The Middle East and North Africa
The Middle East and North Africa: a region of war, conflict and insecurity that affect the economy and security far beyond its borders.
The Middle East/North Africa refers to an area that is vaguely defined in terms of geography, but shares various cultural features. The core area stretches from Libya to the Persian Gulf, but also Cyprus, Turkey and Iran are often considered part of the region, in addition to the Arab-speaking countries. This is region with a long history of serious conflicts – in Iraq, Syria, and between Israel and the Palestinian territories. The events and upheavals following in the wake of the Arab Spring have also put their mark on the region.
The conflicts and crises in the Middle East and North Africa are central themes in NUPI research on the region. What roles do the emergent big powers play in these conflicts? How do great-power politics influence regional dynamics? These are central question that affect relations elsewhere around the globe, especially as regards energy issues. Developments in individual countries like Egypt, Syria and Iran are also followed closely by NUPI researchers, as are questions of the security situation in the area and how this is affected by actors and conflicts elsewhere in Africa.
Sources: Store Norske Leksikon and NUPI.
News about The Middle East and North Africa
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On digital media in Lebanon’s political crisis
10 Dec 2021The technology-driven transformation of the media environment is changing politics worldwide. Yet everywhere is not the same. The digital revolution yields different results in different political contexts. This policy brief analyses digital media’s role in the political...
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Climate, Peace and Security in the Sahel region
7 Jun 2021NUPI and SIPRI, under the Climate-related Peace and Security Risks project have worked on understanding the interlinkages between climate, peace and security in the Sahel-region.
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The link between climate, peace and security in Mali
26 May 2021NUPI and SIPRI, under the Climate-related Peace and Security Risks project have worked on understanding the interlinkages between climate, peace and security in Mali. Read more in a new fact sheet which contains recommendations on addressing climate change.
Publications about The Middle East and North Africa
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Publication
: Policy Brief
On digital media in Lebanon's political crisis
2021The technology-driven transformation of the media environment is changing politics worldwide. Yet everywhere is not the same. The digital revolution yields different results in different political contexts. This policy brief analyses digital media’s role in the political crisis unfolding in Lebanon –... -
Publication
: Academic chapter/article/Conference paper
Ali Hosseini Khamenei: Routinizing Revolution in Iran
This chapter analyzes how Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei consolidated his rule and the political consequences of his survival strategy. The author argues that Iran’s long-serving leader capitalized on the institutional and ideological legacies of his predecessor, Ayatollah Khomeini, as well as on... -
Publication
: Popular scientific article
Ad Hoc Crisis Response and International Organisations (ADHOCISM)
2021International organisations (IOs) are created with the aim of solving collective action problems when a crisis arises. Yet, member states have repeatedly established ad hoc crisis responses in situations where IOs might be expected to play a central role. ADHOCISM asks what is the impact of ad hoc crisis...
Research projects about The Middle East and North Africa
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Photo: NTB Scanpix
Research project
Reactions to state regulation of Islam in times of Daesh (STATEISLAM)
2021 - 2025 (Ongoing)In recent years, in response to the rise of ISIS, governments in the Middle East have begun to control the religious spheres in their countries more tightly. In Egypt, for example, President Abdulfattah...
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Research project
Russian Repertoires of Power in the MENA region (RUSMENA)
2021 - 2024 (Ongoing)The main objective of the RUSMENA project is to examine Russian power practices in the Middle East and Northern Africa (MENA) region between 2011 and 2021.
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Photograph: AMISOM
Research project
Climate-related Peace and Security Risks (CPSR)
2020 - 2023 (Ongoing)The Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI) and the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) are collaborating on a climate, peace and security project that is aimed at backstopping...