Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
The Arab world is facing unprecedented socioeconomic, political, and institutional challenges. With the old order breaking down, citizens and states should forge new social contracts to address these massive challenges.
“Overall, there is pride and joy among Tunis residents, who hope that the municipality will finally change under my leadership.”
Mayor Abderrahim discussed her role as the first female, democratically-elected mayor of Tunis, and how she is leading the charge to bring positive change to the capital.
For Tunisians, the revolution was not about democracy. It was first and foremost about improving their daily lives. And, in this case, the government is failing to deliver.
The prolonged crisis in Gaza has created enormous mental health challenges for the population while access to care and treatment remains limited. If it remains unaddressed, this will seriously affect their future and prospects for ending the conflict.
Rising public trust in Arab militaries at the expense of governments could signal a disruptive trend in civil-military relations and portend instability to come.
The Arab Middle East faces unprecedented socioeconomic, political, and institutional challenges. Amid burgeoning conflict and economic stagnation, trust has eroded between governments and their citizens.
The old Arab order has collapsed. Can a new order be created?
More than any other region in the world, the Middle East is defined not by commercial ties, diplomatic interaction, or regional organizations, but by hard power and military might.
The fundamental bargain underpinning stability in Middle Eastern states is coming undone, and unless regional leaders move quickly to strike new bargains with their citizens, even larger storms will come.