March 1, 2013 in Arab Spring, Authoritarianism, Democratic transitions, Dictatorships, Egypt, Iraq, Islamist groups, Libya, Middle East and North Africa, Tunisia 0

Tunisia’s Blessings and Arab Spring Lessons

Geography teaches much about Tunisia, says Robert D. Kaplan, chief geopolitical analyst at Stratfor.

It is the Arab country closest to the heart of Europe, jutting out toward Sicily at the central Mediterranean’s narrowest point.

Whereas in states that …

February 5, 2013 in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Protests, Yemen 0

Yemen transition ‘on brink of collapse,’ says Nobel laureate Karman

Yemen’s transition process is on the brink of collapse due to the failure to reform security institutions and disempower former regime elements, a leading activist warned today.

Former president Ali Abdullah Saleh should be excluded from politics, and youth, women …

February 5, 2013 in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Bahrain, Civil Society, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Dictatorships, Dissidents, freedom of association, Freedom of expression, Human rights, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Opposition movements, Qatar, Saudi Arabia 0

As Bahrain offers reconciliation talks, any ‘prospects for democracy in Gulf States’?

Bahrain will begin reconciliation talks this weekend with opposition groups, Reuters reports, in an attempt to end two years of conflict over demands for democratic reform.

Opposition groups contacted by Reuters suggested they would attend the talks but cited differences …

February 5, 2013 in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Democratic transitions, Egypt, Iran, Islam and Politics, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa 0

As Ahmadinejad visits Cairo, Egypt’s Coptic pope criticizes ‘divisive’ constitution

As Mahmoud Ahmadinejad arrived in Egypt for the first visit by an Iranian leader in more than thirty years, the Coptic Christian pope “sharply criticized” the ruling Muslim Brotherhood in an interview with The Associated Press, saying the new …

February 4, 2013 in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Democracy Assistance, Democratic transitions, Dissidents, Failed states, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Opposition movements, Qatar, Syria, Transitional justice 0

As conflict reaches inflection point, is US ‘empowering Syria’s Ahmad Chalabis’?

Syrian opposition leader Moaz Alkhatib today urged President Bashar al-Assad to enter a dialogue to end the violent conflict and help “the regime leave peacefully,” Reuters reports:

The moderate Islamist preacher announced last week he was prepared to talk …

February 1, 2013 in Arab Spring, Democratic transitions, Egypt, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, Muslim Brotherhood, National Endowment for Democracy, Opposition movements 0

Egypt ‘unraveling’ in face of growing protests?

“At least 15 were injured as thousands of protesters denouncing Egypt’s Islamist president marched on his palace in Cairo on Friday,” AP reports:

Security forces fired tear gas and water cannons at the crowd, who hurled stones and shoes …

January 31, 2013 in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Authoritarianism, Bahrain, Civil Society, Democracy Assistance, Democracy Promotion, Democratic transitions, Dictatorships, Dissidents, Egypt, Elections, freedom of association, Freedom of expression, Human rights, Iraq, Islam and Politics, Islamist groups, Labor/labor unions, Libya, Middle East and North Africa, Muslim Brotherhood, National Endowment for Democracy, NGOs and Civil Society, Opposition movements, Press Freedom, Protests, Tunisia 0

Moving Beyond Rhetoric: U.S. Policy in the Middle East

The Obama administration should be more assertive steps to in?uence the outcome of Arab Spring transitions, engage more broadly than government-to-government relations with a diverse set of actors, and employ leverage and incentives to affect the behavior of key actors, …

January 31, 2013 in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Authoritarianism, Civil Society, Democratic transitions, Egypt, Hungary, Islamist groups, Middle East and North Africa, Muslim Brotherhood, NGOs and Civil Society, Opposition movements 0

Can Al-Azhar dialogue solve Egypt crisis?

Is Egypt’s President Mohamed Morsi governing in the national interest or pursuing an agenda determined by his comrades in the Muslim Brotherhood’s leadership? Or is it a case of what one analyst calls new regime, same old state, with …

January 31, 2013 in Arab Spring, Democratic transitions, Egypt, Human rights 0

Human Rights Challenges as Egypt Prepares for Elections

Amid escalating protests and violence in Egypt, the United States is watching anxiously for signs that Egypt’s transition from authoritarianism can move forward. Parliamentary elections are expected to take place in the next few months.

These are critical times for Egyptian …

January 30, 2013 in Arab Awakening, Arab Spring, Democratic transitions, Islamist groups, Opposition movements, Syria 0

In ‘surprise turnabout’, Syria’s opposition open to dialog with regime

Syria’s opposition is softening its position on negotiations with the Assad regime, reports suggest.

Sheik Ahmad Moaz al-Khatib, the head of the opposition coalition, today expressed a willingness for the first time to talk with government representatives.

“In his …