Online References in English on Yemen's Transition

Some people have asked me for helpful references on Yemen.  So, here is a list of some free electronic academic, advocacy or policy oriented reports on Yemen's transitional period in English.

The aim is to provide researchers with easy access to online materials that might help in the research process.  Of course I advise you to also read historical analysis in order to have a more comprehensive comprehensive understanding of the current situation. [I hope to list some book recommendations in a future post]

This list is a work in progress, I will periodically update it and add new material.  Please feel free to recommend other online publications, or if any of the researchers want to make their work public, feel free to send it to me and we can upload it on the cloud and link it here. [thanks to those who already did that].

GENERAL INFO ON TRANSITIONAL PERIOD

• Adra, Najwa, Tribal Mediation in Yemen and its Implication to Development, (Österreichische Akademie der Wissenschaften/Austrian Academy of Sciences, Volume 19, 2011). 
• Al-Akhali, Rafat, The Challenge of Federalism in Yemen, (The Atlantic Council, May 2014). 
• Al-Falahi, Ashraf, Yemen’s Fraught Constitution Drafting Committee, (Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, May 2014). 
• Al-Madhaji, Maged, Federalism in Yemen: Unasked Questions & Uncertain Solutions (Paris: Arab Reform Initiative, August 2014).
• Al-Muslimi, Farea, Deadlocked Yemen, (Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 30 June 2013). 
• Alviso-Marino, Anahi, Making Stories Visible, A Yemen Art History, (Ibraaz, 9 September 2014)
• Alviso-Marino, Anahi, From Street Politics to Street Art in Yemen, (Nafas, July 2013).
• 1.     Alviso-Marino, Anahi, Oralpresentation: The Politics of Painting in Public Spaces: Yemeni Street Artas  Device for Political Action, (Symposium at university of Pennsylvania: 9 April 2014).
• Carapico, Sheila, A New Green Zone in Sanaa, (Middle East Research and Information Project -MERIP, January 2013). 
• Dingli, Sophia, Is the failed State Thesis Analytically Useful? the Case of Yemen, (Politics, 1 November 2012). 
• Durac, Vincent, Yemen's Arab Spring - Democratic Opening or Regime Maintenance, (Mediterranean Politics, 2012) p. 161-178.
• Durac, Vincent, The European Union in Yemen: the Triumph of Pragmatism Over Normativity? (European Foreign Affairs Review, 2010), p. 645-661.
• Elham Manea, The Perils of Yemen’s Cunning State, (Norwegian Peace-building Resource Centre, September 2012). 
• Elham, Manea, Yemen’s Contentious Transitional Justice and Fragile Peace, (Yemen-Alaan, March 2014). 
• Haddad, Saleem and Joshua Rogers, Yemen: People's Peacemaking Perspectives, (SaferWorld, November 2011). 
• Havoshki, Mostafa, Barriers of Political Development in Yemen, (European Journal of Business and Social Science, June 2014), p.54 - 60.
• Heinz, Marie-Christine, On ‘Gun Culture’ and ‘Civil Statehood’ in Yemen, (Journal of Arabian Studies: Arabia, the Gulf, and the Red Sea, 2014).
• Hill, Ginny, Peter Salisbury, Léonoe Northedge, and Jane Kinninmont, Yemen: Corruption, Capital Flight and Global Drivers of Conflict, (London: Chatham House, September 2013).
• Schmitz, Charles, Building a Better Yemen, (Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, April 2012). 
• Sharqieh, Ibrahim, A Lasting Peace? Yemen’s Long Journey to National Reconciliation, (Washington D.C.: Brookings Doha Center, February 2013). 
• Sharqieh, Ibrahim, International intervention, justice and accountability in Yemen, (European Council on Foreign Relations, November 2013). 
• Thiel, Tobias, Yemen’s Arab Spring: From Youth Revolution to Fragile Political Transition, (LSE Ideas Special Report, 2012) Thiel, Tobias, Yemen’s Negotiated Transition between the Elite and the Street, (LSE Middle East Centre, 2012). 

2011 UPRISING

• Alwazir, Atiaf, the Square of Change in Sana’a: an Incubator for Reform, (Paris: Arab Reform Initiative, May 2011). 
• Bonnefoy, Laurent, From Street Mobilization to Political Mobilization, (Moulay Hicham Foundation, September 2012). 
• Laurent Bonnefoy and Marine Poirier, The Structuration of the Yemeni Revolution - Exploring a Process in Motion, (Revue française de science politique, May 2012).

HUMAN RIGHTS

• Human Rights Watch (HRW), Classrooms in the Crosshairs: Military Use of Schools in Yemen's Capital, (11 September 2012). 
• Human Rights Watch (HRW), Yemen's Torture Camps: Abuse of Migrants by Human Traffickers in a Climate of Impunity, (25 May 2014). 
• International Crisis Group (ICG), Yemen: Enduring Conflicts, Threatened Transitions, (July 2012).

RULE OF LAW

• Al-Zwaini, Laila, The Rule of Law in Yemen Prospects and Challenges, (HiiL’s Rule of Law Quick Scan Series, September 2012). 
• Amnesty International, Yemen: Lack of Investigation into Human Rights Violations Entrenches Impunity, (20 June 2014). 
• Human Rights Watch (HRW), Unfinished Massacre: Yemen's Failed Response to the 'Friday of Dignity' Killings, (12 February 2013).

