Arab & Islamic Politics

For the past decade, a military vs. AKP dichotomy has shaped most analysis on Turkey, but a new framework seems necessary now.

An Interview by Bernard Gwertzman, CFR.org Renewed hostilities along Israel's border with Egypt's Sinai are leading to questions about the future of the flailing Middle East peace process, says expert David Makovsky. The political climate in Egypt has shifted in favor of the country's various Islamist groups, Makovsky says, and

There are plenty of policies that the United States could pursue, short of dropping bombs on Damascus, to hasten the Asad regime's fall.

FEATURING Amr al-Azm, Thomas E. Donilon, Robert Kagan, Hisham Kassem, Martin Kramer, James LaRocco, Robin Wright, Amos Yadlin, Dalia Ziada THE PROCEEDINGS In early 2011, the Middle East began a process of convulsive political change unlike any the region had witnessed in memory. Fueled by a heady mix of rage

An Interview by Bernard Gwertzman, CFR.org Despite objections from the international community, as well as Turkey's stern warning that Syria should end its five-month crackdown (NYT) on protesters, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad continues to press on with brutal attacks around the country. What's needed to stop Assad is concerted international

The time has come for Washington to withdraw its ambassador from Syria, just as Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and others have done.

U.S. and Saudi efforts to pressure injured Yemeni president Ali Abdullah Saleh to agree to a peaceful transfer of power have been unsuccessful. To counter al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, a new approach is required.

Unless conditions in Syria somehow magically revert to normalcy, Turkey will likely lead the international community in taking a tougher line against the brutal crackdown.

The United States should support Saudi King Abdullah's condemnation of President Bashar al-Asad's tactics against demonstrators even though it is an implicit call for a military coup.