Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 07/2012

The Emerging Order in the Middle East

Sinan Ülgen, Nathan J. Brown, Marina Ottaway, Paul Salem

May 2012

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract

After more than a year of Arab uprisings, the emerging political order in the Middle East is marked by considerable shifts within individual countries as well as at the regional level. Domestically and internationally, new actors are emerging in strong positions and others are fading in importance. Islamist parties are on the rise with many secular forces losing power. And across the region, economic concerns have risen to the fore. These domestic changes have implications for both regional and international actors. There are a number of more ambitious economic and political steps the West should take to respond to these power shifts and engage with these new players.