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Arab Reform Initiative

The Arab Reform Initiative is a network of independent Arab research and policy institutes, with partners from the United States and Europe. Its goal is to mobilise the Arab research capacity to advance knowledge and develop a programme for democratic reform in the Arab world that is realistic and home grown; see http://arab-reform.net/.

Publications

Middle East and North Africa Update 32: Arab Reform Initiative 4 April 2013
Syria’s neighbours having to deal with massive inflows of Syrian civilians, and: Egypt: “brotherhoodisation” or breakdown of the state? more
Middle East and North Africa Newsletter 31: Arab Reform Initiative 11 February 2013
In January anti-government protests have continued to spread in Iraq’s predominantly Sunni provinces, and recent developments related to the expansion of the Syrian conflict have involved the Kurdish populations in the border areas of Turkey, Iraq and Syria pushing their claims onto the regional agenda. more
Middle East and North Africa Newsletter 30: Arab Reform Initiative 15 January 2013
Egypt and its foreign partners: what room for manoeuvre for President Morsi? And Palestinian momentum fading once more amid regional priorities. more
Middle East and North Africa Newsletter 29: Arab Reform Initiative 17 December 2012
In this issue: Egypt and Syria. A special report from inside rebel-controlled northern areas of Syria shedding light on the situation of the civilian population and pointing to the challenges and dangers possibly in store for the country. Also, how recent developments are threatening to destroy the rule of law and preserve the repressi... more
Middle East and North Africa newsletter 28: Arab Reform Initiative 13 November 2012
In this issue: clashes in Lebanon and threats to the Jordanian monarchy. Lebanon is suffering insecurity and a political crisis from a spillover from the Syrian conflict. And the Jordanian king is facing challenges both from Islamists and the country's economy. more
Middle East and North Africa Newsletter 27: Arab Reform Initiative 11 October 2012
In this issue: In Egypt and Tunisia Islamists dominate the process of writing a new constitution, raising fears among liberals. Experts from across the region criticise the Islamists' lack of experience in state management and their fear of failure. In Syria, Assad struggles to retain the support of his traditional Alawite power base.... more
Middle East and North Africa Newsletter 26: Arab Reform Initiative 13 September 2012
In this issue: Egypt and Syria. - Egyptian president Mursi raises eyebrows around the world with his foreign policy choices. Are they a sign of a real policy shift or just for show? In Syria, examples of organised civil efforts to resist or curb violence and deal with the urgent needs of the population raise a hope in the absence of a... more
Middle East and North Africa Report 25: Arab Reform Initiative 14 August 2012
The Free Syrian Army is now better equipped and organised than before and has become the most popular organisation among all Syrians hoping for the fall of the Assad regime. In Egypt and Tunisia, disillusion with democratic elections and the politicians who won them is palpable and rising. more
Middle East and North Africa report 24: Arab Reform Initiative 8 June 2012
In Syria, Assad's power may be crumbling away. The Free Syrian Army is gathering force within Syria, while the external opposition, the Syrian National Council, is divided. Clashes in neighbouring Lebanon raise fears that sectarian conflict is spreading. In Egypt, voters are disillusioned with the results of the first round o... more
Middle East and North Africa report 23: Arab Reform Initiative 4 May 2012
In April in the Middle East and North Africa: The international resolutions passed on Syria may be too little to late, while the opposition is still disorganised. Several presidential candidates get disqualified in Egypt. And fearing a 'democratic wave', Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Jordan are trying to counter any advances by the Muslim&... more
Middle East and North Africa report 22: Arab Reform Initiative 12 April 2012
In this issue: The Muslim brotherhood breaks its pledge of not seeking the top national office by naming a presidential candidate. The Islamists are increasingly at odds with the military. The Arab League Summit in Baghdad results in a toothless resolution on Syria and revealed divisions among Arabs. Also in this issue: many Arab state... more
Middle East and North Africa report 21: Arab Reform Initiative 22 March 2012
The first “Friends of Syria” meeting organised in Tunis on February 24th has not resulted in the military measures expected by the opposition. Yet the militarisation of the Syrian conflict seems to increase through the provision of indirect support by external actors. In Egypt, both the Muslim Brotherhood and the so-called liberal forc... more
Middle East and North Africa report 20, January 2012: Arab Reform Initiative 8 February 2012
Marked by increasing violence in Syria in the last weeks, this issue of the Middle East and North Africa newsletter discusses the strategies of both the government and the opposition. It analyses how the Arab League has reacted to the Syrian violence and the power intrigues that steer its actions. It then moves to Egypt, which also saw... more