Archive
Working Class Iranians Demand Labor Reforms
Last week, several hundred unemployed, underemployed, and underpaid steelworkers demonstrated in Tehran outside of the Iranian parliament. In the wake of the election of moderate cleric Hassan Rouhani many working
Water Under the Bridge on the Korean Peninsula
Earlier this year the Korean peninsula was anything but stable. The third North Korean nuclear test on February 12th sparked fresh rounds of bellicose rhetoric and actions on both sides
Shale Gas is the New Kid in Town
In the last several years the shale oil and gas revolution has changed the energy sector in the United States and will transform the country from an importer to an
Morocco’s Government Begins to Unravel
On 10 July 2013, the Istiqlal party announced its spontaneous departure from the Moroccan government. As the second largest political party within the Moroccan parliament, forming part of the governing
Coup or Not, Egypt’s Problem is the Economy
What happened in Egypt was not a coup; it was a popular uprising against an incompetent president, who failed to deliver what he promised over a year ago. He ruled
Competitiveness Report Digest Part II: The Levant and North Africa
See Part I for an introduction to the Arab World Competitiveness Report 2013. Just as the Gulf countries exhibit similar strengths and weaknesses, countries of the Levant and North Africa
Algeria Restores Hope for EU Energy Security
As one of the most resource-rich nations in the Mediterranean region, Algeria has long been identified as a strategic energy partner by European Union policymakers. Reflecting this vision, the development
5 Challenges for Russia on Sochi Winter Olympics
With the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics only half a year away, the games are facing a number of challenges from organizations within the Russian Federation, as well as from foreign
Why Egypt’s Coup Was So Effective
Until the start of this month, Egypt could count itself as a member of an exclusive club of nations in Africa that had not experienced a coup d’etat (successful or
Obama’s “Power Africa” Strategy Neglects Africans
In June 2013, US President Barack Obama visited Africa for the second time in his presidency. The first visit to Ghana, in 2008, lasted a mere 20 hours. This trip,
