The Majalla the leading political affairs magazine in the Arab world

Written by : Mohamed Al-Rumaihi

on : Saturday, 21 Apr, 2012

The Gulf and the Arab Spring

Many ask whether the radical changes of the Arab Spring will hit Gulf States. The question has two dimensions: the first asks about desire for change in the Gulf, with all its implications. The second dimension is more analytical: it asks whether the ongoing changes in some Arab countries can spread to neighboring regions, and under what specific circumstances. It would be unnecessary to discuss the first dimension because it concerns emotions and impressions; however, the second dimensi...

Filed under: Politics - Tagged with: Arab countries, Arab Spring, Bahrain, Doha, GCC, Gulf, Iraq, Libya, Sudan, Syria, Yemen

Written by : The Majalla: The Leading Arab Magazine

on : Friday, 20 Apr, 2012

The Race is On

The controversial Bahrain Grand Prix looks set to go ahead this Sunday at Bahrain International Circuit racetrack, albeit under tight security. The governing body of Formula 1, the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), decided to proceed with the race at the last minute, after receiving assurances from the Bahraini government that it had the security situation under control, according to the BBC. The government is determined to show the world that it is in control. It is l...

Filed under: News - Tagged with: Bahrain, Bahrain International Circuit, Grand Prix, protests

Written by : The Majalla: The Leading Arab Magazine

on : Friday, 20 Apr, 2012

The Compromise Candidate

The competition to be president of Egypt now looks like a three-horse race between Amr Moussa, the ex-Muslim Brotherhood moderate Abdelmonim Abolfotouh, and the Brotherhood’s...

Filed under: Profile - Tagged with: Abdelmonin Abolfotouh, Amr Moussa, Arab league, Egypt, Israeli policies, Mubarak, Omar Suleiman, presidential, presidential election, Shaaban Abdel Rahim

Written by : Alex Edwards

on : Thursday, 19 Apr, 2012

Understanding Dictators

Hosni Mubarak, Muammar Qadhafi, Zine El-Abedine Ben Ali, Saddam Hussein, Ali Abdullah Saleh, and perhaps soon Bashar Al-Assad: once the masters of all they surveyed, autocrats ...

Filed under: War & Peace - Tagged with: Assad, Bahrain, Ben Ali, corruption, dictators, Egypt, Iraq, Libya, Mubrarak, Qadhafi, Saleh, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen

Written by : Alastair Beach

on : Thursday, 19 Apr, 2012

The Circus Continues

It has been an entertaining couple of weeks in Egyptian politics. First there was the will-he-won’t-he drama surrounding Abu Ismail, the ultra-conservative Salafi who was fac...

Filed under: Egypt Unwrapped - Tagged with: Egypt, Hosni Mubarak, Politics, presidential, Salafi

Written by : Amy Assad

on : Thursday, 19 Apr, 2012

Confronting Paradise

“Me being a Palestinian, I guess, may have something to do with the interest people have in my work.” says internationally-renowned artist, Laila Shawa at her most recent e...

Filed under: Culture - Tagged with: Activist, art, Art exhibition, birds, Drones, Islamism, Israel, Israeli drones, Laila Shawa, occupation, October Gallery, palestine, Palestinian cause, Persian miniatures, PLO, political art, pop art, suicide bombers, womens rights

Written by : Mahjoob Zweiri

on : Wednesday, 18 Apr, 2012

A Dynamic Scene

Since the 1980s, Iran has defined itself as the sole revolutionary country in the Middle East. Its basis depended on a doctrinal legitimacy which appeared throughout different ...

Filed under: Politics - Tagged with: Arab Spring, Egypt, green movement, Iran, Iranian Revolution, Islamic revolution, Israel, Libya, NATO, Syria, Turkey

Written by : Paula Mejia

on : Tuesday, 17 Apr, 2012

Egypt’s Disqualified Front-runners

On Saturday 14 April, The Supreme Presidential Election Commission in Egypt announced that 10 of the 23 candidates of the presidential election had been barred from the race. A...

Filed under: Hearts and Minds - Tagged with: candidates, Egypt, elections, Hazem Abu Ismail, Khairat el-Shater, Omar Suleiman, Supreme Presidential Election Commission

Written by : Nima Khorrami Assl

on : Tuesday, 17 Apr, 2012

Co-operation from China?

Reuters's report on March 5 that a major Chinese ship insurer – China P&I Club – has decided to "halt indemnity coverage for tankers carrying Iranian oil" has led to an...

Filed under: Inside Out - Tagged with: China, Iran, oil

Written by : Jacqueline Shoen

on : Monday, 16 Apr, 2012

Egypt’s Conundrum

In a post-authoritarian country undergoing tremendous change, who should write its constitution, and who decides who should write it? These questions have been part of a na...

Filed under: Between You and Me - Tagged with: Egypt, Egypt constitution, Freedom and Justice Party, Muslim Brotherhood, Saad Al-Katatny, Salafist