Publication

The Middle East is in the throes of a profound transformation. After decades of seeming stagnation, the region’s political, economic, ideological and even territorial balance is being re-drawn at a dizzying speed. The revolutionary tide that gathered momentum in Tunisia in early 2011 has swept through the region within a matter of months, engulfing most Middle Eastern countries in its path. Wherever it hit land, it has swept away the old order and empowered a new set of political actors that are now trying to find their feet on an unknown terrain. It brought with it great promise and the hope of a better future; but also new uncertainties and risks. Whatever the outcome of this extraordinary transformation, it will be decisive in determining the future of the Middle East. It will also be hugely important in shaping Europe’s own political and economic future.