Conservative Monarchies in a Transforming Region

In the 21st century, the monarchies of Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the UAE – the group of countries constituting the GCC – have emerged as one of the most dynamic and fast-changing regions of the world.

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(No) Dialogue in Bahrain

In the run-up to the third anniversary of the Bahraini uprising on February 14, 2011, mass protests with tens of thousands of participants again engulfed the small kingdom.

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Essay for Monocle Magazine

In Syria the West is effectively fighting a proxy war alongside the Gulf States – particularly Saudi Arabia and Qatar – against the Assad regime and its allies Iran and Russia. But is it wise to team up with one dictatorship to topple another one?

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