Terror in Tunis
Bottom Line Up Front On June 27, the Tunisian capital of Tunis was rocked by twin suicide blasts that killed one police officer and […] More
Tunisia
Another Arab Spring Builds, Driven by “Discontent Approaching Despair”
In early January, Tunisia and Iran witnessed remarkably similar periods of spontaneous and widespread unrest. In each case, the demonstrations failed to rise to revolutionary […] More
At Arab Spring Anniversary, Is Tunisia Really a Success Story?
This Sunday marks seven years since a wave of protests erupted across the Middle East and North Africa in what came to be known as […] More
The Many Faces of Political Islam – From Moderate to Extreme
Usage of the term political Islam has become common in recent years as Islamist movements vie for influence in a changing Middle East. However, the […] More
The Latest
Does Moderate Political Islam Exist?
The term “political Islam” has become commonplace after the Arab uprisings of 2011, during which Islamist groups rose to political prominence across the Middle East […] More
The Best of Times and Worst of Times for Moderate Political Islam
The concept of political Islam has deep historical roots in Islamic societies and, during the Arab Spring uprisings of 2011 in the Middle East and […] More
Tunisia Confronts the Next Phase in Its War Against Jihadi-Salafism
Tunisia is on the front lines of an evolving war against Jihadi-Salafism. The ideology espoused by al Qaeda and ISIS, has already drawn thousands of […] More
Tunisia: From Revolution to Governance
Today, Tunisia’s Parliament meets to hold a vote of confidence in the new unity government of Prime Minister Youssef Chahed. In a moment that seems […] More
A Long Road Ahead
Five years after the Tunisian Revolution in January 2011, the country has become the only liberal democracy in the Arab World. This successful transition from […] More
The Tumultuous Transition
As Tunisia nears the sixth year of its 2011 popular revolution, the most challenging question is whether these massive protests led to a real change […] More
The Arab Spring Five Years Later
The Arab Spring was the beacon of hope that would free millions from the grip of autocratic rulers. At first, it looked promising. One by […] More
Cauldron of Conflict
The “Arab Spring” of 2011-12 has profoundly changed the Middle East, but much is misunderstood about its effects. First, it did not produce, other than […] More
Moving Forward
When the so-called Arab Spring burst upon the Middle East five years ago, Henry Kissinger remarked that this was only “scene one of act one […] More
Lessons Learned
As the citizens of Arab nations reflect on the fifth anniversary of the popular revolts of 2011, they are likely to feel a sense of […] More
North Africa: Instability Increasing
Four years after the Arab Spring, the security environment across North Africa remains dire. “The Cipher Brief has become the most popular outlet for […] More
Social Unrest Disrupting Energy Sector
After having been idled by sit-ins for four years, Tunisia’s state-owned phosphate mines are open again. Why they closed was just one example of a […] More
North Africa: Greater Risk in the Near Term
The Cipher Brief sat down with Haim Malka, the Deputy Director of and Senior Fellow for the Middle East Program at the Center for Strategic […] More