Arab World

Mad Libs: The United Nations

As the U.N. General Assembly prepares to meet next month, FP asked experts and insiders what role the body -- lately taking heat for its response to crises in Syria and Iran -- should play on the world stage today.

AUGUST 13, 2012

Revolutionary Calculus

Hussein Ibish is too quick to dismiss the Arab Spring as a failure.

SEPT/OCT 2012

The Syrian Spillover

Is anyone prepared for the unintended consequences of the war for Syria?

BY DANIEL L. BYMAN, KENNETH M. POLLACK | AUGUST 10, 2012

Smokeless Stoves, Girl-Friendly Schools, and the Bloc That Wasn’t

Academic economists usually air their new ideas first in working papers. Here, before the work gets dusty, a quick look at transition policy research in progress.

BY PETER PASSELL | AUGUST 3, 2012

7 Ways America Can Get Its Mojo Back in Egypt

It won't be easy, but it's not impossible.

BY ERIC TRAGER | AUGUST 2, 2012

What Exactly Is 'Non-Lethal' Aid?

Anything not designed to kill. But that doesn't mean it can't be used for bloody ends.

BY JOSHUA E. KEATING | AUGUST 2, 2012

Breaking the Arab News

Egypt made al Jazeera -- and Syria's destroying it.

BY SULTAN AL QASSEMI | AUGUST 2, 2012

A Candidate Abroad

Mitt Romney's whirlwind tour proved the GOP nominee still has some things to learn on foreign policy.

JULY 31, 2012

Syria's DIY Revolt

Syrian rebels are massively outgunned by Bashar al-Assad's regime. But as Assad's army bears down on Aleppo, it may find the armed opposition is more than ready.

BY ELIOT HIGGINS | JULY 30, 2012

Children of War

Why we need a code of conduct for images of kids in conflict zones.

BY JAMES THOMAS SNYDER | JULY 27, 2012

The Battle for Aleppo

The rebellion comes to Syria's largest city.

JULY 26, 2012

A Country with Fourteen Psychiatrists

Libya is trying to build a new democracy. But that's a tall order for a society plagued by bad memories.

BY PORTIA WALKER | JULY 26, 2012

Spooked

Israel's former military intelligence chief sounds off on Syria and other regional dangers facing the Jewish state.

BY MOHAMED FADEL FAHMY, ORIT PERLOV | JULY 25, 2012

Stopping Mali from Becoming Somalia

The United States needs to prevent Mali from turning into another failed state in the heart of Africa.

BY WITNEY SCHNEIDMAN, BRANDON ROUTMAN | JULY 24, 2012

The Prince and the Revolution

Saudi Arabia is bringing back its most talented operator to manage the Arab Spring. But can Bandar stem the rot in Riyadh?

BY SIMON HENDERSON | JULY 24, 2012

Africanistan? Not Exactly

The dangers of international intervention in Mali.

BY GREGORY MANN | JULY 24, 2012

Hometown of a Terrorist

Images of a rare journey to Tesawa, the isolated Libyan village that reared Aby Yahu al-Libi, al Qaeda's once-feared second-in-command.

JULY 23, 2012

The Fog of Civil War

What's really going on in Syria is too complicated to fit in a headline.

BY STEPHEN STARR | JULY 23, 2012

Democracy, Salafi Style

One of Saudi Arabia's most popular hardline clerics just embraced democracy. Should we worry, or applaud?

BY AARON Y. ZELIN | JULY 20, 2012

Oh, Brother

Why Egypt's new Islamist president is keeping the Saudis up at night.

BY STEVEN MILLER | JULY 20, 2012

All Hands on Deck

How the U.S. is using the Gulf states to deter Iran.

BY JOHN REED | JULY 19, 2012

Arab League

A unique look at the Middle East's aspiring women Olympians.

PHOTOS BY BRIGITTE LACOMBE | JULY 19, 2012

"The Elite Isn't Going to Lose Control"

Middle East scholar Joshua Stacher explains why democratization in Egypt is only skin deep.

BY PAUL STAROBIN | JULY 19, 2012

Plague of Thugs

Why Mideast dictators use hoodlums to suppress dissent.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | JULY 18, 2012

Bibi in a Corner

Benjamin Netanyahu's once-formidable coalition is crumbling. Here's how his political opponents can win back power.

BY YOSSI BEILIN | JULY 17, 2012

Just How Deadly Is Assad's Arsenal?

From anti-aircraft guns to chemical weapons, a close look at what Syria's strongman has up his sleeve.

BY JOHN REED | JULY 16, 2012

Five Reasons Why the Two-State Solution Just Won't Die

For Middle East peace, it's the only game in town.

BY AARON DAVID MILLER | JULY 16, 2012

Woman Up

Why Hillary Clinton needs to stand up for the women of Egypt.

BY ELISA MASSIMINO | JULY 13, 2012

The Missing Piece

More than a year after the 2011 uprisings, Arab publics are concerned about the economy, but hopeful about democracy.

BY RICHARD WIKE, BRUCE STOKES | JULY 12, 2012

The Golden Runaway

Is the apparent defection of one of Bashar al-Assad's top generals (and close friend) the beginning of the end for the Syrian regime?

BY DAVID W. LESCH | JULY 12, 2012