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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ANALYSIS: Kurdish State-building and the Struggle for Natural Resources in Iraq
11 Dec 2018What role do taxation and natural resource management have in Kurdish state-building?
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The EU in the Middle East - how to prevent terrorism and violent extremism?
13 Nov 2018That was the topic for the project EUNPACK's contribution to the MERI Forum 2018.
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The frustrating nature of international counter-terrorism partnerships
10 Aug 2018Fighting terrorism requires wide-ranging cooperation between states. What does such cooperation look like in practice, and does it work?
Publications about The Middle East and North Africa
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Publication
: NUPI Working Paper
Islamic Insurgents in the MENA Region. Global Threat or Regional Menace?
This working paper analyses a broad range of Islamic insurgents, spanning from the Sahel and North Africa to the Middle East, examining the threat that these groups represent on a regional and global scale. We assess their local, regional and global strategies and evaluate the extent to which they make... -
Publication
: ARTIKKEL
The Duty of Care for Citizens Abroad: Security and Responsibility in the In Amenas and Fukushima Crises
This article analyses the state’s duty of care (DoC) for citizens who fall victim to unforeseen catastrophic or violent events abroad. The DoC highlights the challenges, dynamics and relations involved in diplomatic practice that is aimed at protecting citizens outside of state borders and where traditional... -
Publication
: KRONIKK
Militser inntar regjeringskontorene i Irak
2018Militslederen 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.
Research projects about The Middle East and North Africa
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Foto: NTB Scanpix
Research project
Fragile states and violent entrepreneurs: conflict, climate, refugees (FRAGVENT)
2018 - 2021 (Ongoing)What forms of authority underpin, enable, and extend violent entrepreneurs in fragile states, and how do the combined effects of fragile states, conflict, and climate impact this?
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Research project
Effectiveness of Peace Operations Network (EPON)
2018 - 2021 (Ongoing)NUPI together with 18 partners from across the globe have established an international network to undertake research into the effectiveness of peace operations.
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Foto: UN Photo
Research project
Support to UN Peace Operations: Ensuring More Effective UN Peace Operations (UNPO)
2017 - 2020 (Ongoing)The aim of this project is to strengthen the ability of UN peace operations to respond to global security challenges and improve their effectiveness.