Economy
All topics-
Politics, inequality and a lack of transparency
Coronavirus and the Middle East's ongoing state of emergency
Plagued by troubled state-citizen relationships on the one hand and conflict on the other, states in the Middle East could discover new uses for COVID-19 lockdown measures. By Abdalhadi Alijla
-
COVID-19 pandemic
A golden opportunity for Middle East autocrats?
When it comes to tackling the coronavirus pandemic, Middle Eastern autocrats are keenly following China's lead. An analysis by Thomas Demmelhuber and Tobias Zumbraegel
-
COVID-19 consequences
Coronavirus halts year-long protests in Algeria
Exploiting the coronavirus emergency, Algeria’s ruling classes have ramped up their repressive campaign against the protest movement, opposition and free media. By Sofian Philip Naceur
-
Coronavirus and Islam
Pakistani clerics refuse to shut down mosques
With no nationwide lockdown in place and with Islamic clerics refusing to stop allowing religious congregations, Prime Minister Imran Khan is relying on restricting the size of congregations attending mosques and advice to stay at home from religious groups to contain the spread of the new coronavirus at religious gatherings. By Haroon Janjua
-
First INSTEX transaction with Iran
Trade as an obstacle course
Germany and other member states of the European Union are for the first time making use of the so-called INSTEX mechanism to circumvent the sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States. By Birgit Svensson in Cairo
-
Digitalisation and the coronavirus in Morocco
From care to control?
With a series of digital measures introduced in response to the coronavirus pandemic, Morocco is creating a trade-off between ways to provide rapid support and the parallel development of digital control. By Anja Hoffmann and Bauke Baumann
-
COVID-19 pandemic
Science versus covidiots – Indiaʹs coronavirus challenge
Obscurantism is making it harder to prevent Covid-19, not only in Southeast Asia. Though India's lockdown was poorly planned, we must hope it will prove effective. By Aditi Roy Ghatak
-
Coronavirus pandemic in the Islamic world
Doubling down on containment efforts
Around the Islamic world, lockdowns and curfews are being extended and religious ceremonies are being cancelled outright in the hope of slowing the spread of COVID-19. Here’s the latest from across the region
-
Western Sahara territorial dispute
New African consulates cause trouble for Western Sahara
Several African countries have opened diplomatic missions to Morocco in Western Sahara, a disputed area occupied by Rabat. This has been exacerbating the conflict in an already volatile region seeking independence. By Martina Schwikowski und Hugo Flotat-Talon
-
Rentier economies and the clean-energy transition
Cashing out – Saudi Arabia’s radical new oil strategy
Though coinciding with the coronavirus crisis, Saudi Arabia's recent decision to hike oil production reflects a more fundamental strategic shift. By Bernard Haykel
-
Pandemic update
Corona across the Islamic world – the toll of COVID-19
While some are beginning to protest the lockdown, others are unable to bury their loved ones in accordance with Islam. Here’s the latest from across the region
-
Business in the Middle East
Jordanʹs digital start-ups – innovation in Silicon Wadi
Young people in Jordan are increasingly turning to digital start-ups to improve their prospects, rather than relying on the countryʹs rigid labour market. Claudia Mende reports