Publications
Explore an archive of Hafed Al-Ghwell’s publications, ranging from academic papers to opinion pieces and columns. The archive spans Hafed’s contributions to the fields of Middle Eastern and North African studies, particularly in the fields of security, migration, energy, sustainability, and the nuanced dynamics of US and EU foreign policies in relation to the region.
Middle East: Please heed the signs
Global food prices have surged significantly, raising concerns about potential inflation, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region where many staples are consumed. Even before the pandemic, Arab countries were grappling with…
Let’s not allow this COVID crisis to go to waste
The global vaccination effort against COVID-19 marks significant progress with over 2 billion doses administered worldwide, particularly boosted by the White House's pledge to allocate 75 percent of surplus US vaccines to the COVAX program.
We’re not out the virus minefield yet
The dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic are evolving amidst the acceleration of vaccination efforts. While the proposal to waive vaccine patents by the Biden administration offers a ray of hope, formidable challenges persist, as evidenced by the situations in India and Brazil.
Birth pains of a new order in the Middle East
The top global threats have shifted to focus on climate change and geopolitical competition, eclipsing concerns about terrorism, as per US intelligence officials. The Middle East confronts a myriad of challenges, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic and escalating power struggles.
The hard work in Libya has only just begun
Libya's new interim Government of National Unity (GNU) has made swift progress in uniting critical state institutions within a short timeframe, instilling some confidence in its plans leading up to the December 24 elections. However, challenges persist…
Don’t hold your breath for peace in Libya
The Libyan parliament, whose legitimacy is in question, has backed the new transitional executive appointed by the UN-selected Libyan Political Dialogue Forum (LPDF), despite anticipated allegations of corruption.
New fault lines that define the Middle East
The Middle East has experienced a shift in power dynamics away from domination by superpowers to regional capitals pursuing dominance and economic interests. Conflict now revolves around realpolitik strategies, with regional actors shaping the landscape.
The race to Mars, and why it matters
Recent Mars missions have broadened their focus beyond the planet's geology and potential habitability, now targeting what lies above its surface. The UAE's Hope probe and China's Tianwen-1 mission are prime examples.
Hope back on the agenda for Libya’s future
Libya has endured a tumultuous decade marked by conflict, divisions, and the specter of civil war following Muammar Qaddafi's autocratic rule. Lawless militias have wreaked havoc, exacerbating the country's woes.
How high-tech proxy wars threaten the global order
The changing nature of contemporary warfare is evident in conflicts like those in Libya and Nagorno-Karabakh, where hybrid methods such as disinformation and electronic warfare are increasingly favored.
Another year, more of the same Middle East
Looking into the Middle East and North African region's prospects for 2021, it is clear that the COIVD-19 pandemic has significantly impacted economies, especially oil producers striving for diversification admist falling prices.