Politics

Pompeo’s “Real New Beginning” for the Middle East

In a speech which may have policy implications for the Trump Administration’s Middle East policy, the United States Secretary of State Mike Pompeo lays out plans for the region at the American University in Cairo.

Turkey’s Gradual Efforts to Professionalize Syrian Allies

By Haid Haid / December 14, 2018

Instead of putting its full strength behind unifying Syrian rebel groups, Ankara is slowly supporting that process without disturbing the status quo.

Saudi Arabia and the UAE look to Africa

By Camille Lons / December 13, 2018

By mediating conflicts and combining their assets in the Horn of Africa, Saudi Arabia and the UAE are slowly cementing an arc of political influence across the region.

Russia’s Mediating Role in Southern Yemen

By Samuel Ramani / November 25, 2018

Seeking to expand its influence in the Red Sea, Russia is hoping that mediating internal disputes in Yemen will help make the region more secure.

A New Beginning for Yemen?

By Karim Haggag / November 17, 2018

The strategic role of the United States—and others—in finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Yemen.

What Future for the EU’s Southern Neighbourhood Policy?

By James Moran / November 14, 2018

The upcoming EU-Arab summit could help in crafting a new regional relationship.

A Dangerous Coin Toss

By Marley Dizney Swanson / Fall 2018

For long-time scholar of American foreign policy, William Quandt, it’s still too hard to say what Trump wants in the Middle East

A Divided America

By Erin Hayes / Fall 2018

Why American Islamophobia seems to be declining in the age of Trump

Perceptions from Abroad

By Nabil Fahmy / Fall 2018

How to fight foreign perceptions that the Arab World is violent and in complete turmoil

Lebanon’s Black Sheep

By Leslie Cohen / Fall 2018

Independent parliamentarian Paula Yacoubian discusses the battles worth fighting in Lebanese politics

The Inflection Point

By Jon B. Alterman / Fall 2018

Reduced American focus on the Middle East going forward is just one of many changes with which Arab leaders will have to grapple in the coming years, and it is disorienting

The Choice for the West: Focus or Strategic Failure

By Daniel Levy / Fall 2018

The Middle East and North Africa would be better off with diminished Western ambitions in the region. However, rather than coalescing around a more manageable and realistic set of goals, the West is beset by confusion and growing discord

An Overdue Reckoning

By David Wearing / Fall 2018

British foreign policy in the Middle East has shifted decisively from a long period of consensus to one of sharp contestation between an empire-2.0 right and a transformative left

In the Leopard’s Footprints

By Marco Pinfari / Fall 2018

Despite the rise of the continent’s first populist government, in its relations with the Middle East, Italy shows remarkable continuity with its recent past in its emphasis on migration and energy security

In Pursuit of a Grand Strategy

By Frédéric Charillon / Fall 2018

France’s diplomatic sojourns into the Middle East over the past quarter century have only yielded moderate success. Can the government of Emmanuel Macron reverse this slow downward spiral?

India’s Multipolar Commitment

By Kabir Taneja / Fall 2018

With a modern diplomatic history going back to Gandhi and Nehru, India views its role in the Middle East as a supporter of multiple powers. But how long can India’s commitment to a multipolar Middle East continue?

Russia’s Sharp Turns

By Dmitry Shlapentokh / Fall 2018

To get involved in Syria, Russia had to turn to Iran as an unexpected ally, yet as the conflict develops, it is ready to accommodate any and all players to strengthen its foothold in the region

Pains and Dreams on the Silk Road

By Degang Sun / October 19, 2018

Chinese activity in the Middle East has been a lesson in non-involvement and support for local economic projects; yet, as the Belt and Road Initiative kicks off, China’s role in the MENA region will inevitably change.

Russia, Turkey, and the Fate of Idlib

By Ömer Özkizilcik / September 24, 2018

In Idlib, Turkey could deter Russian airstrikes and ensure the region remains out of the Syrian regime’s control by going after extremist groups.

A Long View of the Middle East

By Leslie Cohen and Sean David Hobbs / Summer 2018

Middle East historian James Gelvin speaks to Cairo Review editors Sean David Hobbs and Leslie Cohen about Middle Eastern current affairs, including where Syria is headed, and whether America’s moment in the Middle East has passed.

Raqqa Youth and the Devastation of War

By Abdulrahman al-Masri / Summer 2018

How Raqqa Youth Survived ISIS

SDG 16 and the Lessons for Egypt

By Laila El Baradei / August 2, 2018

The lessons learnt for Egypt from the 2018 United Nations Public Service Awards which were held to recognize nations achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 16.

The UAE’s Security-Economic Nexus in Yemen

By Eleonora Ardemagni / July 27, 2018

The UAE’s growing investment in Yemen’s energy and security infrastructure is increasingly the driving force behind its counterterrorism involvement.

