Democracy & Reform

The military chief has some strong assets and likely staying power, but he will still face great pressure if he is elected as anticipated, since the benchmark for success will be his ability to satisfy an Egyptian polity filled with unrealistically high socioeconomic expectations.

Sisi's military background and his strong support from security and intelligence leaders make another coup less likely in the short term, but continued economic problems could trump even that advantage.

The rising number of Iranian exchange students presents an opportunity to revitalize U.S. public diplomacy outreach to Iran. In this new report, Steven Ditto demonstrates how lowering barriers, reaffirming America's commitment to human rights, and fulfilling past pledges can help pave the way for long-term and short-term change in Iran.

Given the Brotherhood and the military's mutually exclusive aims, Egypt's death-match will continue, with even deadlier stakes once Sisi becomes president.

As the anniversary of the 2011 troubles approaches, Bahrain's political battles are seemingly being fought out in the palaces as much as the streets.

Given that Assad and his backers want to gut the transition process called for in the Geneva Communique, Washington should plan to take other steps in parallel to the Geneva process.

Resuming direct U.S. material support for anti-Assad forces offers the only serious prospect, even if modest, for halting Syria's downward slide and its damage to U.S. interests.

Low Salafist turnout for this week's constitutional referendum could signal a broad base of support for growing jihadist violence against the post-Morsi government.

If Egypt's activists are to continue their righteous campaign for a non-dictatorial government, they will have to draft a concrete agenda, better engage the public, and organize beyond one traffic circle in downtown Cairo.