Western Sahara, a sparsely populated territory on the Atlantic coast of northwest Africa, is the site of one of the continent’s longest-running territorial disputes. The conflict dates to Spain’s withdrawal from the territory in 1975, after which Morocco Algeria, and Mauritania vied for control over the former colony.
This article is part of a collection of short essays written by the Fellows of the Middle East Institute to explore aspects of the ongoing war with Iran. The intent of the collection is to help readers see new and unexpected elements of the dynamics and impact of the ongoing hostilities and to think harder, deeper, and broader about the implications of the conflict.
Egypt, which is not party to the war on Iran, has become a target as well as an intermediary in the conflict. As a result, the war has affected Egypt’s future calculations, particularly in three major areas: its economy, its security, and its regional alliances.
In early 2012, Hagg Hassan had a complaint. A resident of the village of Ab’adeyet Wally Mizar in Fayoum, 65 miles southwest of Cairo, Hagg Hassan had been receiving a monthly pension of 300 Egyptian pounds. But one day, he was given only 250. Hagg Hassan was livid. The budget cut would also apply to his wife and widowed daughter—a loss of 150 pounds for the household. Hagg Hassan lit a cigarette and asked his daughter to write a petition.
There can be no doubt that revolutionary activities gripped Egypt after the January 2011 uprising began. Yet, just as revolutionary waves pushed for greater freedoms and social justice, counterrevolutionary forces responded to maintain some semblance of a Mubarakist-regime without Mubarak. The prospects for increased political freedom look dim at the moment.
Panel IV: Engaging the International CommunityModerated by Michael Hanna, The Century Foundation Jason Brownlee, University of Texas at AustinAmy Hawthorne, Atlantic CouncilMohamed Elmenshawy, Middle East InstituteAbdel Monem Said, al Masry al YoumClosing remarks by Kate Seelye, The Middle East Institute.
Panel IV: Engaging the International CommunityModerated by Michael Hanna, The Century Foundation Jason Brownlee, University of Texas at AustinAmy Hawthorne, Atlantic CouncilMohamed Elmenshawy, Middle East InstituteAbdel Monem Said, al Masry al YoumClosing remarks by Kate Seelye, The Middle East Institute.
Panel IV: Engaging the International CommunityModerated by Michael Hanna, The Century Foundation Jason Brownlee, University of Texas at AustinAmy Hawthorne, Atlantic CouncilMohamed Elmenshawy, Middle East InstituteAbdel Monem Said, al Masry al YoumClosing remarks by Kate Seelye, The Middle East Institute.
Panel IV: Engaging the International CommunityModerated by Michael Hanna, The Century Foundation Jason Brownlee, University of Texas at AustinAmy Hawthorne, Atlantic CouncilMohamed Elmenshawy, Middle East InstituteAbdel Monem Said, al Masry al YoumClosing remarks by Kate Seelye, The Middle East Institute.
Moderator: Robin Wright, USIP-Wilson Center Distinguished ScholarHossam Bahgat, Egyptian Initiative for Personal RightsMirette Mabrouk, Atlantic Council Jawad Nabulsi, al Nebny Foundation Diane Singerman, American University
Moderator: Robin Wright, USIP-Wilson Center Distinguished ScholarHossam Bahgat, Egyptian Initiative for Personal RightsMirette Mabrouk, Atlantic Council Jawad Nabulsi, al Nebny Foundation Diane Singerman, American University
Moderator: Robin Wright, USIP-Wilson Center Distinguished ScholarHossam Bahgat, Egyptian Initiative for Personal RightsMirette Mabrouk, Atlantic Council Jawad Nabulsi, al Nebny Foundation Diane Singerman, American University
Moderator: Robin Wright, USIP-Wilson Center Distinguished ScholarHossam Bahgat, Egyptian Initiative for Personal RightsMirette Mabrouk, Atlantic Council Jawad Nabulsi, al Nebny Foundation Diane Singerman, American University
Moderator: Robin Wright, USIP-Wilson Center Distinguished ScholarHossam Bahgat, Egyptian Initiative for Personal RightsMirette Mabrouk, Atlantic Council Jawad Nabulsi, al Nebny Foundation Diane Singerman, American University
Panel II: Working Toward a National Reconciliation 11:00am-12:30pmModerator: Thomas Friedman, New York TimesNader Bakkar—co-founder, al Nour PartyDina Guirguis—Tahrir Institute for Middle East PolicyWael Haddara—former senior advisor to Mohamed MorsiHani Sarie Eldin—al Dostour Party
Panel II: Working Toward a National Reconciliation 11:00am-12:30pmModerator: Thomas Friedman, New York TimesNader Bakkar—co-founder, al Nour PartyDina Guirguis—Tahrir Institute for Middle East PolicyWael Haddara—former senior advisor to Mohamed MorsiHani Sarie Eldin—al Dostour Party
Panel II: Working Toward a National Reconciliation 11:00am-12:30pmModerator: Thomas Friedman, New York TimesNader Bakkar—co-founder, al Nour PartyDina Guirguis—Tahrir Institute for Middle East PolicyWael Haddara—former senior advisor to Mohamed MorsiHani Sarie Eldin—al Dostour Party
Panel II: Working Toward a National Reconciliation 11:00am-12:30pmModerator: Thomas Friedman, New York TimesNader Bakkar—co-founder, al Nour PartyDina Guirguis—Tahrir Institute for Middle East PolicyWael Haddara—former senior advisor to Mohamed MorsiHani Sarie Eldin—al Dostour Party
The oldest peer-reviewed publication dedicated to the study of the modern Middle East, MEI’s flagship journal covers politics, society, and culture in the region.
