Mich Cafe

Child Brides: Action Is Being Taken At Last

Child Brides: Action Is Being Taken At Last

MICH CAFE: It’s an issue throughout the Arab world and beyond. Finally, it’s being addressed.

 M.-Lynx-Qualey

Banned: A Day In The Life of a Kuwaiti Censor

Banned: A Day In The Life of a Kuwaiti Censor

M. LYNX-QUALEY: Kuwait always features highly in lists of press freedom in the Arab world but it keeps a tight rein on literature

 Juan Cole

Facebook Value Endures Beyond IPO in Middle East

Facebook Value Endures Beyond IPO in Middle East

JUAN COLE: Facebook does not seem important in Egypt’s presidential race. You wonder if the young are interested: Most plausible candidates are rather ancient…

 Francis Matthew

GCC Union: Practical Thinking Required

GCC Union: Practical Thinking Required

FRANCIS MATTHEW: It’s likely to succeed if it focuses on ways to make the existing GCC work better, rather than offer any new political structure.

 Juan Cole

‘Give Muslims A Hiroshima’: Pentagon’s Curious Class

‘Give Muslims A Hiroshima’: Pentagon’s Curious Class

JUAN COLE: The Pentagon has launched an investigation into a class on Islam which characterises all Muslims as radical, violent extremists

 Tabsir

Sinan Antoon: ‘The Barbarian Who’s Keeping It Real’

Sinan Antoon: ‘The Barbarian Who’s Keeping It Real’

TABSIR: A celebrated novelist, poet and filmmaker Sinan Antoon reflects on life in Iraq before and after the fall of Saddam Hussein

 James M. Dorsey

Trade Unions Reject Qatar’s ‘Labour Rights’

Trade Unions Reject Qatar’s ‘Labour Rights’

JAMES DORSEY: According to the ITUC “workers are dying in Qatar as they build World Cup stadiums, suffering large scale exploitation every day.

 David Roberts

A Non-Starter: The Many Obstacles to Closer GCC Union

A Non-Starter: The Many Obstacles to Closer GCC Union

DAVID ROBERTS: There will be fine talk and likely a positive joint statement will be issued but no firm action will be agreed.

 Crossroads Arabia

Arab League Summits: In Short, Useless

Arab League Summits: In Short, Useless

CROSSROADS ARABIA: Looking for signs of effectiveness of the Arab League? Keep looking…

 Christina Hebert

Citizenship in the Gulf: Is It A Gift or A Right?

Citizenship in the Gulf: Is It A Gift or A Right?

CHRISTINA HEBERT: It’s an issue that generates heated debate but what are the benefits of Gulf countries offering citizenship to foreigners?

 Rob L. Wagner

Arab Spring ‘Good For Women’? The Jury’s Out

Arab Spring ‘Good For Women’? The Jury’s Out

ROB L. WAGNER: They played a leading role in the early stages of the Arab Spring. But have women seen concrete benefits yet?

 David Roberts

Examining Saudi-Qatar Relations

Examining Saudi-Qatar Relations

DAVID ROBERTS: if Qatar’s role is tempered by lack of Saudi support, the region will be without a state willing to push the boundaries of regional politics.

 David Westley

Qatar “World’s Wealthiest”, But What Does That Mean?

Qatar “World’s Wealthiest”, But What Does That Mean?

ANALYSIS: Qatar has a ‘poor’ Gini index. The Gini index measures how well income is actually divided within a society, the lower the score the better.

 David Roberts

The Kuwaiti Elections: Tribal and Bitter

The Kuwaiti Elections: Tribal and Bitter

DAVID ROBERTS: Until these groups can come together bitter arguments, recriminations and stalled political and economic sectors will typify Kuwait.

 Common Ground News Service

A ‘Virtual’ Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Issue?

A ‘Virtual’ Solution to the Israeli-Palestinian Issue?

RUTH EGLASH, CGNEWS: An online movement formed by Palestinians and Israelis has garnered impressive support. But will it make any difference?

 Rob L. Wagner

“Three Months at Most”: How Long Could Iran Close Straits of Hormuz?

“Three Months at Most”: How Long Could Iran Close Straits of Hormuz?

ROB L. WAGNER: As tensions increase all parties are beginning to make calculations regarding the effect of a possible conflict in the Arabian Gulf.

 Juan Cole

Democratic Progress Despite Arab Upheavals

Democratic Progress Despite Arab Upheavals

JUAN COLE: Events are moving quickly in the region, and here are some notable developments with implications for democracy in the Middle East.

 James Mullan

News Analysis: Kuwait Parliament Stormed

News Analysis: Kuwait Parliament Stormed

Following months of protests outside the Kuwaiti parliament the lid finally came off and a group of protestors stormed the gates. What does this mean?

 David Roberts

Qatar Surprises Again, Announces Elections

Qatar Surprises Again, Announces Elections

DAVID ROBERTS: Another fascinating move from a fascinating country. Qatar has again seized the mantle of leadership in the Arab world…

 David Westley

News Analysis: Saudi Best for Business. Really?

News Analysis: Saudi Best for Business. Really?

NEWS ANALYSIS: The World Bank report ignores uniqueness. Could you honestly say that Saudi Arabia is a more hospitable place than the UAE?