Latest news with #NewMiddleEast
Arab News
03-06-2025
- Business
- Arab News
What is the ‘New Middle East' ... the real one this time?
There is hardly a journalist or political analyst, or even an amateur posing as either, in the Arab world who has not, at some point in recent decades, written or spoken at length about the 'New Middle East.' And yet, the Middle East we see today is something altogether different from what we were told to expect, both in substance and in the circumstances surrounding it. Our region has become, much like our lives and our sociopolitical imaginaries, untethered from familiar coordinates. One could even say it is now open to all possibilities. To be clear, this is not a veiled swipe at our political elites, nor at the political consciousness of our peoples or their capacity to learn from past mistakes and, from there, to choose a better path forward. Not in the slightest. Today, we are in the same boat with the most politically sophisticated and institutionally entrenched societies on Earth. We are all grappling with similar complexities and facing threats that do not discriminate by region or political tradition. There is no longer any guarantee that words like 'democracy' or 'good governance,' even in countries with rooted democratic traditions, will mean much if they are voided. Thus, such concepts will not, on their own, save societies from the turmoil they now face or the turmoil we will face. Just yesterday, I heard a leading expert say that the widespread use of artificial intelligence in the basic, everyday infrastructures of human life is now only a few months away. That is on the technological front. On the political front, Portugal has just joined a growing list of European countries betting, through the ballot box, on the radical far right. In last month's snap election, the populist, quasi-fascist Chega party surged to second place, just behind the center-right Democratic Alliance and ahead of the formerly ruling Socialist Party. Chega's recent rise in Portugal will embolden the broader spread of neofascist populists across Western Europe: the likes of National Rally in France, Vox in Spain, the Brothers of Italy, Reform UK, the Freedom Party in the Netherlands and Alternative for Germany. But this is no longer merely a Western European problem. Far-right populism is now well entrenched in countries across Northern and Eastern Europe, most prominently Hungary. Of course, of all Western democracies, the US presents the bleakest example. A historical rupture with few parallels anywhere else is underway in Washington, and it threatens not only the two-party system that has long been the pillar of American representative politics, but also the very principle of the separation of powers. The same single popular and populist political movement has taken control of all three branches of government: executive, legislative and judicial. To this, we can add the unofficial 'fourth branch,' the media. While it was once largely free of partisanship, the media has now become a central weapon in the ruling movement's arsenal thanks to the rise of new media: online platforms, AI and the oligarch-owned newspapers and television networks, not to mention the suspension of public funding for state media. We may be faced with even graver challenges than others amid Washington's shifting definitions of its allies and enemies. Eyad Abu Shakra There is no doubt that the institutions owned by figures like Rupert Murdoch (Fox News), Elon Musk (X), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta) and Jeff Bezos (The Washington Post) are shaping what may become America's new (and perhaps enduring) political culture. It speaks volumes that nearly every one of the 30 members of President Donald Trump's administration were in Fox News' orbit. Meanwhile, the world apprehensively follows the sweeping shifts underway in the US landscape. Economic wars are no trivial matter, nor is the fact that the man in the White House has upended notions of who is a US ally or an enemy and who its partners or competitors are. However, in light of the rapid and ongoing developments, it has become increasingly difficult for any single country to directly influence the global economic players or military and political forces. As a result, everyone is watching, hoping, anticipating — quietly, of course — either searching for alternatives or trying to limit the damage. As for the Middle East and the Arab world, we may be faced with even graver challenges than others amid Washington's shifting definitions of its allies and enemies. The US is a global power with interests and priorities everywhere. Accordingly, there is little room for sentimentality. There are no permanent interests in a world whose rules are evolving and being redefined. In our region, Washington maintains a strong strategic relationship with Israel, which is widely regarded as the most influential foreign actor in the halls of American politics. Its lobby groups fund many key figures in Congress and exert a lot of political influence. Then there is Turkiye, a pivotal NATO member and a regional power with immense religious, ethnic and geographic clout, allowing it to shape US decisions. And last but not least, Iran also has a significant say in American policy circles. Like Turkiye, it is seen as a crucial link in the Middle Eastern chain. In every round, experience suggests, Washington's goal is to win over Iran, not destroy it. In this landscape of uncertainty and rapid change, one must ask: Are we, as Arabs, still capable of influencing the regional climate and shaping the priorities of major players?
