By Giorgio Cafiero In 2011, there was much optimism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) that the so-called Arab Spring revolts would make the region more democratic. Yet over the past eight years, the MENA region has become… Continue Reading
by Adam Dempsey In December 2014, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) announced plans to create a region-wide police force. The new organization, known as GCCPol, would be based out of Abu Dhabi and, for all intents and purposes, would operate… Continue Reading
by James M. Dorsey Imagining himself as a peacemaker in a conflict-ridden part of the world, FIFA President Gianni Infantino sees a 2022 World Cup shared by Qatar with its Gulf detractors, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as… Continue Reading
by Kristian Coates Ulrichsen As soccer’s governing body gathers in Miami on March 14-15, the vexed question of whether to bring forward the expansion of the FIFA World Cup, currently scheduled for the 2026 tournament in North America, to Qatar… Continue Reading
by James Brownsell So much of this Gulf Crisis has been so petty, so childish, so frivolous. Like little boys squabbling over toys, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have been picking on their little brother Qatar for having an independent… Continue Reading