James M. Dorsey

Algeria: Football Ban to Lead to Street Protest?

Algeria: Football Ban to Lead to Street Protest?

JAMES M. DORSEY: The ban on football matches taking place during election week deprives Algerians of a useful pressure valve

 Michael J. Totten

To Tunisia: The Arab Spring’s ‘Bellwether’

To Tunisia: The Arab Spring’s ‘Bellwether’

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Largely forgotten in the West, Tunisia is where the great movements and ideas of the Arab Spring are fighting a huge battle.

 SuhaibWebb

“You Don’t Understand the Price of Freedom”. I Do Now.

“You Don’t Understand the Price of Freedom”. I Do Now.

HAJAR ABDUL RAHIM, SUHAIBWEBB: My parents fled Syria to avoid jail, torture and possible death. I have begun to appreciate truly the price they paid.

 Common Ground News Service

Tunisia: Economic Woes Point To ‘Major Trouble’

Tunisia: Economic Woes Point To ‘Major Trouble’

AMINE GHALI, CGNEWS: With growth stagnant, foreign companies leaving in droves Tunisia’s new government faces huge issues

 Tabsir

The Image That ‘Speaks For’ The Arab Spring?

The Image That ‘Speaks For’ The Arab Spring?

DANIEL M. VARISCO: The World Press Photo of the Year has been revealed. Is it the defining image of the ‘Arab Spring’?

 Michael J. Totten

Arab Spring One Year On: Where are We Now?

Arab Spring One Year On: Where are We Now?

MICHAEL J. TOTTEN: Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Syria have undergone enormous turmoil in the past year. But can we see a path for each country’s immediate future?

 Common Ground News Service

Message to Israel: Grab The Opportunity, Now

Message to Israel: Grab The Opportunity, Now

NATALIA SIMANOVSKY, CGNEWS: It’s highly unfortunate that Israel seems to treat all change in the Arab world as a threat to itself.

 Rania Al Malky

Egypt’s “Revolution”: With Mubarak Legally Still President, Has It Even Started Yet?

Egypt’s “Revolution”: With Mubarak Legally Still President, Has It Even Started Yet?

RANIA AL MALKY: Guess what you fools, Farid El-Deeb told the court and Egyptians, Mubarak is still the president. This court can’t even try him.

 Steve Royston

People Are Thinking: The Legacy of the Arab Spring

People Are Thinking: The Legacy of the Arab Spring

STEVE ROYSTON: We’re coming up to the first anniversary of the protests that overthrew Hosni Mubarak. What is the most significant change that has taken place over the past year?

 Susan Al Shahri

Polygamy: It’s A Disaster For Women

Polygamy: It’s A Disaster For Women

SUSAN AL SHAHRI: Polygamy is still relatively common in Dhofar but I don’t know any woman enduring this situation who’s happy with their lot.

 Common Ground News Service

Tunisian Universities ‘Battleground’ for Ideologies

Tunisian Universities ‘Battleground’ for Ideologies

OMEZZINE KHELIFA, CGNEWS: The birth pangs of the new, democratic Tunisia are proving to be painful with a polarisation of society into two conflicting camps possible. Which side will triumph?

 James M. Dorsey

Pork, Alcohol and Qatar: Setting the Limits to ‘Modernity’ and Global Ambition

Pork, Alcohol and Qatar: Setting the Limits to ‘Modernity’ and Global Ambition

JAMES M. DORSEY: The debate will determine Qatar’s effort to become a global sports hub, and its positioning as a forward-looking sponsor of change.

 Abu Muhammed

Rethinking Education To Build Real Saudi Prosperity

Rethinking Education To Build Real Saudi Prosperity

ABU MUHAMMED: The only thing stopping Saudi from becoming a superpower is Saudi. A nation cannot truly be great until it can educate its own.

 James M. Dorsey

Qatar Alcohol Ban Underlines Internal Tensions

Qatar Alcohol Ban Underlines Internal Tensions

JAMES M. DORSEY: Alcohol has been banned on the Pearl Qatar, dubbed the ‘Arab Riviera’. It’s the latest manifestation of internal discord.

 David Roberts

Stuff Happens: The Dangers of Predicting ‘Arab Spring’

Stuff Happens: The Dangers of Predicting ‘Arab Spring’

DAVID ROBERTS: Events have a way of making an idiot of anyone predicting how the Arab world will play out. Here’s a perfect example.

 Juan Cole

Why the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Victory at the Polls May Not be Decisive

Why the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood’s Victory at the Polls May Not be Decisive

JUAN COLE: The Brotherhood is much more moderate than the Salafis and probably will seek a partnership with parties such as the secular Wafd…

 Juan Cole

‘All Praise to George W. Bush’: The Top Ten Myths of the Arab Spring

‘All Praise to George W. Bush’: The Top Ten Myths of the Arab Spring

JUAN COLE: So much that is misinformed, over-hyped and simply plain wrong has been written about the Arab Spring. So let’s sort the wheat from the chaff.

 Jonathan Cook

Israel Backs Itself Into Dangerous Cul-De-Sac

Israel Backs Itself Into Dangerous Cul-De-Sac

JONATHAN COOK: 2011 marked the point at which the Palestinians called Israel’s bluff and revealed Oslo to be nothing more than a stalling tactic. What does the upcoming year hold?

 James M. Dorsey

It’s Official: A Revolution Improves A Country’s Football Performance

It’s Official: A Revolution Improves A Country’s Football Performance

JAMES M. DORSEY: A study has revealed that 5 North African nations experiencing upheaval in 2011 have seen football teams improve markedly.

 James M. Dorsey

Egypt and Yemen: Protestors Being ‘Marginalised’

Egypt and Yemen: Protestors Being ‘Marginalised’

JAMES M. DORSEY: Powerful forces are at work in both Egypt and Yemen to mould the emerging political landscape to benefit these particular players.