Theme

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

Kurdish State-building and the Struggle for Natural Resources in Iraq
11 Dec 2018
- - Henriette Ullavik Erstad
The Kurdistan Region of Iraq has large deposits of natural resources, and its economy largely depends on these. With an immensely excessive public sector, management of oil and gas revenues is therefore crucial for the sustainability of Kurdish state-building. However, the...

Development policy The Middle East and North Africa Conflict resolution
The EU in the Middle East - how to prevent terrorism and violent extremism?
13 Nov 2018
- - Henriette Ullavik Erstad
What should the European Union do in order to secure state-building in the Middle East? That was the topic for the NUPI coordinated project EUNPACK's contribution to the MERI Forum 2018.

The Middle East and North Africa The EU Terrorism Conflict resolution Europe Security policy
The frustrating nature of international counter-terrorism partnerships

10 Aug 2018

Fighting terrorism requires wide-ranging cooperation between states. What does such cooperation look like in practice, and does it work?

Defence Security policy Terrorism Africa The Middle East and North Africa

All news about The Middle East and North Africa (total 18)

Publications about The Middle East and North Africa

Publication : KRONIKK

Militser inntar regjeringskontorene i Irak

2018
Militslederen Muqtada al-Sadr kom seirende ut fra det nylige valget i Irak, og nå tar han trolig med seg Iran-vennlige militser inn i regjering.
The Middle East and North Africa Governance
Publication : ARTIKKEL_POP
Israel og moralsk balansegang
2018
- - Minda Holm
Kritikere av lsraels overgrep mot palestinere blir ofte urettmessig beskyldt for antisemittisme. Samtidig er antisemittisme et økende problem i deler av Europa og USA.
Security policy The Middle East and North Africa Human rights Humanitarian issues
Publication
Teheran. Revolusjon og reaksjon.
2018
- - Kjetil Selvik
(Norwegian only): Temaet for kapitlet er Teherans rolle og betydning i et Midtøsten i endring og konflikt. Jeg ser byen som brennpunkt for tre store slag som står i regionen: kampene over Vestens rolle, folkets makt over politiske avgjørelser og islam som samfunnskontrakt. Jeg viser hvordan kampene spilles...
The Middle East and North Africa Conflict resolution