Tahrir Forum

A Blog on Middle East Transformation

Arab World’s Sorry State

June 15, 2017

The Qatar crisis reflects a deeper rot.

Final Battle for the Arab World

June 14, 2017

It might be useful to step back from examining any one conflict and instead simply try to identify larger historical and political patterns that help us understand the players and the issues at stake.

What Is Qatar’s Real Threat to Saudi Arabia?

By Rami G. Khouri

June 7, 2017

Citizens’ freedom, rights, justice, and dignity seem to be the threats that frighten Saudi Arabian and other Arab autocrats, and these must be minimized at any cost, it seems.

The Battle over Al-Azhar

By Mariam Ghanem and Nathan Brown

June 6, 2017

The effort to curb the Islamic institution’s autonomy has stalled, for now.

A Decisive Year for Iraqi Kurds

By Mohammed A. Salih

June 5, 2017

The risks are high, but an independent Kurdish state is within reach of a fractious leadership.

Three New Trends in Iran’s Politics

By Shireen T. Hunter

May 31, 2017

The country’s ruling establishment, guardians of the 1979 Islamic revolution, confront a changing society.

Empty Promises in Riyadh

By Nabeel Khoury

May 29, 2017

The Trump administration pageant moves to the Middle East.

Turkey’s Turn toward Russia

By Pinar Tank

May 24, 2017

Despite tensions over Syria, Turkey is increasingly turning to Russia to secure its foreign and domestic policy needs.

Trump’s Middle East Fantasies

By Rami G. Khouri

May 17, 2017

Based on the outlines of Trump’s apparent goals, all his goals are rehashed versions of past policy failures.

Five Ghosts That Haunt the Arab World

By Rami G. Khouri

May 11, 2017

To understand the messy state of the Middle East today, look toward its past.

Saudi Arabia’s Post-Oil Future

By Hala Al-Dosari

May 9, 2017

The story behind Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Bin Abdelaziz Al-Saud’s vision to take the country into the future

Iran Is a Paper Tiger

By Shireen T. Hunter

May 8, 2017

From Riyadh to Washington, international leaders overestimate the power of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Will Israel Reciprocate Hamas’ Gesture towards Peaceful Coexistence?

By Rami G. Khouri

May 3, 2017

Israel has not offered any such signals, and remains defiant of the international consensus of the UN Security Council that its colonial settlements must end and it must share Jerusalem.

Convergent Authoritarianisms in Egypt and Turkey

By Jannis Grimm

May 2, 2017

After Turkey’s constitutional referendum, it is increasingly apparent that its government is exhibiting similar authoritarian tendencies to Egypt since 2013.

Arab Women in the Legislative Process

By Laila Elimam and Marwa Shalaby

April 27, 2017

Women continue to face challenges in accessing the higher echelons of political power, but also in playing a more substantive role in the policymaking process.

Arab Gulf’s Mislaid Hopes in Trump

By Sean Yom

April 23, 2017

The contradictions of U.S. foreign policy could lead to renewed tensions with Gulf leaders.

Beware the Ghosts Yemen’s Starved Children

By Rami G. Khouri

April 19, 2017

Their ghosts will come back to haunt us one day. There is nothing in the world more frightening than the ghost of a starved child seeking retribution.