Helen Lackner

Helen Lackner is a visiting fellow at ECFR. She has worked in all parts of Yemen since the 1970s and lived there for close to 15 years. She has written about the country’s political economy as well as social and economic issues. She works as a freelance rural development consultant in Yemen and elsewhere. Her recent books include 'Yemen in Crisis, the road to war' (Verso, 2019), US Paperback updated version of Yemen in Crisis: autocracy, neo-liberalism and the disintegration of a state (Saqi, London, 2017)
winner of the 2018 'Grand Prix de la Recherche' section of the 'Grand Prix of Literary Association

أزمة اليمن - الطريق إلى الحرب (المرايا) 2020

An introduction to Yemen's emergency

This piece aims to provide the minimum necessary background to understand recent and forthcoming events in a rapidly changing situation in Yemen.

By Helen Lackner

/ 25 Jan 2015

A short excursion to pre-referendum Scotland

On a short trip to pre-referendum Scotland, it's possible to find senior figures in the yes campaign in small town halls across the country, making the case for a social democratic Scotland.

By Helen Lackner

/ 2 Sep 2014

Yemen: where is the transition heading?

The humanitarian situation remains grave. Why doesn’t it receive the attention given to similar situations elsewhere? With over 10 million people hungry, 13 million without access to water and sanitation, 1 million children malnourished, and about 700,000 IDPs and refugees, there is no doubt that

By Helen Lackner

/ 12 Mar 2013

Yemen: can southern separatists break up Yemen?

By mid-2012, those demonstrators supporting a unified democratic Yemen were out-manoeuvred by separatists who now dominate the southern movement both in Aden and in Mukalla, the other main southern city. What are their plans?

By Helen Lackner

/ 23 Oct 2012

Yemen’s National Dialogue: will it succeed?

Eleven months after the signature of the Gulf Cooperation Council’s [GCC] initiative and the formation of the new Government of National Unity and nine months after the election of the interim President, where are we with Yemen's National Dialogue? Things are different this time - but are they any

By Helen Lackner

/ 18 Oct 2012

Yemen’s priorities: feed the starving children or security?

At the beginning of Ramadan 2012, recognition of the urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Yemen is welcome, despite being so badly delayed. But who needs help most?

By Helen Lackner

/ 24 Jul 2012

The struggle for security and against terrorism in Yemen: in whose interests?

People perceive that cash and support are available for military and security costs but not for development or humanitarian needs which affect the vast majority of the population on a daily basis.

By Helen Lackner

/ 20 Jul 2012

Yemen’s transition: a model to be followed?

What is actually happening in Yemen? It is either presented as a ‘solution’ which could be a model for Syria, or as a ‘phoney’ change that only conceals continuation of the previous regime

By Helen Lackner

/ 19 Jun 2012