Friend or Foe?

Too many disruptive and unpromising events have been going on just before elections in Iraq, and the promise of a truly democratic state where the rule of law prevails seems grim. These elections will determine much of Iraq’s near future, not only the internal balance of power but also Iraq’s diplomatic relations with other Arab countries, with the US, and with Iran.

Protecting Marianne

The ban on the full veil in France has been defended as a means to protect the rights of women, but foremost to protect the definition of what is French. However, if the government intends to defend the quintessential values of the French state—liberty, equality and fraternity—they should take a second look at the partiality behind their definitions of what constitutes liberty and what constitutes equality. Rather than focusing on the ban, the government would benefit from revaluating the way it aims to integrate immigrants into French society.

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A Tale of Survival and Broken Promises

The Dubai crisis is not a world crisis but a crisis for the UAE federation. The crisis will considerably affect the economic and political position of the sheikhdom within the federation by unsettling the balance of power between Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The crisis is also a blow to those devising post-oil developmental strategies for Middle Eastern countries.

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Next to Normal

After Prime Minister Hariri was finally able to cobble together a fragile coalition government, there is now some promise of a future closer to normal than anything the country has experienced since before the civil war. “Next to normal” in Lebanon means something modest—political conflicts have become routinized, channelled within existing institutions, and less likely to drive the country into violence. While in the political sphere this view might be overtly optimistic, a broader look provides evidence of an emerging confidence regarding Lebanon’s future.

How Al-Qaeda Turned Algerian

The advent of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb was a shocking turn of events for Algeria. Although violent Islamist groups had been present in the country during the black decade of the civil war, these organizations were nationalist groups and their violent tactics never compared to those employed by al Qaeda. Drawing from Algeria’s history, Filiu explains how Al-Qaeda’s infiltration in the country grew and stymied between the 90’s until today.

Rigging The Game

Independent oil producers are increasingly vulnerable, in comparison to governments of the developing world, whose national oil companies control the future of global energy consumption. However humbling the rise of the NOC may be for the majors, most oil experts say it is a positive development for the industry as a whole.

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Obama’s Arc of Crisis

The first year of Obama’s administration has passed so quickly that it would be unfair to focus only on reviewing the events of the past twelve months without examining with equal vigor the trends that Obama’s election and foreign policy have set in motion and scenarios for the year ahead.

Generation X

The advent of a powerful middle class promises an empowerment of this important sector of society, including the youth that composes it. Despite these promises however, challenges remain in the way of the youth’s ability to achieve its potential.