Two different viewpoints have been prominent in analyzing the weeks of mass protests in Iraq, Lebanon and Algeria: There are “external forces” behind these protests Citizens are legitimately reacting to economic crisis and government corruption. The government is simply using allegations of foreign interference to weaken the protests There is relevant information regarding both viewpoints that should be kept in ...
Protests in Lebanon Throughout the week a number of protests took place in various countries across the globe. In Lebanon, demonstrations began on the evening of October 17 against the government’s new tax policy. The protesters showcased their rejection of the government’s decision to introduce a $6 dollar a month tax for calls made on the popular social media app ...
Turkey’s local elections Turkey held local elections on March 31, which ended in numerous disputed regions, leading the Commission to recount the votes. Particularly controversial was the battle for Istanbul, where the candidate from the ruling party, ex-speaker of parliament Binali Yıldırım and opposition member Ekrem İmamoğlu faced off. The US State Department had previously called on the parties to ...
On March 11, Algerian President Abdelaziz Bouteflika announced that elections would be postponed and he would remain in power. The situation remains restless – now people are protesting against his decision to extend his fourth term indefinitely – on March 15, the Algerian opposition is threatening to take to the streets in new mass protests opposing Bouteflika’s 20-year rule. What ...