The Arab Spring and the Gulf States: Time to embrace change

The most challenging question today for the citizens of any country in the Gulf region is whether it is heading in the right direction to become a durable, sustainable system, fully supported by its people and capable of being defended from internal and external threats. Mohamed A. J. Althani analyzes the domestically important areas of demography, security, provision of food and water, and the political and economic systems of the Arab countries at the center of the turmoil that has spread throughout the region since early 2011.

Shaikh Mohamed A. J. Althani is a former minister in the Qatari government.