This discussion will focus on explaining why most of the Arab revolutions have not resulted in smooth transition to peace, stability, and development, but instead slid into violence and civil wars as in Yemen, Libya, and Syria. Factors such as resilient ‘deep states’, institutional reform, reintegration of ex-combatants, dealing with former regime elements, accountability, justice for victims of past human rights violations, among others, all impacted the transition to varying degrees. Furthermore, the discussion will address the major issues that are shaping Middle East politics today, most importantly, the Iran-Saudi 'cold war', terrorism, counter-revolutions, external intervention, and the Israel-Palestine conflict. Finally, the discussion will conclude with some proposed solutions to the current chaos that is engulfing the Middle East region and insights into how the region can transition to peace and stability.
Dr Ibrahim Fraihat is a senior fellow in foreign policy at the Brookings Doha Center and an affiliate scholar at Georgetown University. He is the author of the recently released book Unfinished Revolutions (Yale University Press, 2016). He has published extensively on Middle East politics, with articles appearing in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, Financial Times, Christian Science Monitor, Foreign Policy, and Foreign Affairs, as well as on the CNN and Al Jazeera websites, and elsewhere. He is the recipient of George Mason University’s Distinguished Alumni Award (2014) for his achievements in the field of conflict resolution. Dr Fraihat received his PhD in conflict analysis and resolution from George Mason University in 2006.
Dr Fraihat is visiting the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, as part of the Visiting Fellowship Program supported by the Australian Government through the Council for Australian-Arab Relations (CAAR) of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
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