First Impressions Again: An American Re-visits Cairo
MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: It’s my first trip back to the ‘Capital of the Arab World’ for a while and though much remains as ever there have been striking changes since the revolution.
Nancy Ajram: Unlikely Icon of Democracy in Morocco
THE VIEW FROM FEZ: What do Elton John, Haifa Wahbi and Nancy Ajram have in common?
‘All Very Messy’. The Top Five Crises in the Arab Spring
JUAN COLE: Protestors are out on Tahrir Square again, there is a television ‘debate’ in Syria about democracy, the Americans are working on Saleh while vacillating on Libya and protestors are out on the street in Morocco. A busy week in the region then.
Egypt’s Artists: ‘Bunch of Headless Chickens’?
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Egypt’s intellectuals are coming under increasing fire from their own …
Kuwait Reaps the Sectarian Gulf Whirlwind
DAVID ROBERTS: Kuwait’s Parliament is undergoing another crisis. What are the key issues which so frequently flare-up and cause such anguish?
Jihadists’ ‘About-Face’ Sign of a New Egypt
SARAH GREBOWSKI: The extraordinary has become ordinary in Egypt these days. But the conversion of one organisation to democracy demonstrates the speed and scale of transformation.
Is the ‘Turkish Model’ the one to follow in region?
RAMZY BAROUD: It has endured some punishing attacks but the democratic experience in Turkey is presented as a model for the region to follow. How useful is it, however?
The Muslim Brotherhood & Democratic Reform
NASEEM TARAWNAH: There seems to be a desire to ‘craft’ an acceptable democratic transition in Jordan. The lesson of history is that democratic transition tends to be a little ‘messy’.
Women Must Claim Their Place in ‘Arab Spring’
NATANA J. DELONG-BAS, CGNEWS: They have confronted Western stereotypes and achieved much – but will they actively participate actively in emerging democracies?
‘Royal Vision’: Deja Vu Meet Groundhog Day
NASEEM TARAWNAH: There was mention of ‘an elected government’ but apart from this vague aspiration the speech by King Abdullah stuck to familiar themes.
Hip Hop: The Music that Inspired the ‘Arab Spring’
ROSE HACKMAN, CGNEWS: Arabic ‘hip-hop’ with a political twist has been the soundtrack of the revolutions over the past eight months
It’s Time to Debunk the Many Myths of the Egyptian Revolution
SARAH GREBOWSKI: A spontaneous, youth-led uprising that brought instant democracy via Facebook and Twitter? I’m afraid not.
Where is the ‘Arab Lobby’ in the United States?
STEVE ROYSTON: There are many reasons why the ‘Arab Voice’ is so weak in the United States. But that doesn’t give leaders and opinion formers an excuse.
‘Bacha Khan’: An Example for the Arab Spring
ALI GOHAR, LISA SCHIRCH, CGNEWS: Drawing on Islamic and tribal teachings Bacha Khan headed a non-violent ‘army’ in India in the 1920s.
What Kind of Leader Do Young Arabs Want?
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Whether it’s Mubarak, ben Ali or bin Laden it’s clear what sort of leadership Arabs don’t want. It’s far less clear however what they are looking for in their leaders.
Top Five Arab Spring Developments This Week
JUAN COLE: It’s been a busy few days throughout the Arab World with existing and former dictators finding the going is getting tougher.
GCC Clings to ‘Comfort Blanket’ Status Quo
ABDULKHALEQ ABDULLAH: The situation in Bahrain has seriously unnerved other Gulf states and has significantly undermined attempts to promote democracy throughout the region.
Censors ‘Making a Comeback’ in Tunisia and Egypt
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Following a relatively brief lull in censorship activity in Tunisia and Egypt it appears they’re back in business again.
Yusuf Islam Reflects on Morocco, Islam and the Arab Spring
THE VIEW FROM FEZ: The ‘artist formerly known as Cat Stevens’ is appearing at the Mawazine Festival, in Rabat, Morocco this week. In interview he was in reflective mood.
Rise in Grain Cost Will Lead to Regional Disaster
CROSSROADS ARABIA: An even more potent force than the quest for freedom is rising to the top of the region’s agenda – the cost of food.
