Saudi Arabia

The Tip of the Democracy Spear

The U.S. military doesn’t exactly have an unblemished record when it comes to promoting democracy. Is there a way to change that?

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MARCH 21, 2013

The Execution of the Saudi Seven

Saudi Arabia's farcical justice system condemned seven young men to death this week, and the world remained silent.

BY ALI ALAHMED | MARCH 15, 2013

Tehran Tanking

Iran's popularity in the Arab world is way down, but sectarianism is on the rise.

BY MARC LYNCH | MARCH 7, 2013

It's Not About Us

Forget about the “war on terror.” The next few decades will be dominated by the bitter divide within Islam itself.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | FEBRUARY 20, 2013

The Kingdom of No Surprises

The more things change in Saudi Arabia, the more they remain the same.

BY MICHAEL STEPHENS | FEBRUARY 19, 2013

We Shall Return

Don't be too sure there won't be another U.S. war in the Middle East.

BY RICHARD L. RUSSELL | FEBRUARY 5, 2013

Marching Through the Monarchies

Two years after the Arab Spring awoke demons and democracy in the Middle East, I went to see whether changes had roiled the lands of royals.

BY EMMA SKY | FEBRUARY 1, 2013

America's Saudi Problem

Obama can't get it right on the Arab Spring unless he holds Saudi Arabia to account.

BY MARC LYNCH | JANUARY 24, 2013

Party in the KSA

Behind high walls, the kingdom's restrictive Islamic laws don't apply.

BY AHMED AL OMRAN | JANUARY 14, 2013

The World War on Christmas

Five places where Santa really does have to watch his back.

BY ELIZABETH F. RALPH | DECEMBER 24, 2012

Overdone Turkey

The hype about Ankara as a regional leader is way overblown.

BY STEVEN A. COOK | NOVEMBER 21, 2012

Still Think Middle East Peace Doesn't Matter?

Gaza's radiating instability proves once again that Palestine is at the center of the region's problems.

BY STEVEN A. COOK | NOVEMBER 19, 2012

Zombie Versus Frankenstein

Now the beleaguered Syrian opposition has two umbrella groups vying for funds and recognition. Is that really going to help?

BY MALIK AL-ABDEH | NOVEMBER 15, 2012

The Changing Face of Mecca

Artist Ahmed Mater returns to Islam's holiest site to capture the enormous changes as modernity meets tradition.

BY AHMED MATER VIA CREATIVE TIME REPORTS | OCTOBER 26, 2012

The March to Mecca

Millions of Muslims from around the world begin the hajj -- a journey to the holy city of Mecca.

OCTOBER 23, 2012

Where the Arab Spring Has Not Yet Sprung

The spirit of rebellion continues to simmer in the Middle East and North Africa. But you won’t see much about it in the headlines.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | OCTOBER 17, 2012

The Big Bang Theory of Education

Authoritarian countries don't seem to be doing well at the knowledge business. That's probably no accident.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | OCTOBER 11, 2012

The Battle of the Shrines

The attack on the U.S. diplomats in Benghazi isn't the first time that Libya's ultraconservative Islamists have tried to shake things up. Can the country's nascent democracy rise to the challenge?

BY SHARRON WARD | SEPTEMBER 12, 2012

America's Real Strategic Petroleum Reserve

Is relying on Saudi Arabia in times of war a smart tradition or future folly?

BY AMY JAFFE | AUGUST 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

Covering Up

If the kingdom's top woman can't keep her story straight about whether she wears the veil, what are other Saudi women supposed to do?

BY AHMED AL OMRAN | JUNE 25, 2012

Why Is the U.S. Selling Billions in Weapons to Autocrats?

The export of American arms to countries around the world -- even those actively repressing their own citizens -- is booming.

BY ZACH TOOMBS, R. JEFFREY SMITH, CENTER FOR PUBLIC INTEGRITY | JUNE 21, 2012

The Underestimated Prince Nayef

Saudi Arabia’s crown prince is dead. He will be missed far more than most observers of the kingdom will admit.

BY MICHAEL STEPHENS | JUNE 18, 2012

Good Riddance

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Nayef was a menace. We should be happy he's gone, but worried about the aging House of Saud he leaves behind.

BY SIMON HENDERSON | JUNE 18, 2012

How Is Energy Remaking the World?

To navigate the complicated new politics of oil and gas, FP asked the author of The Quest and leading U.S. energy historian to help shape our latest survey -- and guide us through the results.

BY DANIEL YERGIN | JULY/AUGUST 2012

Are All States Failing States?

Every unstable country is unstable in its own way.

BY DAVID ROTHKOPF | JULY/AUGUST 2012

The Window is Closing for Riyadh

The oil won’t last forever -- so Saudi Arabia’s government has to reform its economy if it wants to survive.

BY ROBERT LOONEY | JUNE 1, 2012

In the Crosshairs

Why controlling the international arms trade can help to build stable societies.

BY CHRISTIAN CARYL | MAY 22, 2012

A Nation of Spies and Snitches

The United States is pretty darn good at infiltrating terrorist groups -- at home and abroad -- these days. But should we be worried about the social costs?

BY J.M. BERGER | MAY 9, 2012

The 140-Character Fatwa

Enormously popular, extremist Saudi clerics are promoting hatred, violence, and intolerance on Facebook and Twitter. Can they be stopped?

BY JONATHAN SCHANZER, STEVEN L. MILLER | MAY 9, 2012