This Week at ISN

11 - 15 Mar 2013 The Arab Spring continues to cast a long shadow over the politics and security of the greater Middle East. This week, we look at how regional and external actors have responded to the upheavals in this volatile portion of the world.

'Managing' the Arab Upheavals

After the Arab Spring: Outside Influences
11 Mar 2013

In Claire Spencer's view, the Arab Spring has cast the differences between Arab sub-regions, societies and states in a glaring light. External actors must match this complexity with more fungible and subtle strategies if they hope to succeed in this fractured region in the future. More The Arab Spring and the Middle East's Monarchies
12 Mar 2013

With the notable exception of Bahrain, the monarchies of the Middle East have emerged from the Arab Spring basically unscathed for now. In this Q&A presentation, the CSS' Lorenzo Vidino explains why they have been able to cope with the political challenges of the region. More The Economics of the Arab Spring
13 Mar 2013

Revolutions are political and economic acts. In this podcast, Michele Dunne, Mohsin Khan and Zubair Iqbal analyze how the political changes sweeping through the Middle East and North Africa have impacted the regions' economies. More Sectarianism after the Arab Spring
14 Mar 2013

While the Arab Spring has led to greater sectarianism across the Arab world, FRIDE's Barah Mikail warns that this trend does not justify people turning their back on democratic reforms. In his view, the obstructions posed by sectarianism are actually overblown. More The Arab "Disillusioning"?
15 Mar 2013

Talk of a gradual 'Arab Awakening' has recently given way to concerns about a growing 'Arab Disillusioning'. But is this perceived shift real? Not according to CIGI's Bessma Momani. She remains optimistic about the structural changes that are occurring in the Greater Middle East. More

Security Watch
The Welfare Cost of Lawlessness: Evidence from Somali Piracy
11 Mar 2013

Maritime piracy in the Gulf of Aden continues to cost the global shipping industry in significant ways. Tim Besley, Thiemo Fetzer and Hannes Felix Mueller analyze the specific impact of piracy on chartering rates and transportation costs. More

Radical Islamists Seek To Exploit Frustration In Bosnia

12 Mar 2013

Bosnia remains in the grip of economic stagnation, political stalemate, and regional ethnic isolation. RFE/RL's Robert Coalson and Maja Nikolic remind us that these problems could provide a fertile breeding ground for Islamist extremists. More Azerbaijan and the EU: Recalibrating Relations?
13 Mar 2013

Azerbaijan is becoming increasingly dismissive of the European Union's calls for greater democratization. Eldar Mamedov thinks that Baku should watch its step tense relations with the EU could harm its long-term strategic interests. More The Security Council in Yemen: Strong Commitment, Limited Leverage
14 Mar 2013

According to Casey L. Coombs, the United Nations Security Council has provided considerable support for Yemen's political transition. However, a recent upsurge in political violence has exposed the limits of its influence over events in this fractured state. More Sri Lanka's Ongoing Shift towards Authoritarianism
15 Mar 2013

Sri Lanka is well on its way to becoming an authoritarian state, warns Neil DeVotta. He charts the decline of democratic standards and the rule of law in this troubled island state. More

ISN Blog
The Coming Atlantic Century
11 Mar 2013

Anne-Marie Slaughter believes that the pervasive narrative of Western decline and a rising Asia could reverse itself. While emerging powers will continue to grow and prosper, rising US domestic energy production and the probable reinvigoration of the EU are two aces up the West's sleeve. More The Iraq War Ten Years Later
12 Mar 2013

This month marks the tenth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq. Joe Nye considers whether the decision to invade was a correct one and what its long-term consequences have been. More The Food Threat to Human Civilization
13 Mar 2013

The world faces a number of environmental problems that have well-documented security implications. When looking at them all, Paul and Anne Ehrlich conclude that large-scale famine is the most serious threat to global security over the coming decades. More Reinvigorating the US-Japan Alliance
14 Mar 2013

Shinzo Abe's recent visit to the United States came at a time of heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula and continued Sino-Japanese acrimony. Given these circumstances, Jamie Metzl argues the time is right to reinvigorate US-Japan relations and forge closer strategic ties. More Fatal Thaws
15 Mar 2013

The end of the Cold War prompted the thawing of a number of 'frozen' conflicts. Sergei Karaganov warns that the world is now on the verge of a second 'unfreezing'. This time, however, conflicts may be triggered by the collapse of transnational organizations such as the European Union. More

Video
Mr. Fyodor Lukyanov: Russia and "Arab Spring": What's at Stake? In this video, Fyodor Lukyanov provides a Russian perspective on the Arab Spring at IDSA's 2013 Asian Security Conference. More Venezuela After Chavez Stratfor Latin America Analyst Karen Hooper discusses the questions facing Venezuela after the death of President Hugo Chavez. More Shadi Hamid Speaks About Political Islam in Tunisia In this video, the Brookings Institute's Shadi Hamid talks about the meteoric rise of Tunisia's Islamist Ennahdha Party. More

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