MERIA Journal: Syrian Opposition; Egypt Revolution; Arab Economies and More!

MERIA Journal, Volume 15, No. 3 - September 2011, Total Circulation: 35,000
 
MERIA Journal, which I edit, is the world's largest journal on the region all the articles below are very timely and good. Jonathan Spyer provides the most comprehensive analysis of Syria's opposition to date. And I use Edmund Burke's observations on the French Revolution to show what's been happening in Egypt with some parallels.

DEALING WITH AZERBAIJAN: THE POLICIES OF TURKEY AND IRAN TOWARD THE KARABAKH WAR (1991-1994)
By Emil Souleimanov
This article explores the policies of Turkey and Iran toward the Armenian-Azerbaijani war over Nagorno-Karabakh during the 1991-1994 period. It identifies Azerbaijan as a key nation in the region, one rich in oil and natural gas and with which both the Turks and Persians historically shared language, culture, and religion. As the cornerstone of the [...]
http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/10/dealing-with-azerbaijan-the-policies-of-turkey-and-iran-toward-the-karabakh-war-1991-1994/

 TURKEY’S 2011 ELECTIONS: AN EMERGING DOMINANT PARTY SYSTEM?
By Berk Esen & Sinan Ciddi
This article analyzes Turkey’s June 12, 2011, general elections, focusing on the three parties and the predominantly pro-Kurdish independents. Although the incumbent Justice and Development Party won by a sizeable majority, it gained fewer seats in comparison to its 2002 and 2007 electoral performances. The Republican People’s Party maintained its position as the main opposition [...]
http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/10/turkey%e2%80%99s-2011-elections-an-emerging-dominant-party-system/

 THE STATUS QUO WITH SYRIA IS BEST FOR ISRAEL
By Efraim Inbar
The widely accepted “land for peace” paradigm for peace with Syria entails great military risks and may invite aggression against Israel, while the potential political dividends of a peace treaty are limited. Moreover, the status quo, based on a defensible border, is both sustainable and preferable to any alternative. Even without taking into consideration current [...]
http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/10/the-status-quo-with-syria-is-best-for-israel/

 REFLECTIONS ON THE REVOLUTION IN EGYPT
By Barry Rubin
For Westerners, Egypt’s revolution is seen as a wonderful development, a victory for democracy. Yet the enemies of America and the West view it is a defeat for the United States and the West, and as a step forward for anti-democratic revolutionary Islamism. It is possible that both sides could be right. Egypt may be [...]
http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/10/reflections-on-the-revolution-in-egypt/

THE SYRIAN OPPOSITION BEFORE AND AFTER THE OUTBREAK OF THE 2011 UPRISING
By Jonathan Spyer
One of the most notable aspects of the revolt against the Asad regime in Syria has been the proliferation of opposition movements and the various attempts to join them into a single unified opposition movement. This article will observe the state of the opposition prior to the uprising, note the key new alignments in the [...]
http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/10/the-syrian-opposition-before-and-after-the-outbreak-of-the-2011-uprising/

FOOD AND THE ARAB SPRING
By David Rosenberg
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has been experiencing deteriorating parameters for both food production and consumption for some time. Agricultural output is constrained by limited water resources, diminishing arable land, and poor public policy. Consumption is driven by high population growth and subsidies that encourage waste. The region is food insecure, both on [...]
http://www.gloria-center.org/2011/10/food-and-the-arab-spring/