Asharq Al-Awsat
03-06-2025
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
What Is the ‘New Middle East' ... the Real One This Time
There is hardly a journalist or political analyst, or even an amateur posing as either, in the Arab world who hasn't, at some point over the past decades, written or spoken at length about the 'New Middle East.' And yet, the Middle East we see today is something altogether different from what we were told to expect, both in substance and in the circumstances surrounding it. Our region has become, much like our lives and our socio-political imaginaries, untethered from familiar coordinates. One could even say it is now open to all possibilities. To be clear, this is not a veiled swipe at our political elites, nor at the political consciousness of our peoples, or their capacity to learn from past mistakes and, from there, to choose a better path forward. Not in the slightest. Today, we, alongside the most politically sophisticated and institutionally entrenched societies on earth, are in the same boat. We are all grappling with similar complexities, and facing threats that do not discriminate by region or political tradition. There is no longer any guarantee that words like 'democracy' or 'good governance,' even in countries with rooted democratic traditions, will mean much if those terms are voided. Thus, such concepts will not, on their own, save societies from the turmoil they now face, nor the turmoil we will face. Just yesterday, I heard a leading expert say that the widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the basic, everyday infrastructures of human life is now only a few months away. That's on the technological front. On the political front, Portugal has just joined a growing list of European countries betting, through the ballot box, on the radical far right. In the latest snap election, the populist, quasi-fascist Chega party surged to second place, just behind the center-right Democratic Alliance, and ahead of the formerly ruling Socialist Party. Chega's recent rise in Portugal will embolden the broader spread of neo-fascist populists across Western Europe: the likes of the National Rally in France, Vox in Spain, Brothers of Italy, the Reform Party in the UK, the Freedom Party in the Netherlands, and Alternative for Germany (AfD). But this is no longer a Western European problem. Far-right populism is now well entrenched in countries across Northern and Eastern Europe, most prominently Hungary. Of course, of all Western democracies, the United States presents the bleakest example. A historical rupture with few parallels anywhere else is underway in Washington, and it threatens not only the two-party system that has long been the pillar of American representative politics, but also the very principle of the separation of powers. The same single popular and populist political movement has taken control of all three branches of government: the executive, legislative, and judicial. To this, we can add the unofficial 'fourth branch:' the media. While it had once largely free of partisanship, the media has now become a central weapon in the ruling movement's arsenal thanks to the rise of new media: online platforms, artificial intelligence, and the oligarch-owned newspapers and television networks, not to mention the suspension of public funding for state media. There is no doubt that the institutions owned by figures like Rupert Murdoch (Fox News), Elon Musk (X), Mark Zuckerberg (Meta), and Jeff Bezos (The Washington Post) are shaping what may become America's new (and perhaps enduring) political culture. It speaks volumes that nearly every one of the 30 members of President Donald Trump's administration was in Fox News's orbit. Meanwhile, the world apprehensively follows the sweeping shifts underway in the US landscape. Economic wars are no trivial matter, nor is the fact that the man in the White House has upended notions of who is a US ally or an enemy and who its partners or competitors are. However, in light of the rapid and ongoing developments, it has become increasingly difficult for any single country to directly influence the global economic players or military and political forces. As a result, everyone is watching, hoping, anticipating - quietly, of course - either searching for alternatives or trying to limit the damage. As for the Middle East and the Arab world, we may be faced with even graver challenges than others amid Washington's shifting definitions of its 'allies' and 'enemies.' The United States is a global power with interests and priorities everywhere. Accordingly, there is little room for sentimentality. There are no permanent interests in a world whose rules are being redefined and evolving. In our region, Washington maintains a strong strategic relationship with Israel, which is widely regarded as the most influential foreign actor in the halls of American politics. Its lobbying groups fund many key figures in Congress and exert a lot of political influence. Then there is Türkiye, a pivotal NATO member and a regional power with immense religious, ethnic, and geographic clout, allowing it to shape US decisions. And last but not least, Iran also has a significant say in American policy circles. Like Türkiye, it is seen as a crucial link in the Middle Eastern chain. In every round, experience suggests, Washington's goal is to win over Iran, not destroy it. In this landscape of uncertainty and rapid change, one must ask: Are we, as Arabs, still capable of influencing the regional climate and shaping the priorities of major players?
