Category: Blogs

How Egypt’s Revolution Might Have Gone Differently

Reeling from a series of bombings, Egyptians are fearful, insecure, and grasping for a sense of stability as its revolutionaries get caught in the crossfire of the state’s war on the Muslim Brotherhood and terrorism. January 25, 2014 marks the thrid anniversary of the Egyptian revolution and many who supported the uprising wonder what change […]

Identity, Islam, and Women in the Tunisian Constitution

By Duncan Pickard

The process of drafting the Tunisian constitution, now awaiting its final phase of approval from the National Constituent Assembly (NCA), has been in some ways a debate about the nature of Tunisian society. When it is passed, the question on many minds will be the extent to which the document is progressive or conservative in […]

Syria: In Geneva, Political Settlement is Only Half the Battle

By Alex Simon

The prevailing attitude toward Geneva inside Syria underscores a central reality of the conference and one that could be easily overshadowed by the frantic diplomacy of recent weeks: even if the talks could miraculously produce their goal of forming transitional government, another miracle altogether would be required in order to implement any settlement on the […]

Vershbow: European Allies Moving Too Slowly to Address Defense Capabilities Gap in NATO

By Alexander Vershbow, NATO

[W]e need NATO. The European Allies need NATO; but so do Canada and the United States. We all need a proven, permanent framework in which we can discuss these issues, find a common strategy, and act upon the decisions we take.

An Alternative History of the Egyptian Revolution

By Maged Atiya

It will soon be the third anniversary of the Egyptian revolution. There will be a flood of articles and opinions about where Egypt stands today, where it might be heading and the significance of various events. Blame will be assigned, pity will be sought, anger will be vented and in proper order events will overtake […]

Turkey’s Troubles May Set Back Kurdish, US Hopes

By Müjge Küçükkeleş and Jeffrey Mankoff

The Turkish government’s mounting domestic challenges, notably from the corruption investigation of senior officials that became public in December, may increase the risk that Prime Minister Erdoğan will be unable to complete a peace process he opened more than a year ago with Turkey’s Kurdish rebels. A failure of that reconciliation effort could increase the […]

NATO-Backed Project Explores Legal Options To Respond to Cyberattacks

By Julian Hale, Defense News

Scholars involved in a project sponsored by NATO’s Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn will meet in February to consider what options governments have, under international law, to respond to cyberattacks from other countries.

Civil-Military Balance Beyond Kayani

By Shuja Nawaz

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif finally made known his choice for the new army chief, arguably the most powerful job in the Pakistani military, one day before General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani retired after completing his second three-year term. Suddenly the talking heads and on-line experts shifted from speculating on who the next chief would be to […]