Articles from Foreign Affairs and the Council on Foreign Relations

Once more Foreign Affairs, arguably the most prestigious journal on international and comparative politics being published today, and its sister Council on Foreign Relations site have provided some really great material.  Consider:

Robert H. Pelletreau "Transformation in the Middle East: Comparing the Uprisings in Tunisia, Egypt, and Bahrain" Foreign Affairs (Thursday, February 24th, 2011) - Pelletreau is arguably one of the most qualified people on earth to speak on the current disruptions - he has served as US Ambassador to Tunisia, Egypt, and Bahrain respectively under both Democratic and Republican administrations, and then served from 1994 to 1997 as Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs - he is, in other words, the real thing, and this article gives us a subtle, if admittedly not game-changing overview.  What is arguably most important is that he makes an endorsement of the US's handling of the situation so far (though this is hardly surprising - press handling and delicate stepping make the US's behavior looks very much like late-1980s/early-1990s American diplomacy so far.

Bernard Gwertzman interviews F. Gregory Gause, III "Is Bahrain's Regime Next to Fall?" Council on Foreign Affairs (Friday, February 18th, 2011) - In depth, easy to understand, really a tremendous article.

Robert Zaretsky "Egypt and the Long Duree'" Foreign Affairs (Thursday, February 10th, 2011) - A brief explanation of why it is, frankly, too soon to call the outcome of events in Egypt, citing the natural conservatism of political culture (if not politics) in the Mediterranean basin.

James D. Le Sueur "Postcolonial Time Disorder: Egypt and the Middle East, Stuck in the Past" Foreign Affairs (Monday, February 14th, 2011) - A great article positing a model in which dictator's blindness in the Middle East is understood as a cultural bias of the surviving elites of the first post-colonial generations that still  rule many of these states.  Introduced me to the term "hegemonic nationalism" as well - going to need to look that up, see how it is used elsewhere.  Regardless, probably a good read for anyone who studies nondemocratic post-colonial states.

Clement M. Henry and Robert Springbourg "A Tunisian Solution for Egypt's Military: Why Egypt's Military Will Not Be Able to Govern."  Foreign Affairs (Monday, February 21st, 2011) - Another great one - here Henry and Springbourg argue (1) strongly in favor of civilianization of Egypt and (2) argue it is inevitable, despite the military's significant political and economic power base.

"Issue Guide: Arab World Protests" Council on Foreign Affairs (running updates, last updated February 22nd, 2011) - A clearinghouse of articles from around the net that are "must reads" - I haven't read them all, but recognize some heavy hitters and shall return.

Suzanne Maloney interviewing Roya Wolverson "Iran's Protests and Economic Realities" Council on Foreign Affairs (Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011) - Some comparisons with Egypt and a description of the growing strength of the Revolutionary Guard, as well as some other interesting policies and the population bulge.