Middle East

Stretching from the Western Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, the Middle East continues to be a region struggling with violent conflict, political repression, and poor development. Numerous pro-democracy protest movements, a burgeoning youth population, and efforts to reform governments and lessen economic dependence on oil, however, are causes for optimism. The United States and the international community must remain engaged with the region to provide support for these positive moves and to address the many remaining challenges.

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The latest pieces from MENASource:

MENASource

May 8, 2026

New avenues for Syria-EU cooperation are forming amid conflict in the Middle East

By
Marie Forestier

The May 11 EU-Syria High-Level Political Dialogue marks a step toward a closer partnership.

Energy & Environment

European Union

MENASource

May 7, 2026

Egypt’s bet on land monetization

By
Amir Asmar

There’s little doubt that Egypt's land development efforts will have measurable economic benefits, but they are unlikely, by themselves, to put the country’s economy on a solid footing.

North & West Africa

MENASource

May 5, 2026

Dispatch from Beirut: Israel-Hezbollah talks risk falling into a failed, decades-long pattern

By
Nicholas Blanford

As the war with Israel revives Hezbollah and divides Lebanon, the ongoing negotiations echo failed 1983 talks.

Conflict

Israel

Content

Allies concerned about a diminished US global presence

NATOSource

Jan 23, 2014

Get Ready, the Indispensable Americans are Pulling Back

By Gideon Rachman, Financial Times

[T]he most important emerging theme in world politics is America’s slow retreat from its role as global policeman.

France Israel

New Atlanticist

Jan 23, 2014

Some Good News from the Syria Talks

By New Atlanticist

Syria’s opposition movement made a credible start toward establishing itself as a serious interlocutor, one of two positive developments from the opening of UN-sponsored peace talks on the Syrian civil war that are noted by Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof. The other good news, writes Hof, is that Secretary of State John Kerry made clear […]

Syria

MENASource

Jan 23, 2014

Hawthorne on Democracy Promotion in Egypt

By MENASource

In an Atlantic Council issue brief titled, “Getting Democracy Promotion Right in Egypt,” senior fellow for the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East Amy Hawthorne argues that democracy-building should remain an integral part of the US-Egyptian relationship.

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 23, 2014

Syria: Geneva II, Day One

By Frederic C. Hof

Thanks in part to a long, repetitive, rambling, and vitriolic statement by the representative of the Syrian government at the opening of the Geneva II peace conference in Montreux, Syria’s opposition made a good start toward achieving one of its goals: to be regarded by the international community as a serious, worthy, and relevant interlocutor.

Syria

MENASource

Jan 23, 2014

Getting US Democracy Promotion Right in Egypt

By EgyptSource

The near-term prospects for democracy in Egypt are bleak and US influence there is limited, but the United States can still take steps to promote democratic change over the longer term, argues Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Amy Hawthorne in a new issue brief, “Getting Democracy Promotion Right in Egypt.”

North Africa

MENASource

Jan 23, 2014

Libya: Facing Economic Collapse in 2014

By Mohsin Khan and Svetlana Milbert

Oil is the driving force of the Libya economy. Oil and gas production account for 65 percent of the country’s GDP, 96 percent of exports, and 98 percent of government revenues. As such, developments in the oil sector directly affect the overall economy and show up almost immediately in the growth of real GDP.

Libya

MENASource

Jan 23, 2014

Egypt’s Presidential Elections: The Key Step in Egypt’s Roadmap [Part I]

By Nader Bakkar

With the announcement of the results of Egypt’s 2014 constitutional referendum, the curtains were brought down on the first stage of the July 3 roadmap. According to the consensus on the roadmap, Egyptians should now be readying for parliamentary elections. However, all indicators point to a change in the agreed upon sequence of events, in […]

Elections North Africa

Press Release

Jan 23, 2014

US Democracy Promotion in Egypt Needs Reset

CONTACT:Samia Yakub202.769.0724, press@AtlanticCouncil.org In a new Atlantic Council issue brief, “Getting Democracy Promotion Right in Egypt,” Amy Hawthorne contends that although the near-term prospects for democracy in Egypt are bleak, there is more the United States can do to promote democratic change over the longer term.

North Africa

Issue Brief

Jan 23, 2014

Getting democracy promotion right in Egypt

By Amy Hawthorne

In a new Atlantic Council issue brief, “Getting Democracy Promotion Right in Egypt,” Amy Hawthorne contends that although the near-term prospects for democracy in Egypt are bleak, there is more the United States can do to promote democratic change over the longer term. Hawthorne, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for […]

North Africa

In the News

Jan 23, 2014

Hof on Geneva II Prospects

By Frederic C. Hof

Rafik Hariri Center Senior Fellow Frederic C. Hof is quoted by Al Arabiya on the prospects of the Geneva II peace conference resulting in the ouster of Bashar al-Assad:

Syria

Experts

Fellow

Safwan Al-Amin

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic English

Fellow

Ibrahim Al-Assil

Nonresident Senior Fellow, Syria Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Conflict

Fellow

Bisher Al-Khasawneh

Distinguished Fellow, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Arabic Defense Policy

Fellow

Yesar Al-Maleki

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Geopolitics & Energy Security

Fellow

Omar Al-Nidawi

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Energy & Environment

Fellow

Rend Al-Rahim

Nonresident Senior Fellow

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Democratic Transitions

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