What Tech Can Do for Arab Women

By Ahmed El-Alfi and Iris Boutros / July 16, 2018

If the technology sector can ease constraints that have traditionally excluded Arab women from economic opportunities, then both tech and women will greatly benefit.

Delusions of a Deal

By Nabil Fahmy / Summer 2018

Donald Trump claims he is the master of deal-making, but will his much-touted “Deal of the Century” be favorable to the Arabs and Palestinians?

Jordan at the Crossroads

By Alaa Elhadidi / July 7, 2018

Jordan’s economic, demographic and geographic characteristics have left the country vulnerable to mass protests and external pressure that can only be overcome by a comprehensive reform program.

Newfound Optimism for Turkey’s Opposition

By Abdullah Aydogan / June 2, 2018

Turkey’s opposition parties have moderated their ideologies and coordinated their strategies to collectively win more votes in the upcoming elections, which could deal a blow to the ruling AKP.

Syria Podcast, Part 2

By Nader Hashemi and Sean David Hobbs / May 27, 2018

Dr. Nader Hashemi explains his views on the Obama Administration’s mistakes in the Syrian Civil War.

Iranian Women, Work, and the Gender Regime

By Valentine M. Moghadam / Spring 2018

Iranian women advance their political agency even as their government imposes a neo-patriarchal economic and political system in the Islamic Republic.

The Middle East According to Egypt

By Mohamed Kamal / Spring 2018

The Egyptian government is charting a role for itself as new and critical developments unfold in the region.

Egypt’s Shifting Foreign Policy Priorities

By Alaa Elhadidi / Spring 2018

How are Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s foreign policy priorities expected to change after his reelection?

The Truth about the Muslim Brotherhood

By Abdel Monem Said Aly / Spring 2018

For the better part of two decades, a debate has raged in American research and policy circles about whether the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt is a moderate political force. A study of the Brotherhood’s political Islam and its linkage to present-day terrorism.

Sixty Years of Egyptian Politics: What Has Changed?

By Dina Shehata / Spring 2018

The Egyptian state has undergone three major regime transitions since Gamal Abdel Nasser’s rule, with the current regime reversing much of the policies put in place by the first.

ASEAN: An Unexpected Success Story

By Kishore Mahbubani and Kristen Tang / Spring 2018

Against all odds, the ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations, or ASEAN, has grown into one of the most viable and successful regional organizations in the world.

Freedom without Permission

By Holly Oberle / Spring 2018

How can we upturn narratives about the Arab Spring uprisings?

Syria Podcast, Part 1

By Nader Hashemi and Sean David Hobbs / May 15, 2018

ISIS, Russia, and Iran’s Influence on the Syrian Civil War.

Trump’s Dangerous Gamble

By Peter Jones / May 13, 2018

The consequences of Trump’s short-sighted decision on the Iran Nuclear Pact and an analysis of the JCPOA’s pros and cons.

Consuming Snow in Desert Shopping Malls

By Mona Abaza / May 3, 2018

Mega-mall development in Cairo’s suburbs follows a neoliberal model of consumerism popular across the Middle East.

Libya’s Foreign Militias

By Thomas Howes-Ward / April 29, 2018

The presence of foreign armed groups in Libya’s south poses an increasing threat to local security and regional political ties.

Breaking North Africa’s Border Security Conundrum

By Jacques Roussellier / April 20, 2018

Although Maghreb states have tended to pursue border security unilaterally, increased transnational coordination at the local level offers a more sustainable approach.

Kuwait’s Foreign Labor Quandary

By Scott Weiner / April 13, 2018

Recent tensions with the Philippines regarding mistreatment of domestic workers highlight Kuwait’s dependence on foreign labor for lower-paying jobs.

Morocco’s Difficult Path to ECOWAS Membership

By Riccardo Fabiani / April 10, 2018

Although Morocco is aiming to diversify its trade relations into West Africa, political and social opposition within ECOWAS raises questions about its real intentions.

Video: The Three Mindsets of Egyptian Voters

By Abdel Monem Said Aly / March 28, 2018

In this Tahrir Dialogue talk, Abdel Monem Said Aly speaks about three “stories” or narratives about the state of Egyptian politics, which represent how people are voting in these elections.

Arabs Rising to the Occasion?

By Amre Moussa / March 10, 2018

Former secretary general of the League of Arab States, Amre Moussa, offers eight recommendations for establishing a new regional order that would see Arab countries end instability and regain control of their futures.

The Meaning of Eastern Ghouta and Assad’s “Victory”

By Nabeel Khoury / March 6, 2018

The Assad regime has won the war; it cannot, however, win the peace.

Failure of the International Security System

By Nabil Elaraby / March 3, 2018

Since its inception, the United Nations Security Council has been paralyzed by the political agendas of the great powers. If the Council is to achieve its main goal of maintaining peace and security, the international community must reconsider the veto power and its impact on the Council’s effectiveness.