuwait City on June 2, 2025

Article

Can the Gulf Cooperation Council Transcend Its Divisions?

Without structural reform, the organization, which is racked by internal rivalries, risks sliding into irrelevance.

Hesham Alghannam

Commentary

The Middle East’s Promising Gen Z

Fifteen years after the Arab uprisings, a new generation is mobilizing behind an inclusive growth model, and has the technical savvy to lead an economic transformation that works for all.

Jihad Azour