Middle East & Africa
Qatari opposition: A failed Quartet project
The stand-off between Qatar and the Saudi-led Arab bloc has entered its fifth month bringing to the surface some Qatari exile opposition figures. Despite...
Trouble in sport’s paradise: Can Qatar overcome the diplomatic crisis?
The crisis in the Gulf that pits Qatar against a UAE-Saudi-led alliance is Qatar's least problem when it comes to the 2022 World Cup....
Tackling Corruption: Why Saudi Prince Mohammed’s approach raises questions
Leave aside for a moment questions of due process. Analysis of Saudi Arabia's three largest corporate failures explains why Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's...
Saudi Prince Mohammed’s Achilles Heel: Misreading tea leaves in Washington
Emboldened by perceived White House support, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman appears to have stepped up his risky, so far faltering effort to...
FIFA on Trial: Qatar’s World Cup back in the firing line
Testimony of a star witness in a New York courtroom has revealed new allegations of Qatari wrongdoing in its successful bid for the 2022...
Iranian Perspective on Egyptian Revolution: From Optimism to Despair
From the Iranian perspective, Arab Spring and movements for Islamic resurgence in the Arab world were inspired by Islamic Revolution (1979) in Iran. It...
Transition in the Middle East: Transition to what?
Transition is the name of the game in the Middle East and North Africa. The question is transition to what? Dominating...
Saudi-UAE push to mobilize tribes against Qatari emir
Nearly six months into the Gulf crisis, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are attempting to mobilize tribal opposition as well as little...
Kenya’s Democratic Disappointment
Kenya's Supreme Court had voided the result of the presidential election held in August, but following a voting rerun – over two months and...
The Lebanese crisis
On November 4 last, during the great "purge" within the Saudi elite, the Lebanese Prime Minister, Saad Hariri, resigned claiming that his life was...