Middle East

Why Jordan Hesitates to Back Syrian Opposition

By Henry Johnson

As the United States prepares to provide weapons to Syrian rebels, it will rely on Turkey and Jordan to move arms into the country. Jordan will doubtlessly aid the United States, but its willingness to fully support Assad’s ouster remains far from evident. Despite the show of force touted in June’s Eager Lion military exercises, […]

End of the Military Strongman?

By Kathryn Alexeeff

The success of Pakistan’s democratic elections in May and the outcome of the recent protests in Egypt point to a shift in both countries’ military participation in politics – while they will support or depose governments, they no longer seem interested in ruling the countries themselves.

Electoral Politics Under Tunisia’s New Constitution

Overtaken by regional events in Syria and Egypt, coverage of Tunisia’s transition pales in comparison, but much more political maneuvering and dynamism is taking place in the cradle of the Arab spring. The Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted a roundtable discussion on July 11, 2013 for the launch of its […]

Electoral politics under Tunisia’s new constitution

By Duncan Pickard

In the latest issue brief from the Rafik Hariri Center at the Atlantic Council, “Electoral Politics Under Tunisia’s New Constitution,” author Duncan Pickard assesses the challenges and likely outcomes for political parties in Tunisia after the completion of the country’s new constitution. Tunisians have been waiting for a new constitution to cement democratic order after […]

Mr. President Missing in Action?

By Harlan Ullman

Regional crises abound. Massive protests in Egypt that ended the flailing Morsi government to continued bloodshed from Afghanistan to Syria are representative of these crises.

The US Should Give Egypt’s Military 48 Hours to Restore Civilian Rule

By Sarwar Kashmeri

It is a truth universally acknowledged (my apologies to Jane Austen) that the removal of a country’s elected leader by its military is deemed a military coup. So while I agree with President Obama’s pragmatic refusal to so label the recent overthrow of Egypt’s President Morsi, this finesse of terminology had better be a temporary […]

Beyond Syria Spillover: Lebanon’s Troubles Begin and End at Home

Though negative developments in Lebanon are generally viewed as spillover effects from Syria, the more complex reality is that Lebanon’s troubles begin at home and are being heightened to dangerous levels by the turmoil next door.  On July 9, the Atlantic Council’s Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted a discussion with fellow Faysal […]

Turmoil in Egypt: What to Expect

By Jason Harmala

On July 9, 2013, the Atlantic Council’s President and CEO Fred Kempe  hosted a members’ conference call with Dr. Michele Dunne, an Atlantic Council vice president and director of the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East, to discuss the July 3 ouster of President Mohamed Morsi and prospects for violence and political turmoil in […]

Syria’s war threatens Lebanon’s fragile economy

By Faysal Itani

Two new issue briefs from the Rafik Hariri Center at the Atlantic Council evaluate the complex and pernicious effects of Syria’s civil war on Lebanon. Author Faysal Itani, Hariri Center fellow, details the economic challenges that Lebanon faces, particularly in light of the Syria crisis, and offers recommendations on how to avoid a protracted economic crisis, […]

Beyond spillover: Syria’s role in Lebanon’s drift toward political violence

By Faysal Itani and Sarah Grebowski

Two new issue briefs from the Rafik Hariri Center at the Atlantic Council evaluate the complex and pernicious effects of Syria’s civil war on Lebanon. In this issue brief, Hariri Center Fellow Faysal Itani and Research Assistant Sarah Grebowski assess the political, security, and humanitarian implications of the Syria crisis in Lebanon. Events in Syria have sharpened existing fault […]