Middle East and North Africa
Germany’s contribution to the Arab Spring: arms sales
Berlin's failure to support intervention in Libya but willingness to arm Saudi Arabia shows the central contradiction in a foreign policy that is increasingly driven by the needs of a geoeconomic power's export industry.
Without military reform Egypt cannot democratise
Egypt will struggle to progress towards democracy unless some form of military reform takes place. The first challenge is to make sure that any moves towards reform are palatable to the entrenched interests of Military Inc.
In search of a ‘new Egypt’
After the euphoria of toppling Hosni Mubarak several months ago, little has been seen of the reforms demanded by protestors in Egypt. Democratisation is a long and complex process, but it is important that the rule of law and broad political participation are given prominence.
China’s Janus-faced response to the Arab revolutions
China’s zigzagging after the Arab revolutions is Europe’s opportunity