February 21

Causes Of Stability And Unrest In The Middle East And North Africa: An Analytic Survey

Middle East North Africa Trackbacks (0)

“The Causes of Stability and Unrest in the Middle East and North Africa: An Analytic Survey” and is available on the CSIS web site at: http://csis.org/files/publication/120213_MENA_Stability.pdf By Anthony H. Cordesman, Nicholas S. Yarosh, a Center for Strategic and International Studies, USA, report

The report focuses on underlying forces and causes at a time when political crisis -- and serious security issues -- dominate the region.  These political dynamics and unrest are, however, only part of the story.

The trends in demographics, economics, internal security and justice systems, governance, and social change show how much other factors affect both the region and individual nations, and will remain sources of violence and instability until they are dealt with. They show how basic data on the size of given economies, per capita incomes, populations, and population growth rates also contribute to instability. Finally, they illustrate the critical role of governance, social change, and justice systems in shaping and dealing with each nation’s problems...[more]

An updated and greatly expanded analysis of the metrics that can cause political instability and unrest in the Gulf and Middle East.

August 30

Making Sense Of Libya [And Other Reports On The Arab Spring] International Crisis Group

Middle East North Africa Libya Trackbacks (0)

Making Sense of Libya, Middle East/North Africa Report N°107, 6 Jun 2011

The longer Libya’s military conflict persists, the more it risks undermining the anti-Qaddafi camp’s avowed objectives and the purpose claimed for NATO's intervention, that of protecting civilians.
Overview | Full PDF report | Media release
 
This is one of a series of reports on Popular protests in North Africa and the Middle East. See also
 

Popular Protest in North Africa and the Middle East (VIII): Bahrain’s Rocky Road to Reform, Middle East Report N°111, 28 Jul 2011

Unless all sides to the conflict agree to an inclusive dialogue in order to reach meaningful reform, Bahrain is heading for prolonged and costly political stalemate.

Popular Protest in North Africa and the Middle East (VII): The Syrian Regime’s Slow-motion Suicide, Middle East/North Africa Report N°109, 13 Jul 2011

Even in its attempts to survive at all costs, the Syrian regime appears to be digging its own grave.

Popular Protest in North Africa and the Middle East (VI): The Syrian People’s Slow-motion Revolution, Middle East/North Africa Report N°108, 6 Jul 2011

The outcome of the Syrian uprising remains unclear, but what is clear is that a wide array of social groups, many once its supporting pillars, have turned against the regime.

Popular Protests in North Africa and the Middle East (IV): Tunisia’s Way, Middle East/North Africa Report N°106, 28 Apr 2011

As Tunisia continues its transition to democracy, it will need to balance the urge for radical political change against the requirement of stability; integrate Islamism into the new landscape; and, with international help, tackle deep socio-economic problems.
 

Popular Protests in North Africa and the Middle East (III): The Bahrain Revolt, MENA Report N°105, 6 Apr 2011

Bahrain’s crackdown and Saudi Arabia’s 14 March military intervention could turn a mass movement for democratic reform into an armed conflict while regionalising a genuinely internal political struggle.

Popular Protest in North Africa and the Middle East (II): Yemen between Reform and Revolution, Middle East/North Africa Report N°102, 10 Mar 2011

Unprecedented protests and the regime’s heavy-handed response risk pushing Yemen into widespread violence but also could and should be a catalyst for long overdue, far reaching political reform.

Popular Protest in North Africa and the Middle East (I): Egypt Victorious?, Middle East/North Africa Report N°101, 24 Feb 2011

If Egypt’s popular uprising is to achieve its aspirations for a truly democratic society, street activism will need to be converted into inclusive, institutional politics.
March 29

Sustainable Security In The Middle East And North Africa

Middle East Security North Africa Trackbacks (0)

From within and without: sustainable security in the Middle East and North Africa
This site provides free access to the full text of a paper by Chris Abbott and Sophie Marsden which was published by the Oxford Research Group in March 2009. The 10 page paper summarises the outcomes of a consultation that the Oxford Research Group (ORG) and the Institute for Peace Studies (IPS) held in Egypt in October 2008. This brought together security experts, academics, government officials and civil society leaders from across the Middle East and North Africa, and explored the main causes of regional insecurity and East and the problems blocking change. From Intute.ac.uk
http://www.oxfordresearchgroup.org.uk/publications/briefing_papers/withinandwith

October 05

Parliaments Of Arab Nations

Middle East North Africa Parliamentary institutions Arab nations Trackbacks (0)
Arab Parliaments : a parliamentary development portal for the Arab region
This website is maintained by the Parliamentary Development Initiative in the Arab Region, a joint initiative of the Global Programme on Parliamentary Strengthening (GPPS) and the Programme on Governance in the Arab Region (POGAR). It serves to provide information and a voice to parliaments in Arab nations. Nations covered include: Algeria; Bahrain, Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen. The website provides free access to factual information about the parliaments, legislatures and electoral systems of all the nations concerned. It also includes papers and reports from the project and its many working groups which are examining the progress and future development of parliamentary reform in these regions. Key topics include women and politics; law making, political representation and strengthening democracy. Intute.ac.uk
http://www.arabparliaments.org/