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Arab Spring

  • 14 Jan 2012
    Foreign intervention would compromise popular uprising in Syria

    Foreign intervention in Syria would drive the country into a full- fledged civil war, give the regime the excuse to continue the crackdown on dissent, alienate the undecided, and invite destructive groups to fuel turmoil, argues Middle East commentator Ghassan Michel Rubeiz. In joining the uprising, defecting soldiers should not use their arms against the national army. To win a battle of wills a country could be lost.

  • 14 Jan 2012
    Saudi government under pressure over death of protester

    The Saudi Arabian authorities have been urged to launch an independent investigation into the death of a Shi’a protester in the country's Eastern Province.

  • 12 Jan 2012
    From Vietnam to Palestine: A crime of silence?

    Palestine remains politically inert despite the artificial fireworks of a UN application for statehood or membership of UNESCO, observes Dr Harry Hagopian. So why is Palestine faced with such a thunderous crime of silence? After all, over the past year, we have been witnessing popular uprisings in the Middle East and North Africa region. Where is the disconnect here?

  • 11 Jan 2012
    Middle East protest and repression set to continue, says Amnesty

    Repression and state violence is likely to continue to plague the Middle East and North Africa in 2012 unless the world acts, warns a new report.

  • 31 Dec 2011
    First anniversary of the 'Arab Spring': An assessment
  • 31 Dec 2011
    Radio discussions: The Arab Awakening?

    Middle East specialist and Ekklesia associate Dr Harry Hagopian is appearing on BBC and Premier Radio programmes over the New Year period, analysing the dramatic changes which have taken place in the region over the past year.

  • 21 Dec 2011
    Assessing change in the Middle East and North Africa

    The new story in the Middle East and North Africa region is only one year young and it will take a long time before we can pass any definitive judgments about its successes and failures, says regional commentator Dr Harry Hagopian. Here he reviews the recent House of Lords debate initiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, adding further commentary and elucidation for observers, journalists and policy-makers.

  • 30 Nov 2011
    Developments in Syria, Egypt and beyond

    My latest Middle East Analysis pod-cast is a two-parter whose chief foci this time round are the fast-moving developments in Syria and Egypt.

  • 28 Nov 2011
    The UK's Department for Dodgy Deals

    The UK government is demanding payment from Egypt for money loaned to Mubarak to help him to buy weapons. The money is claimed by the Export Credits Guarantee Department (ECGD), a secretive unit of Vince Cable's Department for Business. It has a habit of backing arms deals and fossil fuels and creating unjust debt.

  • 27 Nov 2011
    Yemen power transition tainted by ‘immunity’ deal

    A power-transfer agreement that may grant Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh and others immunity from prosecution has been strongly criticised.