Latest in Arab Spring
Monarchs escaped the uprisings relatively unscathed, but now face mounting problems and are turning to more repressive policies to limit dissent.
Editor’s note: Over the next week, Lawfare will be running a series of essays on federalist governance in the Middle East. This introductory essay is the first in the series. Links to subsequent essays will be added to this post as they are published.
To many Libyan households, the top security threat plaguing their daily lives isn’t the risk of being caught in the crossfire between contending militias, falling victim to a jihadi group, or being kidnapped for ransom. A more unrelenting consequence of Libya’s dysfunctional politics is its monetary crisis. The principal manifestations—chronic shortage of dinar banknotes, along with a weak valuation of the Libyan currency in the black market—first emerged in 2014. Unlike the ongoing civil war, which also began in 2014, the monetary crisis has consistently intensified through the months.
Editor’s Note: This piece originally appeared on Markaz.
Editor's Note: Protests have erupted across Morocco over the last few days following the death of a fish seller in al-Hoceima. After local authorities - expecting a bribe - tossed his fish into a trash compactor, Mouhcine Fikri jumped into the machine and was killed when it was activated. His death is reminiscent of the events surrounding the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi in Tunisia in December 2010 - the event credited with sparking the Arab Spring.
The assertion that Jordanian stability is of paramount importance to securing American interests is repeated to the point of banality. Yet, in spite of the clear prioritization of Jordanian security, little has been said about the parliamentary elections that took place in the Kingdom last week. There are several reasons for this. For one, the crumbling ceasefire in Syria is undoubtedly a distraction.
Tunisia’s Prime Minister-designate, Youssef Chahed, is expected to announce his cabinet this week, well ahead of the September 3 deadline. Chahed, who was appointed by President Beji Caid Essebsi on August 2 after former prime minister Habib Essid failed to win a no confidence vote, has a tremendous burden on his shoulders. Should he succeed in forming a government and winning parliament’s approval, he will be expected to shepherd a legislative agenda that includes addressing Tunisia’s rapidly deteriorating economic situation and developing safeguards against future terror attacks.