Publication

This paper examines US influence in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), especially following the Arab Spring uprisings in 2011, and whether Washington's efforts to move the decision making of MENA leaders in a direction more favorable to US interests have been successful. The author also details four positive levers she suggests US policymakers will increasingly rely on when approaching the MENA. These are private diplomacy and persuasion; public diplomacy; civilian assistance in the form of economic support funds; and military assistance and training.