Events in Tunisia and Egypt have captured the world's attention. Will the contagion of disruption and discontent spread to other countries in the region? Could Iran be the next stage in the jasmine revolution? (1)

• • Leader: Arab leaders everywhere should take heed
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• • KAL's cartoon: Mubarak's hot Arab cuisine
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Two views on the state, and strength, of the state in 2011—and a look 25 years into the future, when collaboration might make the state redundant

• • 2011 will see the start of a widespread and largely welcome attack on the scope of the state in rich countries
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• • Don Tapscott describes an age of collaboration

Watch out for currency confusion in 2011

• • The biggest risks to the economy will be from policy mistakes
• • Debt repayments will strain the nerves of governments, banks and companies
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• • Topics: Financial markets

In 2011, books will shift shape—and turn into “b-apps”, argue Alix Christie and Ludwig Siegele

• • How to develop paywalls that work
• • Bill Gates looked at a world beyond Gutenberg for The World in 2000
• • The world in figures: Industries: Media

Voting has begun in Southern Sudan in a week-long referendum on independence from the north. By the time polls close on January 15, Africa's largest country is likely to be split in two with potentially dangerous consequences in—and for—the new country (1)

• • A history of modern Sudan
• • Topic page: Sudan
• • Leader: A necessary secession
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• • Independence beckons in South Sudan
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Iraq will still be a dangerous place for Iraqis and outsiders alike

• • Inching back to a Middle East peace
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• • More gloom for Afghanistan
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• • Without boldness from Barack Obama there is a real risk of war in the Middle East
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• • People from Jerusalem give their views on what will happen in 2011

The 2012 US presidential race will get underway during the coming year. Arianna Huffington argues that if 2008 was all about "hope", then 2011 will be about hope 2.0

• • John Heilemann picks the likely GOP contenders in an already crowded race for the White House
• • The next president: A panel on politics in 2011
• • Does the 2010 census offer any clues as to who the likely victors in 2012 might be?
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Scientists should at long last be able to see a route to the total eradication of malaria

• • Nathan Wolfe predicts technology will help spot and stop epidemics before they go global
• • Malaria's frontline
  • Multimedia
  • (1)
• • The World in figures: Health care