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Middle East and North Africa

Special Collection on the Middle East

This complete work consists of several dozen essays spread out over 8 parts tackling the region’s conflicts and historical evolution, relating them to contemporary issues. Divided into distinct regions and critical issues, the Special Collection of the Middle East is your source to better understand this volatile region and to be prepared for what comes next.

What’s Next for Syria’s Refugees

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(click to enlarge) Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011, displaced more than 13 million people, including nearly 5 million who fled abroad. However, with...

The Weakness of Israel’s Approach to War

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The Middle East has broken down into a state of extreme combat. The collapse of the system of governance throughout the region has opened...

After the Fall of Assad, the Middle East Braces for Unrest

Jubilant crowds in some of Syria’s biggest and most politically significant cities toppled statues of former President Hafez Assad over the past week, in...

The Syrian Government Has Fallen. Now What?

The Assad regime, which had ruled Syria for nearly half a century, fell over the weekend after rebels took control the capitol of Damascus....

Saudi Arabia Hedges Its Bets

Last weekend, Saudi Arabia ditched the comprehensive defense pact it had been pursuing with the U.S. in favor of a smaller, more limited military...

The Stakes in Syria’s Renewed Rebellion

Syria has once again become the center of gravity in the contest for primacy in the Middle East. Backed by Turkey, Syria’s Sunni rebels...

In Syria, Turkey Makes Its Move

It was only a matter of time before Turkey would try to capitalize on the hole Israel punched into Iran’s sphere of influence after...

Trump and the Elusive Middle Eastern Balance of Power

Much of the public discussion about U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s forthcoming strategy for the Middle East, especially in light of the nominees to his...

Qatar’s Adaptive Foreign Policy

The modern history of Qatar began in the 18th century with the settlement of Arab tribes along the Persian Gulf coast. It soon became...

For Saudi Arabia, Iran Is Still a Threat

Iran’s entry into the Arab world was always going to result in a conflict with Israel, but, despite claims to the contrary, Iran was...

Graphic Essay: Energy Market Volatility

For many countries, including major geopolitical players, energy resources rank among the most politically and economically sensitive commodities. Prices for these resources are shaped...

Iran and War

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Last week, I wrote on the Middle East and promised a follow-up piece would come next. The U.S. election intruded. Now I’ll return to...

Iraq in the Crosshairs of the Israel-Iran War

After its premier proxy Hezbollah suffered unprecedented losses in the war with Israel, it is time to reevaluate the state of Iran’s disproportionate influence...

Egypt and Ethiopia’s Dispute Is Getting Worse

Egypt has been displeased with Ethiopia’s plan to dam the Blue Nile River since the project was announced more than a decade ago. Egypt’s...

The US Election and Its Impact on the Middle East

Editor’s note: Yesterday was election day in the United States. We at GPF tend to avoid the pontifications and predictions of electoral politics, not...

The Illusion of Palestinian Statehood

The idea of a two-state solution was a Palestinian concept that gradually gained international support. Its broad outlines began to take shape in the...

Latest Posts

The meltdown of autocratic regimes currently underway in the Arab world has led to the growth of ungoverned spaces. The resulting vacuum is being dominated by armed Islamist non-state actors – in particular Salafist-jihadist militias.

The three non-Arab powers – Turkey, Iran and Israel – are trying to manage the regional commotion according to their national interests.

It was during the Cold War era that a deep ideological chasm in the Middle East began to coagulate. The struggle between those who adopted European secularism and those who crafted an ideology based on religious tradition had its roots in late 19th century Ottoman Empire. Roughly 100 years later, this struggle had polarized the region.

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From our Forecast...

The Vienna nuclear talks will result in a settlement. The Israeli Air Force will not attack Iran’s nuclear sites.

Middle East and North Africa in our Memos

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Latest Posts

What’s Next for Syria’s Refugees

FREE
(click to enlarge) Syria’s civil war, which began in 2011, displaced more than 13 million people, including nearly 5 million who fled abroad. However, with...

Daily Memo: Russia, Turkey Reach Out to Syrian Rebels

Reaching out. Moscow is in direct contact with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that led the rebellion that overthrew the Assad regime in Syria,...

How Russia Defends Its Baltic Lifeline

European authorities are pretty sure someone is deliberately cutting their undersea cables and scrambling ships’ navigation systems in the Baltic Sea, and they are...

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Special Collection – The Middle East

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