May 23, 2012

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HIZBALLAH AND THE ARAB REVOLUTIONS: THE CONTRADICTION MADE APPARENT?

By April 27, 2012
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Since the 1990s, Hizballah has defined itself along a number of parallel lines, each of which prior to 2011 appeared to support the other. The movement was simultaneously a sectarian representative of the Lebanese Shi’a, a regional ally of Iran and Syria, a defender of the Lebanese against the supposed aggressive intentions of Israel, and a leader of a more generically defined Arab and Muslim “resistance” against Israel and the West.  As a result of the events of 2011, most important the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lebanon, MERIA Journal Volume 16, Number 01 (March 2012), Middle East Politics , Radical Movements, Regional , Regional Security, Syria

SYRIA’S 31 PERCENTERS: HOW BASHAR AL-ASAD BUILT MINORITY ALLIANCES AND COUNTERED MINORITY FOES

By April 27, 2012
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As the Syrian revolution against Bashar al-Asad’s rule enters its first year, Asad appears to have a good command over Syria’s large and fractious minority community. Three of the most prominent minority groups include the Christians, Druze, and Kurds. Asad’s control of these groups was not happenstance but the result of a number of hard- and soft-power moves executed by the regime. These calculations did not simply involve direct internal dealings with said minorities, but also outreach … [Read more...]

Filed Under: MERIA Journal Volume 16, Number 01 (March 2012), Middle East Politics , Radical Movements, Regional , Syria

The West should help Syrian rebels

By March 17, 2012
مظاهرة_ببلدة_نصيب_في_درعا_(Naseeb,_Daraa_demonstration)

In recent days the world has witnessed the Assad regime in Syria pretending to inquire as to its citizens’ opinion in a referendum on constitutional reform, while enthusiastically slaughtering the opposition with advanced artillery. About 100 civilians were shot or blown up by the security forces in the 48-hour period during which the vote was conducted. This simultaneous referendum and bloodbath was a uniquely Assad-type production. It combined the clunky, very 20th-century and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Syria, U.S. Policy on the Middle East

THE STATUS QUO WITH SYRIA IS BEST FOR ISRAEL

By October 27, 2011
799px-Israel-Syria_Quneitra_Crossing

The widely accepted “land for peace” paradigm for peace with Syria entails great military risks and may invite aggression against Israel, while the potential political dividends of a peace treaty are limited. Moreover, the status quo, based on a defensible border, is both sustainable and preferable to any alternative. Even without taking into consideration current political volatility in the region, retaining the Golan Heights is more important than a peace treaty. Therefore, Israel should … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Israel, MERIA Journal Volume 15, Number 03 (September 2011), Regional Security, Syria

THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION BEFORE AND AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF THE 2011 UPRISING

By October 27, 2011
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One of the most notable aspects of the revolt against the Asad regime in Syria has been the proliferation of opposition movements and the various attempts to join them into a single unified opposition movement. This article will observe the state of the opposition prior to the uprising, note the key new alignments in the opposition, and critically assess the attempts at unification.   INTRODUCTION   The uprising against the Asad dictatorship of 2011 was predicted by few … [Read more...]

Filed Under: MERIA Journal Volume 15, Number 03 (September 2011), Syria

THE COMING CRISIS IN THE MIDDLE EAST

By August 21, 2011

  The gap between dominant Western perceptions of the Middle East and the region's reality is dangerously wide. While the "Arab Spring" is celebrated as an advance for moderation and democracy, in fact the advance is going to revolutionary Islamists. Developments in Turkey and Egypt especially threaten to plunge the Middle East back into an era of conflict, instability, and the worst threats to Western interests in decades. There are several things very much predictable about the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Israel, MERIA Journal Volume 15, Number 01 (Mar 2011), Middle East Politics , Regional , Regional Security, Syria

WHY SYRIA’S REGIME IS LIKELY TO SURVIVE

By August 21, 2011

Examining the differences between the uprising in Syria and those in Tunisia and Egypt offers important clues as to why Syria's regime is likely to survive. The Tunisian and Egyptian armies refused to kill demonstrators and even supported the revolution. Syria’s Alawi-led forces, on the other hand, do not hesitate to kill, as the Tadmur and Hama massacres show. The Syrian regime has been skillful at exploiting the conflict with Israel and the patience of Western powers with the dictatorship. … [Read more...]

Filed Under: MERIA Journal Volume 15, Number 01 (Mar 2011), Syria

SYRIA’S TRIUMPH IN LEBANON: AU REVOIR, LES ENTENTES

By December 3, 2010

As the Lebanese political crisis worsened, and their own situation became more perilous, their focus became more and more narrow; rather than rallying the Lebanese people to save their state, they focused on rallying foreign support… they remained at war with each other over strategy and control of policy.   Rep. Gary L. Ackerman, chairman of the House Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia, on Lebanon's March 14 coalition.[1]  In the wake of the assassination of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Lebanon, MERIA Journal Volume 14, Number 04 (Dec 2010), Regional Security, Syria

To Perpetuate Their Dictatorships, Arab Rulers Resort to the Islamic Creed

By December 6, 2009

  KORANIC INSPIRATION FOR THE MODERATE, ISLAMIST, AND JIHADIST The Koran often provides Muslims with contradictory inspirations on subjects of political or social relevance. On Muslim relations with Christians and Jews, for example, a moderate Muslim would focus on peaceful and tolerant verses such as 29:46: “Do not argue with the People of the Book [Christians and Jews] unless in a fair way.” Similar injunctions are found in, among others, 2:62, 2:136, 2:256, and the second … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Egypt, Gulf, MERIA Journal Volume 13, Number 04 (Dec 2009), Middle East Politics , Radical Movements, Saudi Arabia, Syria

Dry Aquifers in Arab Countries and the Looming Food Crisis

By December 7, 2008

    Volume 12, No. 3 - September 2008, Total Circulation 25,000 Article 7 of 8 DRY AQUIFERS IN ARAB COUNTRIES AND THE LOOMING FOOD CRISIS Elie Elhadj* As water volumes in Arab lands dwindle, as per capita income in the large and heavily populated non-oil producing states remains low and narrowly diversified, as high population growth rates persist, a food disaster will sooner or later strike. These … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Egypt, MERIA Journal Volume 12, Number 04 (Dec 2008), Saudi Arabia, Syria
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