MENASource

Bahrain in Egypt’s Shadow

By Kristin Diwan

The popular movement to overthrow the Mubarak government in Egypt in 2011 served as motivation for a political uprising in Bahrain. Now, after two and a half years of political unrest and social polarization, another Egypt-inspired campaign—Bahrain’s “Tamarod” (Rebellion)—has unwittingly facilitated the expansion of security measures that threaten to curtail the activities of Bahrain’s main […]

An Eye on Egypt’s Amended Constitution: Committees and Bylaws

At the beginning of September, the fifty-member committee tasked with amending the 2012 constitution was announced with a presidential decree. The committee began its work on September 8, tackling the constitution that had been amended by a ten-person legal committee. The ten person committee, formed of six judges and four constitutional law professors, completed their […]

US Non-Recognition of the Syrian Interim Government

By Frederic C. Hof

Things have not been going well for Syrians opposed to the Assad regime, especially those who favor a united, constitutional, non-sectarian Syria. No news here: this has been the case since 1970, and particularly since March 2011.

Egypt’s Minimum Wage Hike: More Populism

By Mohsin Khan and Svetlana Milbert

The installation of the transitional government headed by Prime Minister Hazem El-Beblawi gave hope to Egyptians that the new technocratic economic team would turn the Egyptian economy around. The Beblawi government, with renowned economists like Finance Minister Ahmed Galal and Planning Minister Ashraf al Araby, was expected to reverse the downward spiral the economy was […]

In Defense of the ‘Piece of Candy’

By Alaa Al Aswany

Suppose you have a daughter at the age of marriage and an appropriate groom proposed to her: somebody who’s well off, well educated, with a promising future ahead of him, in addition to his good upbringing and religiosity. The only fault with him is that he was divorced with no children. Would you accept that […]

Yemen Needs Friends

By Danya Greenfield

While most attention at the U.N. General Assembly this week is focused on Iran and Syria, the Friends of Yemen group will hold its sixth ministerial meeting on the sidelines. It will be an opportunity for the government of Yemen to hold donors accountable for pledged money and for donors to hold the Yemenis accountable […]

Syria: The President Speaks

By Frederic Hof

Using the forum of the United Nations General Assembly, President Barack Obama tried to present a coherent picture of the US approach to a region whose challenges will dominate the balance of his presidency whether he likes it or not.