Tahrir Forum

Egypt’s Natural Gas Crisis

January 22, 2016

Egypt’s temporary relief from its ongoing gas crisis is the result of a lull in demand, not an improvement in industry outlook.

Finally, a Sensible—but Difficult—Path to Reduce Terrorism

By Rami G. Khouri

January 20, 2016

The main difference between the US and UN approaches is that the UN correctly focuses on addressing the underlying drivers of violent extremism and terrorism, while the US government tends to downplay or ignore those critical underlying causes.

Recalibrating Morocco’s Approach to Salafism

By Salim Hmimnat

January 17, 2016

Recognizing the political shortcomings of marginalizing Salafists, Moroccan decision-makers are making efforts to reconcile Salafism with the Sufi character of religious institutions.

2011-2016: Arab Dashed Hopes, Opened Eyes

By Rami G. Khouri

January 13, 2016

Today as then, we have no idea how disgruntled citizens will transform their fears into political acts. But we probably do know that they will do this, so for stubborn Arab regimes, this is a much more dangerous citizenry than the one of 2011.

Kurds as Peacemakers in the Middle East

By David Romano and Mehmet Gurses

January 8, 2016

Supporting Kurdish groups in Syria could empower them to play a role in resolving regional conflicts, not just in Syria but also in Iraq and Turkey.

Have the Terrorists Won in France?

By Chloé Benoist

January 7, 2016

If grand values are no longer deemed crucial or even relevant to the French government in the name of fighting terrorism, then terrorism, for all intents and purposes, has already won.

History is Being Made, but Dangers Also Lurk Ahead

By Rami G. Khouri

January 6, 2016

The best hope for the Middle East is for sensible and responsible people in all concerned lands, especially around the Gulf, to grasp the catastrophes that will engulf much of the region if current trends continue.

2015’s Dark Legacy in the Middle East

By Rami G. Khouri

January 2, 2016

The dark, sick heart of 2015 is the narrowing space across the entire Middle East for citizens to express themselves freely on issues that matter to them and their families.

Gulf States Face Their Biggest Challenge

By Rami G. Khouri

December 30, 2015

The GCC states are now entering into the early stages of reconfigured citizen-state relations similar to what most other non-energy-rich Arab countries experienced from 1986 to 1995.

Making War vs. Hearing Citizens in the Arab World

By Rami G. Khouri

December 24, 2015

People who seek real insights into Arabs’ views and values, rather than the fantasy and racism that dominate much of the public discussion, would do well to read the extensive poll findings of the Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies.

Five Years Ago, 100 Years Ago

By Rami G. Khouri

December 22, 2015

We should honor the millions who have participated in the latest noble quest for dignity and democracy, and enhance their ability to succeed by better understanding why success has been so rare in the past century of stubborn Arab paternalism.

Indeed, When You Listen, You Learn

By Rami G. Khouri

December 16, 2015

Arab public sentiments often go against the perceived realities about our region among both Arab governments and Western elites, both of whom would benefit from listening to ordinary Arab men and women more regularly.

New Cold War Comes to Syria

By Nabeel Khoury

December 16, 2015

Russia's intervention has intensified the Syrian civil war, drawing both Western and regional powers deeper into a seemingly intractable conflict.

Changes in Syria’s Armed Opposition

By Salam Al-Saadi

December 15, 2015

The promise of Western military support and a shared opposition to Russia’s intervention are driving Syrian opposition forces to unite and—for many of them—move away from extremist rhetoric.

What Can We Learn from the Trump and ISIS Eras?

By Rami G. Khouri

December 13, 2015

Donald Trump and Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi peddle similar fantasies to ordinary people living in diminished and stressed conditions.

Turkey’s Kurds Split by AKP Policies

By Gönül Tol

December 10, 2015

President Erdogan's scare tactics may have pushed the country further towards a conflict neither Kurdish rebels nor the Turkish army can win.

The Leadership Crisis of Nidaa Tounes

By Youssef Cherif

December 9, 2015

The Nidaa Tounes party’s internal divide and public rift are discrediting it with the Tunisian public.

Three Points That Capture the Arab World’s Problems

By Rami G. Khouri

December 9, 2015

“The Arab region has for the most part not created stable, productive, and equitable civil states defined by modernity’s benefits because for decades it has functioned under three simultaneous dominant contexts: neo-patrimonial states, neo-patriarchal societies, and neo-liberal peripheral economies.”

Saudi Arabia Is Not “Sunni Central”

By Tarek Osman

December 6, 2015

Unlike what many Western pundits think, Saudi Arabia does not represent the "true" Sunni Islam. Even within the country, there are older traditions of Islam that are far more open and tolerant than the Kingdom's official Wahhabist sect.

More Evidence on How Not to Fight ISIS

By Rami G. Khouri

December 5, 2015

A typical week in the confounding “global war on terror,” in which terrorists perform their evil deeds across many countries while governments keep looking for the appropriate strategy to defeat them.

Tahrir Forum

A Blog on Middle East Transformation