International affairs
November 27, 2013 8:57 AM Subscribe
Where can I find good, solid articles on this year's revolution in Egypt, and the war in Syria, and their respective effect on international relations?
Asking for a friend. She's a senior in college, and while she's read about the recent events in Egypt and Syria, she wants to know more. Specifically about the impact on international relations, both in the Middle East and on a global level. Wikipedia isn't much help, and what I know about it isn't near enough.
Are there any articles that lay that out, simply and clearly? She's bilingual, so either English or French is fine.
Asking for a friend. She's a senior in college, and while she's read about the recent events in Egypt and Syria, she wants to know more. Specifically about the impact on international relations, both in the Middle East and on a global level. Wikipedia isn't much help, and what I know about it isn't near enough.
Are there any articles that lay that out, simply and clearly? She's bilingual, so either English or French is fine.
I like Syria Deeply—a combo of aggregated news and original reporting & commentary. (Disclaimer: It's run by a friend of a friend.)
posted by dogrose at 10:04 AM on November 27, 2013
posted by dogrose at 10:04 AM on November 27, 2013
Response by poster: These look great, but if at all possible I'd prefer one article with a broad overview of things.
posted by Tamanna at 10:28 AM on November 27, 2013
posted by Tamanna at 10:28 AM on November 27, 2013
Try fp.com, like this one. It's an odd question, because Egypt was more of an internal issue under the theme of the Arab Spring, which Al-Thani explained well, (dynamics with Israel over the peace treaty aside), while Syria has been more about interference from external powers, where some odd dynamics are at work. Putin's pick up of Kerry's joke to solve the Syria issue was actually Putin trying to help, rather than one up us. This gets into it a bit. Analysis of Putin's op ed is useful too. Likewise, Iran is negotiating these days more because the US' energy prospects are looking so good that the Middle East is starting to worry a bit. It's sort of an economic power vacuum... though I'm not sure we're very cognizant of it. My news source, Situation Report, covers these, but it's a daily and hard to get a complete picture from just one.
posted by jwells at 2:47 PM on November 27, 2013
posted by jwells at 2:47 PM on November 27, 2013
This is all my opinion of course. The Economist has consistently good international coverage often from an international perspective. It can be dry but to me that is a big plus. Foreign Affairs is also consistently good and in depth, I think the Council on Foreign Relations is a good source. I strongly dislike the Foreign Policy periodical as being too shallow, sensationalist and maybe even jingoistic.
posted by BurnMage at 5:17 PM on November 27, 2013
posted by BurnMage at 5:17 PM on November 27, 2013
In the broad overview of things, we're all dead.
No, it's not at all possible for one article to do what you're asking. Which is also not what you asked for in the first place.
posted by dogrose at 7:16 PM on November 27, 2013
No, it's not at all possible for one article to do what you're asking. Which is also not what you asked for in the first place.
posted by dogrose at 7:16 PM on November 27, 2013
One aspect that is interesting to look at in the context of international relations is how events in the region have evolved differently because of the different civil military relations in each country. I'd recommend:
Derek Lutterbeck, “Arab Uprisings and Armed Forces: Between Openness and Resistance.” The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) 2011
It has good frameworks to think about events int the region with.
posted by troytroy at 8:24 PM on November 27, 2013
Derek Lutterbeck, “Arab Uprisings and Armed Forces: Between Openness and Resistance.” The Geneva Centre for the Democratic Control of Armed Forces (DCAF) 2011
It has good frameworks to think about events int the region with.
posted by troytroy at 8:24 PM on November 27, 2013
It's not available for free online, however the Sept. 27th 2013 issue of the Times Literary Supplement had a longish and penetrating article about the Muslim Brotherhood that included a non-conventional-wisdom but seemingly credible analysis of the events in Egypt from before the Arab Spring to after the fall of Morsi. (The anti-hero is the Egyptian military.)
It's not for dummies; but it's worth seeking out at the university library if she's going to be digging into this. (Cannot put my hand on my copy for the author just now...)
posted by bertran at 1:39 AM on November 28, 2013
It's not for dummies; but it's worth seeking out at the university library if she's going to be digging into this. (Cannot put my hand on my copy for the author just now...)
posted by bertran at 1:39 AM on November 28, 2013
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posted by Tamanna at 9:02 AM on November 27, 2013 [1 favorite]