Middle East/North Africa
What to expect from Jordan’s influx of Syrian refugees
In light of the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Syria, hundreds of thousands of refugees have invariably effected short- and medium-term economic changes in countries like Lebanon and Jordan. What’s next
How will Libya’s ongoing crisis affect MENA region?
Libya faces ongoing political threats including Islamist extremists, all the while it still lacks central control over its oil resources. The internal turmoil could have international implications. As international attention shifts to
Tunisia’s democratic transition may face volatility in months ahead
While Tunisia urges foreign investors to trust its “startup democracy,” the investments remain far from risk-free. Three years after a young street vendor set himself on fire to protest the
Egypt security forces face infiltration and social changes
The ousting of Egypt’s former president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013 was followed by a series of attacks against Egyptian security forces. One of the last attacks, known as the
Five reasons LAF will keep Lebanon stable
The recent military operations at the Sunni border town of Arsal highlight that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF) will remain crucial to holding the country together amid its political crisis.
Opinion: The economic case for a unified Iraq
With ethno-sectarian tensions at a high, observers, stakeholders, and policymakers of Iraq are calling increasingly for a break-up of the country along ethnic and sectarian lines. But a break-up would be
Islamic State reshapes Syria’s war economy
In the Syrian conflict, all sides had developed a stake in maintaining a war economy. With the emergence of the Islamic State (IS), which controls a third of Syria’s territory, the
Mosul Dam recapture reveals poor Iraqi infrastructure
The recapture of the Mosul Dam from the Islamic State (IS) by Iraqi and Kurdish forces underscores the instability of Iraq’s infrastructure. Without continued US military support, IS is sure
How Iran benefits from a ‘New Cold War’
With a ‘New Cold War’ between the U.S. and Russia seemingly in its early stages, Iran has much to gain from the conflict by playing both sides. Remember when Iran
Jordan turns to China for energy development
Despite the conflict in Iraq and Syria at its front door, Jordan is moving forward with plans to develop its energy sector. China is Jordan’s fastest growing partner in this