Tayyar.org
10-03-2025
- Politics
- Tayyar.org
President Michel Aoun in a conversation with the diaspora: The slogan 'Too big to swallow too small to divide' is the compass!
President Michel Aoun Engages with the Lebanese Diaspora on Lebanese Diaspora Day On the occasion of Lebanese Diaspora Day, which falls at the end of the second week of March, the Free Patriotic Movement's Diaspora Committee organized a global virtual meeting via Zoom, bringing together Lebanese expatriates from across the world with President General Michel Aoun. The event began with a welcoming speech by General Coordinator Nadim Jardak, who highlighted the significance of Lebanese Diaspora Day and expressed deep appreciation for the diaspora's unwavering efforts in supporting Lebanon. President Aoun then addressed the audience, expressing his pleasure in connecting with the Lebanese diaspora, which he regards as an essential extension of Lebanon abroad. He commended their continuous support for their families and the homeland, emphasizing their crucial role in preserving Lebanon's identity. Aoun's Message to the Diaspora Speaking on Lebanon's current challenges, President Aoun stated: 'Today, Lebanon is enduring the repercussions of a devastating war that has left its mark on all aspects of life. The slogan we fought for—'Freedom, Sovereignty, and Independence'—is now under severe threat due to increasing international interference and imposed guardianships. I also fear that another fundamental principle, 'Too big to swallow, too small to divide,' could also be jeopardized amid the region's turmoil. My advice to you is to hold onto this principle as a guiding compass, for it safeguards our national unity.' He added: 'My second recommendation is to keep Lebanon in your hearts, just as we keep you in ours.' Following his speech, President Aoun engaged in a Q&A session, moderated by media officer Natalie Issa, where he addressed various concerns raised by Lebanese expatriates from different continents. Concerns Over the New Middle East Project In response to a question about the Lebanese people's concerns regarding their future and the possible implementation of the New Middle East project, Aoun stated that its execution appears to be underway. 'The developments in Syria suggest a deliberate attempt to divide the country into separate regions: one for the Druze, another for the Kurds, a Sunni-controlled Damascus and surrounding areas, while the coastal regions remain under Alawite influence. This is just the beginning.' He also referenced Gaza, noting that former U.S. President Donald Trump had previously suggested the displacement of its people and changes in the West Bank. On the Issue of Resettlement in Lebanon Addressing concerns about resettlement in Lebanon, Aoun firmly stated: 'Lebanon cannot accommodate more people. Syria is 18 times the size of Lebanon with a population density six times lower. If resettlement were to take place here, it would fundamentally alter our country's identity, and that is something we cannot and will not accept.' Transitioning to Opposition & Political Accountability Reflecting on the Free Patriotic Movement's transition to the opposition, Aoun explained that this shift allows for greater political oversight: 'While in power, we had to make compromises to maintain national unity. Now, we must push for true accountability and counter the strategy of undermining opponents through fabricated news.' He stressed the necessity of constitutional amendments and reforms, arguing that governance and reforms cannot be effectively implemented without updating the constitution. The Future of Christians in Lebanon & Electoral Strategy When asked about the future of Christians in Lebanon, Aoun reassured: 'Their presence is permanent, and we continue working to correct past mistakes—whether in legislation or laws. We have already made progress, particularly in electoral laws, and we will continue to do so.' Regarding electoral alliances, he emphasized pragmatism in politics: 'In elections, everything is possible. Democracy allows for flexibility. I advise you to vote for the key candidate on the list, rather than being swayed by others. Those who align with us on the list are political allies—nothing more.' Encouraging Diaspora Participation in Elections Aoun urged the Lebanese diaspora to actively participate in elections, reminding them that the Free Patriotic Movement was instrumental in securing legislative representation for expatriates: 'You, the diaspora, understand your needs best. That is why we ensured your right to elect representatives. Your participation is crucial.' A Final Message to the Diaspora: Preserve Your Lebanese Identity Closing his address, President Aoun issued a heartfelt appeal to the diaspora, urging them to register their children as Lebanese citizens: 'Do not neglect to register your children in the Lebanese records. They are Lebanese—do not deprive them of their rightful identity. You may hold a second nationality, but remember: that nationality is just a passport. Your Lebanese nationality is your land, your people, your homeland.' With this, the meeting concluded, reinforcing the strong bond between Lebanon and its global diaspora.
