Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Libya is now in the second year of full normalization with the United States, following decades of frozen diplomatic relations. The country still faces many domestic challenges, including the presence of radical Islamist groups and the challenges of transition and reform after years of international isolation.
Radical cleric Anwar Al-Awlaki's powerful appeal to violent extremists, ties to al-Qaeda, and apparent inspirational role in the failed Christmas Day bombing and the Fort Hood shooting have made him a high priority target for the Obama administration.
Last August Turkey's ruling party launched a new policy approach aimed at resolving tensions between the Turkish government and Turkey’s Kurdish population. Almost nine months later, the policy seems to have run aground.
Opposition activity is heating up in Egypt as the country heads for parliamentary elections this fall and a presidential election in 2011. What ramifications will this activity have on the Egyptian political system?
Despite Iran's vast energy reserves, widespread economic malaise has been the greatest source of popular discontent and the chief Achilles heel of the Islamic Republic.
Since the mid 1990s, Morocco has presented itself as a model of gradual and genuine democratization in the Middle East and North Africa. However, Moroccan democracy continues to face significant challenges, such as the need to include Islamist groups in the political process and strengthen political parties.
The Middle East has long been a regional battlefield of competing interests among the great powers. In the current international environment, however, the United States, Russia, and, to a lesser extent, China share multiple mutual interests in the region.
Carnegie's Nathan Brown discusses the experiences of activists, political parties, religious groups, and governments in the Middle East and highlights the difficulties involved in bringing democracy to the region.
The rapprochement between Armenia and Turkey is in crisis. The protocols on normalization and recognition have not been ratified and a process of great historic and strategic importance is in danger of collapse.
On March 7th, Iraqis went to the polls to vote in their second free parliamentary elections. The subsequent government formation process will have implications on the stability of Iraq and the U.S. effort to withdraw combat forces.