Essays

Why Palestinians consider the UAE-Israel Deal a strategic betrayal

Palestinian anger rises towards the UAE-Israel deal, which is not only a breach of international law, but also perceived as a betrayal of long-standing Arab solidarity with Palestine.

Syria’s Prospects for Reconstruction Are Bleak

By Katherine Nazemi, and Alexander Decina

Hindered by an array of domestic and international obstacles and competing regime priorities, the Syrian government’s efforts to attract regional capital for investment and reconstruction will be insufficient.

Greece’s Resource Blessing Comes with Hurdles

By Antonia Dimou

Summer 2020

Can international arbitration and mediation with its neighbors help Greece turn its energy challenges into opportunities in the Eastern Mediterranean?

The EU and the Med: Is Geography Still Destiny?

By James Moran

Summer 2020

Europe needs to find ways of reinvigorating its relations with MENA countries to bring stability in its southern neighborhood and Mediterranean region.

Gas Finds for the People?

By Jason Beckett

Summer 2020

Public international law—tied as it is to existent western-centric neo-colonial structures—will likely block the natural gas finds in the Eastern Mediterranean from benefiting regional states.

The Prospects for Conflict or Cooperation

By Henri J. Barkey, and Ellen Laipson

Summer 2020

Will the Eastern Mediterranean natural gas discoveries lead to regional transformation?

Turkey’s Energy Geopolitics

By Meliha Benli Altunışık

Summer 2020

Turkey is at one end of competing geostrategic visions in the Eastern Mediterranean, but are there avenues for reconciliation with countries at the opposite pole?

Reluctant Power Europe

By Kevin Koehler

Summer 2020

Will Europe’s approach of principled pragmatism toward the Mediterranean succeed in creating stability where previous approaches have failed?

African Societies Plan for a Post-Pandemic Economic Recovery

By Helmo Preuss

Plans share a common thread of infrastructure spending and intra-African trade

Society 5.0 and the Future Economies

By Hesham Dinana

Spring 2020

We’re better-connected today than ever before—but has modern innovation created a new society altogether?

A Question of Delivery

By Ahmed Taher

Spring 2020

The success of Egyptian higher education depends on far more than reforming content and curricula. Cherry-picking the best from the American model is one place to start.

Beginning to Resolve Displacement

By David Arnold, Lorenza Rossi, Grace Benton, and Nina Stuurman

Spring 2020

Addressing the issues of displaced persons starts not by envisioning an ending point for those no longer living in their homes, but instead by understanding the mobile nature of displacement and empowering those affected.

Seeing COVID-19 as an Opportunity

By Ted Reynolds

Extremist groups will attempt to take advantage of the turmoil created by COVID-19—and it’s not the first time.

Let Conflicts Be Bygones

By Nadeen Shaker

A sobering look at how COVID-19 will affect Libya, Syria, and Yemen, where war and conflict have not only decimated most of these countries’ precious resources but are further destroying what remains of them.

Sustainable Solutions for an Economic Crisis

By Amina Abdel-Halim

As the world grapples to mitigate a looming economic crisis, a roadmap already exists: the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

South Africa latest to apply for COVID-19 aid from New Development Bank

By Helmo Preuss

This will mostly be used to fund medical equipment such as surgical masks, respirators, and testing supplies.

In Close Proximity to Their Abusers

By Karina Powell

Domestic violence worsens worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neither East Nor West

By Nanjala Nyabola

As the Covid-19 response of powerful states like the U.S. and China falters, it is also failing regions on the margins of great power politics, like Africa. It is time weaker states take a long look at their dependence on the world’s juggernauts for their own security.

A Surplus of Deficits

By Amr Adly

Spring 2020

From a political economy perspective, there are four key forces working against the peace and prosperity of Middle Eastern and North African states. To defeat them, robust institutions are essential.

It is Time to Establish a Middle East Regional Security System

By Peter Jones

Spring 2020

Unlike every other region of the world, the Middle East does not have an inclusive regional security system. This article explores why that is, asks whether now is the time to begin, and suggests how such a process could be started