Viewpoints

Viewpoint
LebanonDemocracy and Governance
Lebanon’s Voters Would Do Well to Support the Forces of Change
May 10, 2022Imad K. Harb
On May 15, resident Lebanese go to the polls to elect a new 128-member parliament to replace the one elected four years ago. Given the right to vote in 2018, e…
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Palestine/IsraelJustice, Equality, and Human Rights
Key Messages from the Oppressed
Apr 6, 2022Dana El Kurd
In the last few weeks, there has seen an uptick in armed attacks by Palestinians within the green line. From the Palestinian perspective, these attacks deliver…
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Palestine/IsraelDemocracy and Governance
Making Sense of the Palestinian Central Council’s February Meeting
Feb 16, 2022Jamil Hilal
The meeting of the Palestinian Central Council (PCC), held in Ramallah on February 6, received more attention in the news media than was warranted for a number…
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SudanDemocracy and Governance
Sudan’s Revolution Must Be Allowed to Continue
Jan 4, 2022Imad K. Harb
In a move that reflected his failure to garner the support of the Sudanese public, Sudan’s Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok submitted his resignation on January 2…
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Democracy and Governance
Is Biden Serious about His Summit for Democracy?
Dec 6, 2021Khalil E. Jahshan
Since his inauguration on January 20, 2021, President Joe Biden has been hinting at a renewed focus on democracy by his administration to reverse the dismal re…
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SyriaConflicts and Conflict Resolution
The Failure of Syria’s Constitutional Committee
Nov 16, 2021Radwan Ziadeh
In October 2019, Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres enthusiastically welcomed the creation of Syria’s Constitutional Committee that would…
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SudanDemocracy and Governance
Military Takeover in Sudan: The Writing Is on the Wall
Oct 25, 2021Imad K. Harb
We have seen this before: military officers in the Arab world not quite enamored with sharing power with civilians—let alone ceding it to them peacefully—show …
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LebanonIdentity Politics and Sectarianization
Lebanon Courts Civil War, Again
Oct 14, 2021Imad K. Harb
Once again, Lebanon teeters on the abyss of a civil war, this time over conflicts related to the investigation into the disastrous August 4, 2020 explosion at …