home > by publication type > must reads
MUST READS
A sortable index of the best online analyses and inquiries on foreign policy.
February 1, 2011
Manan Ahmed argues that violence over attempts to remove Pakistan's blasphemy laws reveal less about the crass “Islamisation” of the Pakistani public, and more about an entrenched political program that routinely marshals potent symbols against critical voices.
See more in Pakistan, Human Rights, Religion
January 31, 2011
The Post asked experts what America should do about unrest in the Middle East. Below are responses from Steven Heydemann, Stephen J. Hadley, Aaron David Miller, Danielle Pletka, Hussein Agha, Robert Malley, Marina Ottaway, Andrew Albertson and Ed Husain.
January 28, 2011
According to Jeremy M. Sharp of the Congressional Research Service, U.S. policy toward Egypt has long been framed as an investment in regional stability, built primarily on long-running military cooperation and sustaining the March 1979 Egyptian-Israeli peace treaty. This report provides an overview of U.S.-Egyptian relations, Egyptian politics, and U.S. foreign aid to Egypt.
See more in Egypt, Democracy and Human Rights, U.S. Strategy and Politics
January 28, 2011
CNBC reports on the danger of little diversity in a country's internet service providers who own the infrastructure, now that Egypt has successfully disrupted citizens' internet access and the world's acess to Egyptian internet sites.
See more in Egypt, Democratization
January 27, 2011
While popular protests erupt across the Middle East, America stands on the sidelines. Stephen Kinzer writes in the Daily Beast on why the U.S. should abandon its self-defeating foreign policy in the region.
See more in Egypt, Political Movements
January 27, 2011
Anthony Cordesman argues in the Financial Times that the very failures that have suddenly unleashed such passion have left much of the Arab world without the kind of political parties and leaders that can work together and bridge sectarian and tribal differences. The US and Europe need to focus on helping them meet these challenges.
See more in Middle East, Democracy and Human Rights
January 27, 2011
President Hosni Mubarak (below) faces unprecedented protest on the street. But it may not make him go—yet.
See more in Egypt, Political Movements
January 27, 2011
This Los Angeles Times article by Borzou Daragahi states that the Tunisian Revolution was the culmination of tensions between the haves and have-nots in a nation where a brutal regime treated the people like serfs.
See more in North Africa, Democracy and Human Rights
January 27, 2011
The Guardian's Simon Tisdall outlines the impact of the Tunisian revolution on the political dynasties of Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, and Syria.
See more in Middle East, Democracy and Human Rights
January 26, 2011
On the eve of Mohamed ElBaradei's return, the former U.N. official who is the Mubarak regime's most high-profile opponent shared his thoughts on the young people who've taken to the streets, political Islam, and the role of the United States.
See more in Egypt, Political Movements
Gayle Lemmon tells the remarkable story of a young entrepreneur whose business created jobs and hope for women in her Kabul, Afghanistan, neighborhood during the Taliban years.
Adam Segal offers a contrarian analysis of how the United States can succeed in the technological race with Asia.
A penetrating look at American wars over the last century by Gideon Rose, editor of Foreign Affairs.
Kara C. McDonald and Stewart M. Patrick offer recommendations for U.S. leadership in UN Security Council reform and expansion.
Kay King offers recommendations to reset congressional rules, practices, and procedures to address today's dysfunctional Congress and restore it as a full partner to the executive branch in advancing U.S. national security interests.
This Task Force report assesses U.S. objectives, strategy, and policy options in Pakistan and Afghanistan. It supports a long-term partnership with Pakistan, calls for a new approach to Afghan political reform, reconciliation, and regional diplomacy, and says that a more limited U.S. mission in Afghanistan would be warranted if the present strategy does not show signs of progress.
About Independent Task Forces at CFR
To order Task Force reports, Council Special Reports, and Critical Policy Choices, please call, fax, or order online from our distributor, the Brookings Institution Press: phone +1.800.537.5487, fax +1.410.516.6998.
For information on other reports that are not for sale, or for general publications information, please call +1.212.434.9613 or email publications@cfr.org.
To request permission to reprint or reuse CFR material, please fill out this permissions request form (PDF), referring to the instructions on page 1.