Within four months of the military’s ouster of Mohamed Morsi, the very concept of reconciliation has become “a dirty word” in Egypt. Amira Howeidy describes the interim government's half-hearted efforts attempts at reconciliation amid media attacks and the implications of failing to address this forthrightly.
Last week, President Obama said that he has no strategy yet to confront the Islamic State in Syria. Daniel Serwer explains that without guidance on goals, it will be impossible to design a strategy or to judge whether progress is being made.
As the United States struggles to mobilize a coalition of allies, including Turkey, behind potential military action against the Islamic State (IS) in Syria, Turkey's Syria and Iraq policies remain captive to the IS and the 49 Turkish hostages it holds. Gönül Tol explains Turkey's interests and constraints.
The August 26 permanent cease-fire crafted by Egypt between Israel and Hamas and Islamic Jihad forces in the Gaza Strip offers the best opportunity in years to take Palestinians off the “diet” imposed on them by Israel after Hamas ousted Fatah security forces from Gaza in June 2007. Geoffrey Aronson explains.
The outlines of a US strategy to roll back ISIS in Iraq have become relatively clear, but not so in Syria. After years of gridlock, the threat of ISIS has created a renewed opportunity for fresh international and regional diplomacy. Paul Salem explores the policy options facing Washington.
Gudran artists believe they have a social responsibility “to abandon the traditional spaces of exhibition and performance, activate our artistic practice in the street, and stimulate contact with all aspects of Egyptian society.” Maria Golia explains how they put their philosophy into practice.
If the future of a nation is built on the competencies learned by its children, then the future of Syria gives cause for great concern. Judith Cochran describes the challenges facing Syrian school children within the country and in the neighboring countries that host them, and she outlines some interventions that might help them catch up with their peers.
Podcasts are now available for every panel and speech at MEI's 2nd annual Egypt conference, "Egypt: Facing Challenges, Harnessing Potential."
