North Africa - Carnegie Endowment

Collision Course—Yemen's Converging Crises

Christopher Boucek — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Yemen has always been on the verge of crisis. Throughout its history the country has never known complete stability, and governance has always bordered on chaotic. However, the situation is now rapidly deteriorating, with potentially devastating results.

The Islamist Threat In Tunisia Still Justifies the Stagnation of the Political Scene

Amel Boubekeur — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Tunisian President Benali has been in power for 22 years and he continues to justify stalling political reforms by pointing to the "Islamist threat." Today, there is certainly no chance to have an Islamist party in Tunisia but any democratic reconsideration of the regime is impossible as well.

Aid for Education is Our Best Weapon against Militant Islam

Paul Salem — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 02:00:00 -0700

The future of the Arab world depends on a radical reconsideration of outdated and insufficient educational systems. Western governments must make educational aid a priority or risk seeing the extremists’ madrasas win hearts and minds.

Fiscal Adjustment in Non-oil Producing MENA Countries: Painful but Healthy!

Lahcen Achy — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Non-oil producing countries in the Middle East and North Africa have spent the last decade working to achieve fiscal consolidation. Governments in each of these countries must look beyond the global crisis and make courageous trade-offs to ensure a sustainable future for public finances.

The G20 and Saudi Arabia’s Changing Foreign Policy Agenda

Sven Behrendt — Mon, 21 Sep 2009 02:00:00 -0700

In the wake of the global financial crisis, the Saudis cannot be comforted to know that their economic fortunes are so closely related to events beyond their borders. The Saudi leadership will look to the G20 process to help make these markets less volatile and easier to navigate.

Make-believe Reforms in Morocco

Intissar Fakir — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Morocco's monarchy has yielded little, if any, political freedom. It must not hide behind the erroneous claim that democracy and security are mutually exclusive.

The Maghreb and the Global Economic Crisis: When Does the Tunnel End?

Lahcen Achy — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Though the Maghreb escaped the first wave of the global economic crisis and its growth expectations for 2009 are positive, dramatic falls in commodity prices and world trade will continue to present serious challenges in the coming months.

Yemen: Avoiding a Downward Spiral

Christopher Boucek — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:00:00 -0700

If the Yemeni central government cannot fully control its territory, violent extremists will have a space to regroup and launch new attacks. Yemen's problems potentially threaten the region and the international community.

Fighting Radicalism without Fighting Radicals

Christopher Boucek — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 02:00:00 -0700

Eight years into what was once called the "Global War on Terror", U.S. policymakers show a growing recognition that combating violent extremists requires more creative tools. Aid, reform and education are key tools to be used to reduce the allure of political violence.

Egypt: Loud Debates in a Stagnant Public Sphere

Amr Hamzawy — Sun, 30 Aug 2009 02:00:00 -0700

The Egyptian public sphere is filled with ineffective disputes and debates that provide more noise than substance. This stagnant public sphere is the result not only of the policies of the Egyptian government, but also the weaknesses of non-governmental actors and Egypt’s non-pluralistic culture.