Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Government spending in oil-exporting countries in the Middle East and North Africa cushioned the impact of the global economic crisis, though it could not prevent asset values from collapsing and credit from tightening.
Scholars are stuck asking the same questions, calling for democratization and human rights in the Arab world without effectively explaining their absence.
Any effective U.S. diplomatic approach to Iran must involve other countries in the Gulf, but Washington will not succeed if it continues to strive for an anti-Iranian alliance. A normalization of relations between Iran and its neighbors is an important and attainable step for reintegrating Iran into the international community.
Tunisian President Benali has been in power for 22 years and he continues to justify stalling political reforms by pointing to the "Islamist threat." Today, there is certainly no chance to have an Islamist party in Tunisia but any democratic reconsideration of the regime is impossible as well.
Climbing oil prices and a stabilizing world economy have raised the Middle East and North Africa's growth prospects, but the outlook remains fraught with uncertainties.
Western governments must make educational aid a priority or they risk allowing extremist madrasas to win the hearts and minds of the Arab world.
Non-oil producing countries in the Middle East and North Africa have spent the last decade working to achieve fiscal consolidation. Governments in each of these countries must look beyond the global crisis and make courageous trade-offs to ensure a sustainable future for public finances.
Morocco's monarchy has yielded little, if any, political freedom. It must not hide behind the erroneous claim that democracy and security are mutually exclusive.
The imbalance of power in Arab countries allows regimes to stay in control virtually unchallenged by non-violent opposition groups. Without a break in the stalemate between the key players—ruling establishments, moderate Islamist movements, and secular parties—democratization is impossible.
The imbalance of power in Arab countries allows regimes to stay in control virtually unchallenged by non-violent opposition groups. Without a break in the stalemate between the key players—ruling establishments, moderate Islamist movements, and secular parties—democratization is impossible.