Foreign Policy Blogs

Tag Archives: Arab Spring

Dancing With Wolves

Dancing With Wolves

You hear many words of wisdom traveling through the Mideast, all which offer insightful pondering to events past and present.  Watching the tragic escalation of events in Syria and the failing efforts to bring the fighting to a close bring to mind words often spoken by the Kurds of the region, who are well-versed in […]

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The Arab Awakening and Middle East food security

The Arab Awakening and Middle East food security

A recent article in The Economist discussed the effect that rising food prices played in the unrest leading up to the Arab Awakening, and how efforts to combat high food prices continue to affect governments in the Middle East. Record prices during the global food crisis of 2007-2008 brought unprecedented food riots to countries like […]

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The War on Iran: Necessity or Illusion?

The War on Iran: Necessity or Illusion?

Wide speculations about the possibility of military confrontation with Iran and Israel’s military intentions seem to be the order of the day. The debate on Iran has now found its way from mainstream media to leading academic institutions. Earlier this week at the University of Toronto a panel of experts discussed the increasing tensions between […]

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Syrian American Council Urges a Crackdown on Assad’s Regime

Syrian American Council Urges a Crackdown on Assad’s Regime

  Since the reign of terror from President Bashar-al Assad’s regime began the UN estimates that over 9,000 innocent Syrian civilians have died at his hands. The local coordination committees estimate that the number of those killed is upwards of 11,000 in addition to those who are injured or incarcerated. Syria has accepted a peace plan from […]

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No Scarves. No Solution

No Scarves. No Solution

The world has found a way to strike back at Syrian President Bashar Assad: they have slapped travel sanctions on his London-born wife, Asma, to thwart her addiction to luxury shopping. One year into Assad’s churning assault against various opposition groups, stopping his wife from shoping in Europe is one of the few things the […]

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Who’s Who IN the Arab World? Examining Arab Identity

Who’s Who IN the Arab World? Examining Arab Identity

So many of us whose work, lives and studies involve the Arab world have spent the last year making sure everyone realized that each country’s ‘Arab Spring’ experience is unique. That said, there is a need to step back and take a moment to see what unites the peoples (and their aspirations) across the region. […]

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AIPAC Insight in to the Future of The Hashemite Kingdom

AIPAC Insight in to the Future of The Hashemite Kingdom

The following was taken from Jspace.com, which is providing exclusive coverage of the 2012 AIPAC Policy Conference.  The article was written by Jspace Foreign Affairs Correspondent, Rob Lattin, who also blogs about Israeli and Middle Eastern foreign policy for Foreign Policy Blogs.  While Cairo and Damascus are burning, things in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan seem […]

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SCAF’s Constitutional Declaration – Uncertainty and Hope for Egypt’s Bicameral Legislature

SCAF’s Constitutional Declaration – Uncertainty and Hope for Egypt’s Bicameral Legislature

February 11 marked the one year anniversary of the official fall of Hosni Mubarak from power.  What started with street demonstrations and the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) overthrowing the President and dissolving the Parliament, was followed by a referendum to amend the existing constitution and fresh Parliamentary election.  On February 22, the […]

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Tunisia Leads the Way, For the Moment

Tunisia Leads the Way, For the Moment

Anniversaries are dangerous days and dangerous moments. There is often a lot of celebrating, a flash of attention and then the sun goes down and life goes on as before. We properly celebrate an accomplishment from the past without real thought or determination on how to preserve and build on the celebrated triumph. So now […]

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America : A Constitutional Midwife for the Arab World!

America : A Constitutional Midwife for the Arab World!

A recent article by Nathan Brown in the FP (Americans, put away your quills), eloquently argues against the advocacy and promotion of “American constitutional ideas” (and ideals) in Arab countries currently in transition due to the Arab Spring.  Although the history of U.S. constitutional transplantation is mixed at best (failed in Latin America in the […]

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2011: Change, Challenges and Reform in Morocco

2011: Change, Challenges and Reform in Morocco

2011 has been a year filled with change, reform, progress and challenges across the Middle East and North Africa, Morocco included. As we anticipate what 2012 holds for the region, here’s a recap of key moments in 2011 for Morocco: February 20 – Thousands demonstrated across Morocco in solidarity with protesters in Egypt and Tunisia, […]

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War Crimes 2011 Year In Review – Asia

War Crimes 2011 Year In Review – Asia

This is the second in a 3-part year in review series on war crimes around the world in 2011. E.C.C.C. – The Big Four Stand Trial In what has been called the most important trial since Nuremberg, the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia commenced the trial of former Khmer Rouge leaders Nuon Chea, Ieng […]

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Separatism – Looking for Your Views

Separatism – Looking for Your Views

2011 proved a tumultuous year for states. The Arab Spring evidenced that stifling dissent through oppression and supporting autocracies should not be the status quo policy of the United States. Now we see states being made anew. How will these states fully differ from their previous forms? Will their previous economic or political strongmen truly be ousted […]

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Ahead of the Arab Spring ‘Curve’ in Morocco

Ahead of the Arab Spring ‘Curve’ in Morocco

Morocco is often left out of the Arab Spring discussion by policymakers and the media, largely because the demonstrations in Morocco took place peacefully, there was no regime change and the reform process proceeded relatively swiftly and transparently. It is also due to the fact that Morocco wasn’t caught blind-sided by the push for change; […]

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Politicizing Medicine in Bahrain

Politicizing Medicine in Bahrain

One of the uprisings in the Middle East that has failed to garner a lot of attention is the situation in Bahrain. Even though Bahrainis took to the Lulu Roundabout much the same way Egyptians did in Tahrir Square just days after Mubarak’s ouster and before major protests broke out in Libya, the story itself […]

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