Newsletter Archive
Below are all the Arab Digest newsletters going back to 17 June 2013
Mar-a-Lago, Trump and the Arabs
Summary: the FBI raid on Trump’s Florida home has the potential to do reputational and political damage to Saudi Arabia’s Mohammed bin Salman and the UAE’s Mohammed bin Zayed.
Saudi Arabia: Playing Both Ends…
Summary: although the fundamentals of Saudi relations with the US seemingly remain solid, the energy market’s current dynamics and longer-term prospects mean that Washington can no longer depend on Riyadh to bend to its will on oil output, thereby potentially putting in jeopardy the original cornerstone in relations.
The Arab Digest Podcast Top Ten Countdown: number 5
At number five in the top ten, Beyond the two-state solution was aired 22 October 2021. Jonathan Kuttab is co-founder of Nonviolence International and of the Palestinian human rights group, Al Haq. A well known international human rights attorney, he has practiced in the US, Palestine and Israel. He serves on the board of Bethlehem Bible College and is President of the Board of Holy Land Trust.
The Arab Digest Podcast Top Ten Countdown: number 6
When we launched the podcast in March 2020 we had no idea what sort of reception to expect. Now nearly 120 podcasts later we are delighted that they have been listened to more than 80,000 times in countries right around the world. That response is a measure of the outstanding quality of our contributors. We
The Arab Digest Podcast Top Ten Countdown: number 7
Our podcast Cairo and Ankara: a new axis? ranks number 7 in the Arab Digest top ten podcast list. It was released 18 June 2021 and features Ali Bakir, a research assistant professor at Ibn Khaldoon center for Humanities and Social Sciences in Doha. Ali is an analyst following geopolitical and security trends in the Middle East, and especially those between Turkey and the Arab world. His conversation with Digest editor William Law focussed on the thaw in relations between Cairo and Ankara.
The Arab Digest Podcast Top Ten Countdown: number 8
We spoke with Chris 11 June 2021. His new book From Sheikhs to Sultanism: Statecraft and Authority in Saudi Arabia and the UAE had just been published by Hurst. Together with the podcast which you can find here, we are publishing a shortened transcript version, edited for length and clarity.
The Arab Digest Podcast Top Ten Countdown: number 9
Coming in at number nine in our all-time Arab Digest top ten is Annelle Sheline’s podcast The Weaponisation of Moderate Islam, first broadcast 30 July 2021. Annelle is a Research Fellow in the Middle East program at the Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft and an expert on religious and political authority in the Middle East and North Africa.
The Arab Digest Podcast Top Ten Countdown: number 10
When we launched the podcast in March 2020 we had no idea what sort of reception to expect. Now nearly 120 podcasts later we are delighted that they have been listened to more than 80,000 times in countries right around the world. That response is a measure of the outstanding quality of our contributors. We are fortunate to have them.
Biden, MbS and the true meaning of realpolitik
Summary: despite the optics and the apparent climbdown by President Biden amidst claims of a resentful and rupturing partnership, Chatham House’s Neil Quilliam argues that the relationship with Saudi Arabia though strained was never at serious risk.
COP27
Summary: Egypt is preparing to host COP27 at Sharm el Sheikh this November where it is expected to make the case for reparations for the Global South, despite its own poor environmental record.
Could civil strife further Emirati-Russian advances in Sudan?
Summary: a brewing conflict between generals is proving useful to Abu Dhabi’s goals to fortify its growing power in Sudan and do Moscow a good turn as it seeks to position itself as the Middle East’s key power player.
Tunisia: a referendum and a generation gap
Summary: today’s referendum vote appears destined to cement Kais Saied’s grip on power but as the country veers back toward dictatorship young Tunisians refuse to abandon the dreams and promise of the 2011 revolution.