Can Lebanon’s new opposition win? Sami Atallah and Christiana Parreira - May 12, 2022 The same parties have ruled since 2005 — and they’re counting on old alliances to remain in power
Why can’t Lebanon’s leaders fix its economic crisis? Jamal Ibrahim Haidar and Adeel Malik - October 20, 2021 Lebanese politicians and elites profit from their corrupt system — and foreign donors keep propping them up to hang onto their own influence
In countries as different as Colombia and Lebanon, LGBTQ advocates are helping lead protests and build peace Jamie J. Hagen - July 12, 2021 Research finds that including women in peacemaking leads to more stable agreements. Expanding that to include LGBTQ people can improve results even more.
Another unity government won’t solve Lebanon’s crisis Christiana Parreira - August 20, 2020 Research shows ideologically opposed parties rarely share power well
How a global shipping loophole left a potentially dangerous cargo in Beirut Lena Obermaier and Lauranne Duffaut - August 19, 2020 ‘Flags of convenience’ can leave ships and their owners with little regulatory oversight
What happens now to Lebanon’s government? Here’s why real reforms may be unlikely. Bassel Salloukh - August 17, 2020 The Aug. 4 explosion may be unable to shift the power structure.
Why do foreign donors face a tough choice in dealing with Lebanon’s economic crisis? Jamal Ibrahim Haidar and Adeel Malik - July 29, 2020 Sectarianism and cronyism stifle economic reform
The U.S. finally released military aid to Lebanon. Here’s what it will — and won’t — achieve. Zachary Karabatak - December 8, 2019 Don’t expect direct influence over Hezbollah
Lebanon’s government resigned. Here are three possibilities for what’s next. Jeffrey Karam - October 31, 2019 One, of course, is listening to protesters’ demands for reforms.
Lebanese are protesting in all regions of the country, not just Beirut. Here’s why that matters. Kelly Stedem and Christiana Parreira - October 23, 2019 That’s never happened before.
Lebanon’s economic crisis didn’t happen overnight. So how did it get to this point? Hannes Baumann - October 22, 2019 Here’s why the government’s latest response doesn’t meet protesters’ demands.
Here’s what the protests in Lebanon and Iraq are really about Bassel Salloukh - October 19, 2019 People are uniting in their demands for change.
Why Russia’s garbage protests turned violent Alla Baranovsky-Dewey - August 18, 2019 The bigger stink may be corruption, not trash.
The U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees faces another crisis Jo Kelcey and Anne Irfan - August 15, 2019 An ethics report detailing serious abuses of power has only added to the agency’s woes.
How do you create a better asylum policy? We asked the asylum seekers. Margaret Peters - April 11, 2019 They want work, dignity, a chance to rebuild their lives and the possibility of a safe return home.
Does the decline of U.S. power matter for the Middle East? Marc Lynch - March 19, 2019 Perceived or not, declining American primacy has real effects.
Lebanon finally has a new government. Here are three reasons for cautious optimism. Jeffrey Karam - January 31, 2019 [caption id="attachment_83351" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri, smiles
What can we learn from Lebanon’s elections? Amanda Rizkallah - May 11, 2018 [caption id="attachment_73208" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese Prime Minister Saad Hariri gives
What Lebanon’s elections can teach us about the importance of religion Sami Attalah, Melani Cammett, and Dominika Kruszewska - May 5, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72998" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Supporters of Lebanese Prime Minister Saad
Lebanese citizens vote Sunday. Here are 4 things to know about the first parliamentary elections since 2009. Jeffrey Karam - May 4, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72951" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A poster of the Koullouna Watani
Is marijuana decriminalization possible in the Middle East? Farah Samti and Alexandra Blackman - April 20, 2018 [caption id="attachment_72539" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A Tunisian boy cycles past street
Lebanon’s economic dependence on Saudi Arabia is dangerous Hannes Baumann - December 7, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66999" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese President Michel Aoun, right, speaks
Why did Saudi Arabia target billionaire media tycoons in its purge? Marwan Kraidy - November 16, 2017 [caption id="attachment_66354" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Saudi Arabia's billionaire Prince Alwaleed bin
Why do countries relapse into war? Here are three good predictors. George Willcoxon - March 29, 2017 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="960"] United Nations peacekeepers from Senegal make
Beirut’s lessons for how not to rebuild a war-torn city Julia Tierney - October 12, 2016 [caption id="attachment_47662" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Workers load garbage bags into trucks
How to break the Middle East’s sectarian spiral Bassel Salloukh - August 8, 2016 [caption id="attachment_45005" align="aligncenter" width="960"] Lebanese antigovernment activists march from Bourj
