The Arab rebellion: perspectives of power

Paul Rogers 24 February 2011
The Arab popular awakening is provoking serious concern among state and security elites across the west. But Israel’s stance is the most self-defeating of all.

Jordan demands democracy, not disintegration

Mohammed Hussainy 23 February 2011
While Arabs express solidarity, the specificity of each nation must not be overlooked. In Jordan, Mohammed Hussainy pleads that this opportunity for reform is not undone by divisive agendas.

The Arab revolt: transformation to transition

Nadim Shehadi 22 February 2011
A hurricane of change is blowing through the Arab world. Even now, many Arab regimes are still in denial. But it also challenges the west to grasp a new political reality, says Nadim Shehadi.

No real freedom without dismantling the secret political police

Mariz Tadros 22 February 2011

In Egypt, police officers are needed back on the streets, protecting civilians from thugs: not the SSI back in full force again.

This is our revolution, too

Frederick Bowie 21 February 2011
Maybe western leaders are afraid that, having seen what it is like when a people dictate to their government what it should do for them, rather than the reverse, we might start to take our own rights back, wholesale

Did the Internet matter in Tunisia and Egypt?

Nabila Ramdani and Tony Curzon Price 18 February 2011
An audio interview in which Nabila Ramdani describes the role of the social networks in the Tunisian and Egyptian revolutions – to what extent are Morozov's and Gladwell's arguments proved wrong by events?

The living history of Arab revolutions

Eugene Rogan and Tony Curzon Price 18 February 2011
A filmed interview of Professor Eugene Rogan; the conversation ranges from the echoes of nineteenth century constitutionalism in the Tunisian and Egyptian movements today, to other moments of Egyptian empowerment – 1919, the years after 1952 – through the challenges ahead for Egypt and the credibility challenges that the West faces given a history of false promises in the region

Arab democracy rising: international lessons

Vidar Helgesen 16 February 2011
The popular revolts in Tunisia, Egypt and elsewhere in the middle east are driven by a profound democratic impulse. This represents both learning and test for international democracy actors, says Vidar Helgesen.

Bahrain - from national celebration to day of rage

Ala'a Shehabi 12 February 2011

A “palm revolution” in the Gulf? Political upheaval in the desert state of Bahrain: there have been calls for a Day of Rage in Bahrain to replace the celebration of 10 years of constitutional monarchy on February 14th which is set to split the country in two

The Arab 1989?

Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, David Held, and Alia Brahimi 11 February 2011
The uprisings sweeping across the Middle East portend a political transformation as significant as those of 1989. The economic stagnation of the region, the failures of corrupt and repressive autocratic regimes, conjoined with a disenchanted youthful population wired together as never before, have triggered a political struggle few anticipated. Yet 1989 is not an entirely clear point of reference - the emergence of peaceful mass movements of change is a parallel, but the pull of the West, so marked in 1989, is weaker and more complex. Accordingly, the path ahead for these brave, inspiring, challenging movements is more uncertain.

Why Mubarak must follow Ben Ali

Kamel Labidi 10 February 2011
Egyptians who are systematically raised to believe that their country’s fate is to play a leadership role in the Arab world seem increasingly determined

US Middle East policy: see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil… just act surprised

Rob Prince 10 February 2011
None of the Arab Revolts of 2011 have played themselves out as yet. So it will be a while before the Obama Administration can assess the damage to its interests: a set back or a debacle?

It’s not because they’re Arab

Gregory White 10 February 2011
To frame the crisis in the region as an “Arab crisis” is to risk essentializing the problem in another, unique “world.”

The new middle east: intellectuals and democracy

Ramin Jahanbegloo 3 February 2011
The change that is unfolding across the middle east places an especial responsibility on intellectuals to think civically and engage ethically, says Ramin Jahanbegloo.

Calling Europe's bluff in north Africa

Fabrizio Tassinari 2 February 2011
Europe has taken too little interest in the political path of its southern neighbours, argues Fabrizio Tassinari.

This week's editor

Heather McRobie


Heather McRobie is a regular contributor to 50.50

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European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

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