Tag Archives: Arab Spring

Thou Shall Fear Salafis

Posted on September 14, 2012 by

It is all too easy when watching the wave of protests spreading through the Middle East over an online video that insulted the Prophet Mohammed to conclude that the newly won freedoms of the Arab Spring are somehow in deep … Continue reading →

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Where have all the Arabs gone?

Posted on March 28, 2012 by

Where have all the Arabs gone? This question could well be answered over the next few days when the Syrian National Council and other opposition groups meet in Istanbul and when the Arab League meets in Baghdad. Political and media … Continue reading →

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Reflecting on 2011 – A Year of Contagion

Posted on December 9, 2011 by

It’s nearly the end of the year, and traditionally the time when we look back and try to make sense of the past 12 months. My suggestion for the word of the year is ‘contagion’. Contagion in the sense that … Continue reading →

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Forget about the politics of the Arab Spring – Its the economy stupid!

Posted on November 25, 2011 by

Once again our attention is being drawn back to the unfolding drama in the Middle East. Enthralled though I am by the daily 24 hour news coverage – yes, I’m a news junkie – I find myself none the wiser … Continue reading →

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Violence and Solidarity in Cairo

Posted on October 11, 2011 by

Which ever way you look at it the disproportionate use of force over the weekend against peaceful demonstrators in Cairo is alarming and disconcerting, but we should be wary of seeing the recent disturbances as the start of some Iraqi … Continue reading →

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The Bishop of Exeter’s Food Problem

Posted on October 6, 2011 by

The Bishop of Exeter, the Rt Revd Michael Langrish has written a challenging opinion piece on food security that appears in this week’s edition of the Church Times. In case you don’t read the Church Times or miss this week’s edition … Continue reading →

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Reflecting on the economics of the Arab Spring

Posted on September 13, 2011 by

Yesterday, I escaped the usual Monday morning rigours to attend a one day conference at Chatham House on the economics of the Arab Spring. Core to the conference was the thesis that despite the region’s political transformations addressing political grievances … Continue reading →

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Syria – Paying the Price for Our Mission Creep in Libya?

Posted on June 15, 2011 by

Today the United Nations Security Council will debate  Libya. It will take stock of the situation on the ground and assess the steps that have been taken to uphold UNSCR 1973. At the same time Britain and France will continue … Continue reading →

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The Arab Spring, Food Security and the Baguettes of War

Posted on May 18, 2011 by

The events in North Africa and the Middle East might now seem like a regular feature on the news agenda, but we shouldn’t forget that they caught us unaware. In our rush to speculate on how the Arab Awakening might eventually play … Continue reading →

Posted in Africa, Food Security, Middle East | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments