The Arab Spring is causing tension in the close relationship between the United States and Saudi Arabia. There is a growing sense in Riyadh that Saudi and U.S. national security interests may be increasingly divergent.
In the wake of popular protests, Morocco has initiated a series of institutional reforms that will reduce the monarchy’s role in government and present the country’s political parties with the opportunity to form a viable and organized opposition.
The United States must renew its support for the democratic principles that guided Egypt's revolution to ensure that Egypt realizes its potential as a free and independent regional leader.
Rather than continuing with the reform rhetoric heard in many Arab countries, rulers who wish to remain in power must engage in serious, measurable, and inclusive efforts at real reform.
A fundamental transformation has occurred in the Middle East and North Africa, in spite of the violent repression that has confronted protesters in Libya, Syria, Bahrain, and Yemen.
Islamist parties in Egypt and Tunisia are emerging as powerful political players in each country’s transition. Upcoming elections in both countries and the performance of Islamist parties once they are in office will determine their future role in formal politics.
The transformations underway across the Middle East present both an opportunity and a challenge for U.S. policy in the region, as new actors enter the political stage with positions, goals, and political weight that are still difficult to judge.
The Muslim Brotherhood’s tight control over the Freedom and Justice Party could produce tension between those seeking large numbers of votes for the party and others who wish to focus on fulfilling the Brotherhood's mission.
The transformation underway in the Middle East has already affected Palestine by facilitating reconciliation between Fatah and Hamas, but the impact could grow in the coming months. What are the implications of the Arab Spring for Palestine and the search for peace in the Middle East?
The prosecution of deposed President Hosni Mubarak demonstrates how Egypt is caught between a revolution, with protesters determined to tear down the old regime, and a political transition based around elections.