Scholars, advocates, and activists seeking to make the U.S. a more responsible global partner.
Middle East & North Africa
Review: Bahrain, Shouting in the Dark

Review: Bahrain, Shouting in the Dark

by | Jul 24, 2012

During the democratic uprisings that began in the Arab world in 2011, the entire world has focused on Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen, and now Syria. On February 16, Bahrainis participated in what the Qatar-based television station Al Jazeera has called a “secret revolution,” one that was “abandoned by Arabs, forsaken by West and forgotten by the world.” With no international reporters in Bahrain to capture the uprising, Al Jazeera documented, in trembling closeness, the courage demonstrated by the Bahraini protesters, and then the horrors and bloodshed that ensued once the ruler’s forces commenced their attack.

read more
Review: China and the Persian Gulf

Review: China and the Persian Gulf

by | Jul 23, 2012

China’s rise, according to many analysts, has been the world’s most significant geopolitical and economic development of the 21st century. Central to China’s rise has been the energy it needs to fuel economic growth. Importing over 42 percent of its crude oil from the Persian Gulf, Beijing views the region as vital for this economic development. China growing influence in the world’s most oil-rich region is the subject of Bryce Wakefield and Susan L. Levenstein’s China and the Persian Gulf: Implications for the United States.

read more
Beyond Libya’s Election

Beyond Libya’s Election

by | Jul 18, 2012

Libya’s transition to democracy will require far more than a peaceful and democratic election. The legitimacy of the elected government depends on its capacity to disarm local militants while ensuring all Libyans’ security, effectively distributing Libya’s petro-wealth and specifying Islam’s role in governance. The resolution of these polarizing and controversial issues — peacefully within the framework of democratic institutions or through continued violence and authoritarianism — will define the post-Gaddafi era in Libya.

read more

Widespread Muslim Scepticism of U.S. as Democracy Advocate

by | Jul 16, 2012

Despite continuous assurances that the United States favours democratic rule during the 18-month-old “Arab Spring”, majorities or pluralities in six predominantly Muslim countries see Washington as an obstacle to their democratic aspirations, according to a new survey released here Tuesday.

read more