Bahrain: reaching a Threshold
By (03/07/2008)
This working paper argues that Bahrain has reached an impasse in its reform process and that King Hamad faces a complex set of decisions as he aims to balance the interests of the royal family while also addressing calls for change.
Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images
Turkey's role in Europe. Beyond the membership question: social cohesion, shared values and parallel security interests
By (19/05/2008)
On 8 May FRIDE organised a conference entitled “Turkey’s role in Europe. Looking beyond the membership question – social cohesion, shared values and parallel security interests”, as part of its “FRIDE in Casa de Galicia” series of seminars. Spanish policy-makers, international diplomats, academics and civil society representatives gathered to discuss Turkey-EU relations, but also to look beyond the membership question to assessing increased cooperation in other fields.
Nilüfer Narli, Pierre Schori y Ingmar Karlsson
Planting an olive tree: the state of reform in Jordan
By (17/04/2008)
Jordan’s path to reform has been a carefully managed top-down process which has all the trappings of democracy while lacking substance. The balance of power is highly slanted towards the King, his Ministers and the unelected upper house while the elected lower house of parliament remains constrained in its powers and thus ineffective and lacking in credibility.
Morocco: negotiating change with the Makhzen
By (14/03/2008)
Morocco has often been held up as a model of Arab progressive political liberalisation, and the Moroccan civil society landscape is known to be among the most diverse and vibrant in the region. Upon closer inspection, however, the picture of Moroccan democratic reform does not appear quite as bright as often suggested. This Working Paper, intended to accompany the Club of Madrid’s efforts to strengthen freedom of association throughout the North Africa and Middle East region, provides an independent analysis of the situation of civil society in Morocco.
Elections 2007: the most transparent status quo in Moroccan history
By (01/03/2008)
This article, published in the March edition of the journal "Mediterranean Politics" takes a look back at the legislative elections held in Morocco in 2007, analysing their implications for Moroccan democracy and the reactions from the Northern shores of the Mediterranean.
Europe and the Middle East: In the Shadow of September 11
