Tag Archives: Algeria

December 13, 2013 · 21:31

The Prince and the Pouvoir: Saudi Arabia and Algeria facing an uncertain future

Commentary by Faisal Abulhassan – 13 December 2013

Saudi King Faisal and Algerian President Houari Boumédienne. Source : Algeria Philately

Over the years, much has been written about the weakness of the nation-state in the Arab world. Sectarian strife and uprisings across the Arab world have only highlighted these fragile governing structures. Some have argued that the monarchies of Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates have avoided being caught up in the turmoil due to the historic legitimizing role that monarchs play there. Other reasons, ignoring comparisons, were forwarded to explain the lack of large-scale revolutionary movements in the republics of Algeria, Iraq, Mauritania and the Sudan. Continue reading →

Algeria: Reform or Securitization of Civil Society?

Commentary by Mélissa Rahmouni – 3 February 2012

People hang up an Algerian national flag during a protest in Laghouat, 11 January 2012. (REUTERS/ Zohra Bensemra)

Since the first days of January 2012, Algeria has experienced a wave of protest and contestation in a dozen wilayas (regions) – either strikes, demonstrations or sit-ins in the streets, or in front of the wilaya headquarters, in industrial zones or even in high schools (Constantine) . This storm of protest is mostly led by Algerian unemployed youth but it has attracted people of all ages. Continue reading →

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Filed under Algeria, English

Tagged as Algeria, Algerian civil society, Corruption, Housing disputes, Laghouat, Mélissa Rahmouni, open Democracy, Peaceful protests, Unemployment

May 21, 2011 · 12:04

Obama’s Speech: What Was Unsaid

Commentary by Tamer Mallat and Mélissa Rahmouni – 21 May 2011

Obama’s long overdue speech on the Arab Spring has provoked a series of mixed and muted reactions across the Arab world. For many, his outspoken remarks claiming that any Palestinian state must be created on the basis of the pre-1967 borders, were received as an encouraging sign that the US is upping the ante on Israel. President Obama’s clear embrace of non-violent and pro-democracy protests in addition to his condemnation of the brutal crackdowns in Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen, aimed to highlight America’s firm position that favors democratic reform. However, Obama continues to stop short of calling for regime change. By encouraging autocrats from Bahrain to Syria to undergo sincere reforms, Obama’s policy remains focused on ‘behavioral change’ over ‘regime change’. Obama’s silence on a number of issues betrays a possibly more sordid foreign policy shift. Not one word was directed at the developing state of affairs in Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Algeria and Morocco. Continue reading →