In The News

The Washington Post: In the Middle East, The Dream of Democracy Is Dead

Asli Aydıntaşbaş November 27, 2017
In 2010 a Tunisian street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire to protest harassment that limited his ability to earn a living. His action triggered region-wide populist uprisings across the Middle East and North Africa that became known as the Arab Spring. Fleeting hopes for radical reconstruction of state and society now seems dead, buried and even forgotten. Asli Aydıntaşbaş observes...

The Guardian: Israeli Military Chief Wants Closer Saudi Ties as Iran Tensions Rise

Peter Beaumont November 23, 2017
Israeli military chief Gadi Eisenkot affirmed his nation’s commitment to a regional US-backed axis against Iran during an interview with the Saudi newspaper Elaph. Eisenkot described Iran as the major threat for a region destabilized by extremism, autocracies, wars and lack of economic opportunities. According to Eisenkot, Israel could share intelligence with what he called “moderate” Arab states...

The Guardian: Mugabe's Fall and China

Simon Tisdall November 21, 2017
A recent visit to Beijing by Zimbabwe’s General Constantino Chiwenga is fueling speculation about Chinese involvement in Harare – à la the US Central Intelligence Agency in Iran in 1953. Simon Tisdall observes for the Guardian: “If so, the world may just have witnessed the first example of a covert coup d’état of the kind once favoured by the CIA and Britain’s MI6, but conceived and executed with...

Reuters: Kenya's Supreme Court Upholds Kenyatta's Presidential Win

Maggie Fick and Duncan Miriri November 20, 2017
Kenya's presidential race is decided after the country’s Supreme Court unanimously upheld reelection of Uhuru Kenyatta. The announcement was met with celebrations and protests, with some reports of violence. The opposition party, which had organized a boycott on voting in October, indicated that it will continue to explore options and resist the government as illegitimate. “Monday’s ruling...

Rappler: ASEAN’s Deafening Silence on Human Rights Violations

Jodesz Gavilan November 13, 2017
The 31st summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations was marked by a failure to address human rights. “This comes at a time when some citizens of most, if not all, of ASEAN member-states are experiencing some form of oppression by their own governments,” writes Jodesz Gavilan for Rappler. “Rising authoritarianism cripples various freedoms that should be universally enjoyed.” ASEAN has 10...

The Guardian: Lebanese Leaders Step Up Demands for Return of Prime Minister Saad Hariri

Martin Chulov November 13, 2017
The abrupt resignation of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hairiri has raised numerous questions and exacerbates political tensions in the Middle East. As Martin Chulov observes for the Guardian: “Hariri’s unexpected departure has placed Lebanon at the heart of an intensifying power tussle between Riyadh and Tehran, and has alarmed allies of the fragile state who are scrambling to contain a move they...

Los Angeles Times: Prime Minister’s Disappearance in Lebanon

Nabih Bulos November 11, 2017
Even the most fragmented, polarized nations tend to unite when external powers interfere in bullying ways. Such is the case of Lebanon and Saudi Arabia. Lebanon’s population is 6 million, Saudi Arabia’s is 32 million and the crisis for the smaller country is an extension of the war for regional influence between Saudi Arabia and Iran. Lebanon’s citizens worry about Prime Minister Saad Hariri who...