The Spring 2025 issue of Middle East Quarterly discusses urgent issues in the Middle East, including Iran’s nuclear program, Hamas’s propaganda strategies, as well as Egypt’s economic challenges and Biden’s changing stance on Israel. It also includes reviews of significant books addressing regional authoritarianism and jihadism.
The Spring 2025 issue of Middle East Quarterly addresses pressing challenges in the Middle East, with articles on Iran’s nuclear ambitions, Hamas’s propaganda, Egypt’s economy, and the evolving stance of former President Biden on Israel. This edition also features reviews of two significant books examining the impact of authoritarianism and jihadism on stability in the region and beyond.
In the article “Time to Take the Iranian Nuclear Bull by the Horns,” Colin Winston advocates for decisive military action against Iran’s nuclear program, recommending a coordinated strike involving U.S. and Israeli forces. Winston, drawing upon his extensive intelligence experience, emphasizes that Iran’s current vulnerability is coupled with alarming advancements in nuclear capability, thus making military intervention both necessary and urgent.
The work of Andrew Fox and Tania Glezer in “Misinformation Strategy and Media Bias in the Gaza War” highlights Hamas’s effective propaganda techniques that influence global perceptions of the conflict. They note a significant disparity in casualty reporting, with Fox noting, “Israel has achieved one of the lowest civilian-to-combatant casualty ratios in modern conflicts,” which he compares favorably against other historical conflicts.
Nael Shama, in “The Gaza War and the ‘Egypt-Is-Too-Big-to-Fail’ Argument,” argues that Egypt must reduce its reliance on foreign aid to achieve sustainable economic growth. He warns that continued dependency will trap Egypt in a cycle of crises and proposed reforms aimed at fostering independent economic viability.
Daniel Samet’s article, “Biden’s Volte Face on Israel,” traces the evolution of Biden’s long-standing pro-Israel stance, which he suggests has been affected by the shifting political landscape within the Democratic Party. Samet posits that Biden’s nuanced approach during the recent Gaza conflict illustrates his need to balance party dynamics with his historical support for Israel.
In book reviews, Eyal Zisser discusses Con Coughlin’s “Assad: The Triumph of Tyranny,” lauding it for its insightful look into Bashar al-Assad’s complex rule. Zisser describes the work as “well-written and fluent,” capturing the tumultuous events surrounding Assad’s leadership.
Anna Stanley reviews “The British Suicide: The U.K.’s Self-Inflicted Failure to Defeat Jihad for Two Decades,” which critically analyzes the U.K.’s failures in combating extremism. Stanley commends the work as a meticulous examination of the systemic issues undermining national security against radical threats.
The Middle East Forum is dedicated to promoting American interests in the Middle East and safeguarding Western values from Islamism, driving its mission through innovative thinking and strategic activism. For more information, visit their official website.
The Spring 2025 issue of Middle East Quarterly provides crucial insights into Iranian nuclear threats, Hamas’s propaganda strategies, Egypt’s economic struggles, and a shift in U.S. policy towards Israel. The contributions from seasoned analysts offer a timely framework for understanding complex regional dynamics. Additionally, the book reviews contribute to a deeper comprehension of current global threats stemming from authoritarianism and radical ideology, reinforcing the Forum’s commitment to fostering informed discourse on Middle Eastern affairs.
Original Source: www.meforum.org
