Uprising in Egypt: Implications for Saudi Arabia – Lippman

February 1, 2011

Saudi Arabia is among the many countries with a lot at stake in Egypt. The emergence of a radical regime from the wreckage of the Mubarak era —whether religious or, less likely, extreme populist – would certainly be troublesome for the Kingdom. A complete state failure, Somalia-style, would be even more dangerous. So far, however, there is not much reason to believe that the uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia portend similar developments in Saudi Arabia, where the political and popular environment is quite different.

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At the Tipping Point in the Arab World

January 31, 2011

The throngs of Egyptians who have taken to the streets in the Arab world’s most populous country are shaking the foundations of regimes across North Africa and the Middle East with scant hope America will emerge from this new crisis with a winning hand, much less breaking even. Egypt, like many other countries led by highly autocratic regimes, appeared to be stable and enjoyed good relations with its Western partners including the United States. The partnership evolved from a global strategic calculus that lined up clients in the Cold War on the side of the United States and the West, or the Soviet Union. It came to include, in the case of Egypt especially, support for American efforts to achieve peace treaties between Israel and its Arab neighbors.

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