Essays

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?

The Arab World Between Regime Change and Political Reform

By Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid

Winter 2021

The American tendency to overthrow existing governments in sovereign states has been fuel and fodder for conspiracy theories of the last decade.

Explaining Egypt’s January 2011 Revolution between Conspiracy and Conventional Wisdom

By Mustapha Kamel Al-Sayyid

Winter 2021

Ten years on, conspiracy theories about the root causes of the 2011 Egyptian uprising still abound.

Africa and the United States: Reengaging with Africa’s Prosperity in Mind

By Carl Manlan

Winter 2021

With China as a dominant foreign power in Africa, the only option left for United States to engage with the continent is to follow its priorities: namely, prioritizing African youth.

Does the Biden Administration Have Time for Foreign Policy?

By Basant Samhout

Winter 2021

As the United States moves back to a more traditional presidency, the world questions the new administration’s ability, much less willingness, to take a leading role in world politics amid more demanding issues at home

The United States and Egypt: Constant Interests Require Consistent Policies

By Frank G. Wisner

The United States and Egypt have long standing common interests requiring both to pursue consistent and sustained policies.

Why the Phrase “Arab Spring” Should be Retired

By Sean David Hobbs

Winter 2021

It’s time to stop using a Western-based concept ten years on from the events that began the Arab Uprisings.

Messages to America

By Nabil Fahmy

Winter 2021

I look forward to a more positive U.S. posture in the world arena, however I also call on the international community to take initiatives toward reforming the international system. The matter isn’t an American issue or responsibility alone and should not be. It affects us all.

“Reconciliation” in the Communiqué of the Gulf Cooperation Council

By Ibrahim Awad

Winter 2021

A lengthy diplomatic process is still needed to pave the way toward a true Arab rapprochement.

Arab Retooling of the Iran Nuclear Agreement

By Nabil Fahmy

Middle East peace and security must include regional involvement in any future U.S.-Iran nuclear agreement.

The Biden Administration’s Road Ahead

By Dania El Akkawi

Despite an expected change in the White House, how the new administration deals with the out-of-control COVID-19 crisis could help shed some light on an unclear future for the United States.