Democracy & Reform

Fikra Forum contributors offer unique perspectives and analysis from Egypt regarding the changes in U.S. policy toward the new Egyptian government.

Policy differences are understandable, but it is not acceptable for Egypt's new leaders to intimidate domestic media, order unauthorized troop movements into Sinai, or foster deliberate untruths about Israel.

Mohammed Morsi has given himself complete legislative and executive power, plus the right to select writers of a new constitution.

This weekend, Egypt's Islamist president Muhammad Morsi unilaterally amended the interim constitution that had been approved by 77 percent of voters during a public referendum in March 2011. Although these changes may eventually be challenged in the High Constitutional Court (HCC), the absence of a parliament and military leaders capable

The true measure of progress in Syria and, perhaps, the Middle East is whether the revolution undermines the use of fear as a tool of governance.

Since the beginning of the Syrian uprising, Washington has repeatedly demanded that Bashar al-Assad desist from employing the most brutal tactics against his own people, only to see the regime use them anyway. With the recent assassination of four senior Syrian officials amid reports that the regime is moving its

On July 25, Washington Institute Ziegler distinguished fellow David Makovsky, who recently returned from a trip to Israel and Ramallah, was joined in a Policy Forum by Institute Next Generation fellow Eric Trager, who spent much of June and July conducting extensive research in Egypt. The following is a rapporteur's

The impressive electoral performance of nominally liberal parties in Libya is being widely portrayed as a setback to Islamist political momentum in North Africa, but the reality is more complicated.