Middle East

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 […]

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 […]

Iran Nuclear Deal Opens Doors for Students

By Barbara Slavin

Among the beneficiaries of the interim nuclear agreement with Iran that went into effect this week are Iranian students abroad and the Western educational institutions that are already seeing rising interest from Iran. A senior Barack Obama administration official on Monday told reporters “we’ve committed that up to $400 million of Iran’s own money can […]

Getting US Policy Right in Egypt: Where Does Democracy Promotion Fit?

Since the July 3 ouster of former President Mohamed Morsi, many have questioned whether efforts to transition to democracy in Egypt are working and whether democracy promotion should be part of US policy towards Egypt. On January 23, 2014, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace […]

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.

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 […]

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.

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.

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.”   

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.