Content

MENASource

Jul 11, 2014

And They Call Themselves Liberals

By Amr Hamzawy

Have you ever heard of ‘liberal’ parties and political movements which at times keep silent about human rights violations and freedoms and at other times justify, defend, and even revel in such violations, as long as they are committed against those whose views differ from their own? 

North Africa

Webcasts

Jul 10, 2014

The Political Economy of Subsidy Reforms in MENA: Progress and Challenges

Please join us on July 10, 2014 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. for a conversation with Daniel Gressani who will present the IMF’s latest progress assessment of energy reforms undertaken by MENA countries based on regional reform experiences, as well as in the rest of the world over the last two decades. Gressani will […]

Middle East

MENASource

Jul 10, 2014

Egypt Government Unprepared for Repercussions of Subsidy Reform

By EgyptSource

Egypt-based development economist & nonresident fellow Mohamed El Dahshan offers his views of the impact of energy subsidy reform in Egypt. In a brief video interview, Dahshan highlights the repercussions of the removal of subsidies. According to the nonresident fellow, the Egyptian government is unprepared for inflation of prices, already witnessed in the transportation sector. […]

North Africa

MENASource

Jul 10, 2014

Syria: Should the West Work With Assad?

By Frederic C. Hof

The combination of the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS) running amok in Iraq and the appearance of an Assad regime military victory in western Syria have added octane to arguments that Washington should forego its step-aside guidance to Bashar al-Assad.

Syria

In the News

Jul 10, 2014

Itani on How ISIS Threatens Jordanian Stability

By Faysal Itani

Al Jazeera America quotes Rafik Hariri Center Resident Fellow Faysal Itani on how the presence of the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Sham in Iraq could affect stability in Jordan:

Iraq

MENASource

Jul 10, 2014

The Kurdish Move Toward Independence

By Wladimir van Wilgenburg

The semi-autonomous Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) is increasingly moving toward independence from Iraq after northern and western territories fell into the hands of Sunni militants affiliated with the Islamic State (IS), or the Islamic State in Iraq and al-Sham (ISIS).

Iraq

In the News

Jul 9, 2014

Khan on Sunni Economic Grievances in Iraq

By Mohsin Khan

Bloomberg quotes Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Mohsin Khan on the role of economics in the ongoing crisis in Iraq: 

Iraq

MENASource

Jul 8, 2014

The Perils of Protest

By Khaled Dawoud

Amid speculation that newly elected President Abdel-Fatah al-Sisi would start his term by looking into the cases of dozens of political activists who have been in jail for months, either pending trial or serving sentences, for violating an unpopular Protest Law issued in November, a series of court orders issued this week ended such expectations, […]

North Africa

In the News

Jul 8, 2014

Mardini on Iraq’s Fracturing

By Ramzy Mardini

CNN quotes Rafik Hariri Center Nonresident Fellow Ramzy Mardini on the likelihood of Iraq splitting into three parts:

Iraq

MENASource

Jul 8, 2014

The Continued Exploitation of Religion in Egypt’s Politics

By Amr Hamzawy

During Egypt’s 2011 referendum on the constitutional amendments, the 2011 parliamentary elections, the 2012 presidential elections, and the 2012 constitutional referendum, ‘liberal,’ ’democratic,’ and ‘civil’ parties criticized the Muslim Brotherhood (and its Freedom and Justice Party) and Salafists for bringing religion into politics. Almost a year after the ouster of the Muslim Brotherhood president, Mohamed […]

North Africa

Experts

Events