Middle East/North Africa
Fiscal tightening forces Kuwait to consider welfare reform
As Kuwait undergoes fiscal tightening, the government must begin to consider welfare reform as part of its efforts to tackle debt. Back in mid-October, Finance Minister Sheikh Salem Adbulaziz al-Sabah
Qatar state development model holds potentail and risk
Qatar is one of the world’s smallest states, but it also has one of the largest gas reserves. Small and wealthy, Qatar’s policies have echoed elsewhere. Is it a guide
PM kidnapping shows Libya’s chaos
The kidnapping of Libya’s Prime Minister Ali Zeidan, starkly demonstrates the country’s harrowing post-Gaddafi security crisis. Since the fall of the Gaddafi regime, the level of instability in Libya has
Is Sudan the next Arab Spring hot spot?
With its neighbors roiled in the messy aftermath of the Arab Spring, some have expressed hope that Sudan will be the next chip to fall to popular revolution. The most
Libya Has 99 Problems, and Oil is Still One
Post-Gaddafi Libya continues to struggle as militias block government access to vital oil fields, with spending and stability both taking a hit as a result. Nearly a month after oilfield
Why the US should invest in Iran
As the US and Iran move towards rapprochement, Iran has the potential to become an exciting investment climate and place to park money in the near future. Necessity makes strange
Is Muslim Brotherhood Ban a Return to Oppression?
As Egypt’s interim government moves to ban the Muslim Brotherhood, questions are emerging as to whether calls for freedom in Tahrir Square are backsliding? On the 23rd of September, after the socialist
Saudi Arabia’s record output fails to ease shortage fears
As a number of OPEC countries face stagnant or falling production and oil prices creep steadily upwards, the question of whether Saudi Arabia can offset further shortages is more pressing
Libya’s Government and Militias Vie for Power
Almost two years after former Libyan President Moammar Gaddafi was deposed and killed, the political situation in the country is not living up to the promise of the revolution. The
Syria’s Civil War Has Environmental Origins
The environmental causes of Syria’s civil war are often overlooked by commentary on the conflict: join GRI as we dive into the issue. In the middle of a bloody conflict,