France has had more than its share of terrorist attacks. These 3 factors explain why. Erik Bleich - July 18, 2016 [caption id="attachment_43937" align="aligncenter" width="960"] A tribute is laid on the
Beirut’s election was surprisingly competitive. Could it shake up Lebanese politics? Amanda Rizkallah - May 11, 2016 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="842"] A Lebanese woman casts her vote
What do citizens fear most — for the world, the nation, themselves? The answers might surprise you. Nick Vaughan-Williams and Daniel Stevens - January 11, 2016 [caption id="attachment_34252" align="aligncenter" width="1484"] Amtrak Special Operations Police patrol Union
The Syrian military has thousands of deserters. New research tells us why they left. Kevin Koehler, Holger Albrecht, and Dorothy Ohl - December 17, 2015 [caption id="attachment_33649" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Syrian civilians who volunteered to join
This is what political philosophy can tell us about how to respond to Syrian refugees Patti Lenard - December 2, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32997" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Volunteers help around 150 refugees and
How anxiety about terrorist attacks could change our politics Shana Gadarian and Bethany Albertson - November 20, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32476" align="aligncenter" width="908"] U.S. Capitol Police officers keep watch
Here’s what we can learn from how Twitter responded to Paris Alexandra Siegel - November 16, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32319" align="aligncenter" width="908"] French soldiers enforce the Vigipirate plan,
This is why the Paris attacks have gotten more news coverage than other terrorist attacks Brian Phillips - November 16, 2015 It seemed like the world stopped. News outlets devoted nonstop
The Islamic State’s attacks on Paris were attacks on Muslims, too Jennifer Fredette - November 16, 2015 [caption id="attachment_32265" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A man holds signs denouncing terrorism as
Lebanon’s massive garbage crisis isn’t its first. Here’s what that teaches us. Rola el-Husseini and Nora Stel - September 18, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29595" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A pile of garbage blocks a
Lebanon's massive garbage crisis isn't its first. Here's what that teaches us. - September 18, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29595" align="aligncenter" width="908"] A pile of garbage blocks a
Lebanese protesters united against garbage… and sectarianism Bassel Salloukh - September 14, 2015 [caption id="attachment_29366" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Police use water cannons on activists
What a garbage crisis tells us about Lebanese politics Rola el-Husseini - August 4, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28203" align="aligncenter" width="908"] Garbage is piled around a car
The danger of (mis)perceptions after the Iran deal Mohammad Tabaar - August 3, 2015 [caption id="attachment_28151" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="align center "] Iranian Foreign Minister
How Iranians are debating the nuclear deal Mohammad Tabaar - April 21, 2015 [caption id="attachment_23868" align="aligncenter" width="620" class="center"] Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivers
Cracks in the Hezbollah monopoly Rola el-Husseini - January 8, 2015 [caption id="attachment_19973" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Hezbollah supporter holds up a
Militaries, civilians and the crisis of the Arab state Yezid Sayigh - December 8, 2014 [caption id="attachment_18780" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Iraqi soldiers parade inside the main
What's next for the Syrian regime's non-state allies Ora Szekely - September 10, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15578" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A poster showing Syria's President Bashar
What’s next for the Syrian regime’s non-state allies Ora Szekely - September 10, 2014 [caption id="attachment_15578" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A poster showing Syria's President Bashar
(In)discriminate language on Gaza Sarah Parkinson and Evgeny Finkel - August 7, 2014 [caption id="attachment_14177" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Two women hold placards reading "Stop
Can there be an ethical Middle East political science? Marc Lynch - July 3, 2014 [caption id="attachment_12584" align="aligncenter" width="620"] A Syrian refugee boy sits outside
Was Obama wrong to withdraw troops from Iraq? Jason Brownlee - June 26, 2014 [caption id="attachment_12361" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Smoke billows from an area controlled
The stakes and symbolism of voting from abroad Laurie Brand - June 5, 2014 [caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="606" special=""] Syrian nationals living in Lebanon
Threading needles in Syria James Fearon - August 29, 2013 Erica, Erik, and several scholars over at the Duck have
So the greatest political change in the Middle East this century is not Beirut 2005 or Teheran 2009, but Tunis, 2011? Joshua Tucker - January 15, 2011 More on Tunisia: a guest post by "Professor Scott Radnitz":http://www.amazon.com/Weapons-Wealthy-Predatory-Elite-Led-Protests/dp/0801449537