Essays

Let Conflicts Be Bygones

A sobering look at how COVID-19 will affect Libya, Syria, and Yemen, where war and conflict have not only decimated most of these countries’ precious resources but are further destroying what remains of them.

Sustainable Solutions for an Economic Crisis

By Amina Abdel-Halim

As the world grapples to mitigate a looming economic crisis, a roadmap already exists: the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

South Africa latest to apply for COVID-19 aid from New Development Bank

By Helmo Preuss

This will mostly be used to fund medical equipment such as surgical masks, respirators, and testing supplies.

In Close Proximity to Their Abusers

By Karina Powell

Domestic violence worsens worldwide due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Neither East Nor West

By Nanjala Nyabola

As the Covid-19 response of powerful states like the U.S. and China falters, it is also failing regions on the margins of great power politics, like Africa. It is time weaker states take a long look at their dependence on the world’s juggernauts for their own security.

A Surplus of Deficits

By Amr Adly

Spring 2020

From a political economy perspective, there are four key forces working against the peace and prosperity of Middle Eastern and North African states. To defeat them, robust institutions are essential.

It is Time to Establish a Middle East Regional Security System

By Peter Jones

Spring 2020

Unlike every other region of the world, the Middle East does not have an inclusive regional security system. This article explores why that is, asks whether now is the time to begin, and suggests how such a process could be started

The Geo-economic Fallout of COVID-19 for the Middle East

By Neil Bhatiya

The COVID-19 coronavirus will cause long-term consequences for the Middle East; a combination of chaos in oil markets and contraction of gross domestic product will present challenges for years to come.

Can Arab Cities Be Eco-Sustainable?

By David Sims

Spring 2020

Separating fiction from reality, and corporate interests from true innovation in the new “eco-cities” of the Middle East.

The U.S. Pandemic Response: The Challenge of Competing Narratives

By Diana Bartelli Carlin

The American people lose out to contradictory official messages during a crisis that has been framed within the 2020 presidential election.

The Water-Energy-Food Nexus in COVID-19

By Thomas L. Crisman and Zachary S. Winters

The nexus between water, energy, and food today is fragile—made all the more so by climate change, catastrophic weather events, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Stopping the Spread: A Citizen’s Engagement

By Carl Manlan

Africa is no stranger to recent outbreaks and therefore has a foundation to combat the coronavirus, but more must be done to ensure the informal economy is included in a comprehensive strategy to beat COVID-19.

The Last Tourist in Luxor

By Audrey Lodes

During the coronavirus pandemic, the crown jewel of Egypt’s economy, tourism, is suffering, but people are coming together to make the best of a bad situation.

A Future Filled With Pathogens

By Dahr Jamail

The combination of a worsening climate crisis and ongoing human encroachment on the wilds will bring more pandemics.

An Alternative Approach to Regional Security in the Middle East

By Eman Ragab

The Arab Spring is a decisive event that continues to reshape the geopolitics of the region, so why has no progress been made to create a security collective?

Trash Sorters: Entrepreneurs in Africa

By Carl Manlan

Winter 2020

Africa is on the cusp of a community-led socioeconomic transformation, but this cannot happen without fully integrating the informal economic dynamos of young trash sorters

How Sudan Transitions

By Hamid Eltgani Ali

Winter 2020

Sudan’s path to democracy has been a rocky one, and there are several key players who need to ensure it never returns to an autocratic state

Toward Arab Food Security

By M. Anis Salem and Natasha Banks

Winter 2020

A roadmap for a sustainable future without wasteful subsidies and mismanagement

Edge of Survival

By Peter J. Jacques

Winter 2020

The interaction of food, energy, and water in North Africa is complex and building into a cascade of trouble. It is time to listen to the rural communities facing it on the frontline

Myths about Food Security and Water

By Eckart Woertz

Winter 2020

Will water be the cause of the next war in the Middle East? Is water important for regional food security? Can economic diversification really work? Time to bust the myths around questions of food and water security in the region