The weaknesses of the existing government leadership in Algeria point to eventual implosion, with either a return to 1960s warlordism or seizure of power by Islamic radicals. A radically oriented Islamic government would have an immediate and negative effect on the stability of the Maghreb. Tunisians fear a domino effect. The Tunisians oppose concessions to Islamic activists, both in Tunisia and in Algeria. They prefer tough law-and-order measures in both countries in what they believe is a zero-sum game. The Tunisians are uncomfortable with U.S. policies ostracizing Qadhafi and Saddam Hussein, as well as official U.S. criticism of tight political and security controls by the Tunisian government. They believe that Washington is not focusing on the most critical threat to the region's stability; the rise of radical Islam as a hostile political force. Regional security issues on which the United States has focused (proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Mediterranean, Libyan mischief, and unrest in the Western Sahara) are discounted by the Tunisians.

The weaknesses of the existing government leadership in Algeria point to eventual implosion, with either a return to 1960s warlordism or seizure of power by Islamic radicals. A radically oriented Islamic government would have an immediate and negative effect on the stability of the Maghreb. Tunisians fear a domino effect. The Tunisians oppose concessions to Islamic activists, both in Tunisia and in Algeria. They prefer tough law-and-order measures in both countries in what they believe is a zero-sum game. The Tunisians are uncomfortable with U.S. policies ostracizing Qadhafi and Saddam Hussein, as well as official U.S. criticism of tight political and security controls by the Tunisian government. They believe that Washington is not focusing on the most critical threat to the region's stability; the rise of radical Islam as a hostile political force. Regional security issues on which the United States has focused (proliferation of weapons of mass destruction in the Mediterranean, Libyan mischief, and unrest in the Western Sahara) are discounted by the Tunisians.

From Yiddish-speaking Russian-Lithuanian feather handlers in South Africa to London manufacturers and wholesalers, from New York's Lower East Side to entrepreneurial farms in the American West, this text explores the details of a remarkably vibrant yet ephemeral culture.

A compilation of papers analyzing the issues affecting security in the Mediterranean area and their policy implications. The Mediterranean is seen as a potential theatre for East-West confrontation both on land and at sea, as a key trade route and as an area of inter-relationship conflicts.

Freedom HouseOs innovative publication WomenOs Rights in the Middle East and North Africa: Progress Amid Resistance analyzes the status of women in the region, with a special focus on the gains and setbacks for womenOs rights since the first edition was released in 2005. The study presents a comparative evaluation of conditions for women in 17 countries and one territory: Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Palestine (Palestinian Authority and Israeli-Occupied Territories), Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen. The publication identifies the causes and consequences of gender inequality in the Middle East, and provides concrete recommendations for national and international policymakers and implementers. Freedom House is an independent nongovernmental organization that supports democratic change, monitors freedom, and advocates for democracy and human rights. The project has been embraced as a resource not only by international players like the United Nations and the World Bank, but also by regional womenOs rights organizations, individual activists, scholars, and governments worldwide. WomenOs rights in each country are assessed in five key areas: (1) Nondiscrimination and Access to Justice; (2) Autonomy, Security, and Freedom of the Person; (3) Economic Rights and Equal Opportunity; (4) Political Rights and Civic Voice; and (5) Social and Cultural Rights. The methodology is based on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and the study results are presented through a set of numerical scores and analytical narrative reports.