Essays

Egypt and Sudan continue to insist on a tripartite agreement to manage Ethiopia’s contentious plan to execute its Renaissance dam on the Nile.

More than a Monolith

By Ariana Bennett

Summer 2021

Home to 54 unique countries, ancient civilizations and cultures, Africa is much more than meets the world’s eye.

A Pandemic of Vaccine and Technology Hoarding: Unmasking Global Inequality and Hypocrisy

By Lauren Paremoer

Summer 2021

Intellectual property waivers are key to dismantling global vaccine apartheid and providing equitable vaccination to Africa and other continents.

Africa is Climbing the Prosperity Ladder but Some Rungs are Broken

By Musaazi Namiti

Summer 2021

Africa is a continent with six of the world’s ten fastest-growing economies, but can it overcome its major challenges?

The Long Road to African Tourism Recovery

By Helmo Preuss

Summer 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on the tourism industry in 2020, but this year a slow vaccine rollout and new variants means it will take a while to recover to pre-pandemic levels.

Millions of People Continue to be Forcibly Displaced in Africa

By Maysa Ayoub

Summer 2021

Even though forced displacement is a global crisis, it is no more obvious than in Africa.

In Malawi, the battle to save mangoes

By Charles Mkoka

Summer 2021

Malawi, like other African fruit producers, is drawing on local and global resources to combat a pest which threatens vital fruit exports.

A New Water Paradigm for Sub-Saharan Africa

By Djiby Thiam

Fall 2021 Summer 2021

To make clean water and sanitation truly accessible to local communities across the continent, African institutions must take the lead in understanding the specific challenges and opportunities they face.

Yemen’s Peace Process: A Path to Conflict?

By Abdullah Hamidaddin

Spring 2021

The possibilities and risks of Yemen embracing peace and stability after a long period of internal civil war remain bleak.

The Rise of the United Arab Emirates

By Abdulkhaleq Abdulla

Spring 2021

By harnessing national confidence, proactively dealing with regional security concerns and exercising geopolitical cooperation, the UAE is positioning itself as a regional powerhouse.

Maintaining the U.S.-Saudi Relationship

By Hussein Ibish

Spring 2021

The once booming strategic alliance between Riyadh and Washington has weathered a number of regional storms but is beginning to show wear and tear.

Solving the Nuclear Stalemate between Iran and the United States

By Gawdat Bahgat

Spring 2021

To reach an agreement on Iran’s nuclear program and provide an effective security apparatus across the region, all Middle Eastern countries need to move beyond a zero-sum mentality.

The End of Corporate Janissaries in the Gulf

By Omar Al-Ubaydli

Spring 2021

Gulf family companies and businesses must learn to wean off the Kafala system that has created short-sighted dependency on elite migrant workers, much like the flawed Janissary model of governance.

The Long Road to Economic Transformation in the Gulf

By Nader Kabbani

Spring 2021

To successfully reinvent their economies, Gulf states must move past the deadweight of legacy policies and their adverse consequences.

Iran and the GCC: Prospects for a Grand Reconciliation

By Sharmine Narwani

Spring 2021

To realize shared priorities and fulfill the Persian Gulf’s potential as a global cornerstone for energy and trade, hardline Gulf states must acquiesce to waning U.S. hegemony and pursue reconciliation with Iran.

The UAE Art Scene: Challenges and Opportunities

By Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi

Spring 2021

Sustainability and longevity of a thriving cultural sector in the Gulf must be treated as a priority, which is why long-term planning is essential in order to ensure the ability of the art field to meet with both current and future challenges.

Breaking the Historic Taboo

By Allison Hodgkins

Winter 2021

The only way for Israelis to escape perpetual deadlock is to shatter the taboo on inviting Non-Zionist parties into the government. Like Menachem Begin and the Sinai, Netanyahu may be the one to do it.

Leading Israel into an Empty Future

By Richard Silverstein

Winter 2021

This week’s Israeli Election—the fourth such vote in two years—will likely result in a stalemate or Netanyahu’s eking out another victory. But then what comes next?