The JMP

• Durac, Vincent, The Joint Meeting Parties and the Politics of Opposition in Yemen, (British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, December 2011), p. 343–365. 
• Yadav-Philbrick, Stacey, Tawakkul Karman as Cause and Effect, (Middle East Research and Information Project-MERIP, 21 October 2011).

AL-HIRAK AL-JANUBI / SOUTHERN MOVEMENT

• Day, Stephen, The Political Challenge of Yemen’s Southern Movement, (Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, March 2010). 
• Dingli, Sophia, The Politics of (Re)Unification: Lessons from Yemen for Cyprus, (14 February 2013). 
• Human Rights Watch (HRW), Days of Bloodshed in Aden, (9 March 2011). 
• International Crisis Group (ICG), Yemen’s Southern Question: Avoiding a Breakdown, (September 2013). 
• O'Neil, Brian, Aden's Port in the Storm, (Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 6 September 2012). 

ANSARULLAH/HOUTHIS

• Boucek, Christopher, War in Saada: From Local Insurrection to National Challenge, (Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, April 2010). 
• Brandt, Maraike, Sufyan's Hybrid War: Tribal Politics During the Huthi Conflict, (Journal of Arabian Studies, the Gulf, and the Red Sea, 2013)
• International Crisis Group (ICG), Defusing the Saada Time Bomb, (Middle East Report N°86, 27 May 2009). 
• Neubauer, Siguard, Tensions at the Saudi-Yemeni Border, (Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, October 2013). 

Youth

• Al-Dawsari, Nadwa, Marib Youth and Political Transition in Yemen, (The Atlantic Council, 31 March 2014).
• Alwazir, Atiaf, Youth Inclusion in Yemen: a Necessary Element for Success of Political Transition, (Arab Reform Initiative, December 2012). 
• Chatham House, The Role of Youth Activists in Yemen’s Process, (May 2012). 
• Qasem, Alaa, Five Barriers to Youth Engagement, decision-making, and leadership in Yemen’s political parties, SaferWorld, (December 2013).
• Yemen Polling Center (YPC), Policy Brief - Supporting Youth Activism in Yemen: Challenges, Priorities and Needs, (November 2013).
• Yemen Polling Center (YPC), The Youth Movement and its Activists, (December 2013).

GENDER

• Al-Hamdani, Samaa, Yemen's Quota: Success for International Community or Yemeni Women? (Fikra Forum, 27 September 2013). 
• Al-Sakkaf, Nadia, Yemen's Women and the Quest for Change: Political Participation After the Revolution, (Frederich Ebert Stiftung, 2012). 
• Heinze, Marie-Christine, and Sarah Jamal, Integrating Women's Security Interests in Police Reform in Yemen: Some Suggestions for Structural Reform, (Yemen Polling Center -YPC, June 2013). 
• Human Rights Watch (HRW), How Come You Allow Little Girls to Get Married? Child Marriage in Yemen, (8 December 2011). 
• Hurst, Miranda, Expanding Yemeni Women's Participation in Public Sphere, (September 2012). 
• Pandya, Sophia, Religious Flexibilities of Older Yemeni Women in Sanaa, (Journal of Middle East Women's Studies, 2014), p. 52-79.
• Wameedh Shakir, Mia Marzouk and Saleem Haddad, Strong Voices: Yemeni Women's Political Participation from Protest to Transition, (SaferWorld, 12 July 2012). 
• Yemen Polling Center (YPC), Towards a Gender Equality Department at MOI, (June 2013). 
• Yemen Polling Center (YPC), Women's Voices in the New Yemen, (February 2014).

CONFLICT/SECURITY

• Al-Dawsari, Nadwa, The Popular Committees of Abyan, Yemen; a Necessary Evil or Opportunity for Security Reform? (Washington D.C.: Middle East Institute, 5 March 2014). 
• Al-Dawsari, Nadwa, Tribal Governance and Stability in Yemen, (Washington D.C.: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, April 2012). 
• Alwazir, Atiaf, Achieving Long Term Stability in Yemen: Moving Beyond Counter-Terrorism, (Washington D.C.: Project on Middle East Democracy -POMED, 18 May 2012). 
• Gaston, Erica and Nadwa al-Dawsari, Waiting for Change: The Impact of Transition on Local Justice and Security in Yemen, (Washington D.C.: US Institute for Peace -USIP, 9 April 2013). 
• Human Rights Watch (HRW), A Wedding That Became a Funeral: US Drone Attack on Marriage Procession in Yemen, (20 February 2014). 
• Human Rights Watch (HRW), Between a Drone and Al-Qaeda: The Civilian Cost of U.S. Targeted Killings in Yemen, (22 October 2013). 
• International Crisis Group (ICG), Yemen’s Military Security Reform: Seeds of New Conflict? (April 2013). 
• Lucas, Winter, Conflict in Yemen: Simple People, Complicated Circumstances, (Washington D.C.: Middle East Policy Council, 2011). 
• Soudias, Dimitris and Mareike Transfel, Mapping Popular Perceptions: Local Security, Insecurity and Police Work in Yemen, (Yemen Polling Center – YPC, 9 July 2014).

MEDIA LANDSCAPE

• Human Rights Watch (HRW), A Life-Threatening Career: Attacks on Journalists under Yemen's New Government, (19 September 2013). 
• Reporters without Borders (RSF), Journalism Getting More Dangerous in Yemen, (30 April 2013). 
• Reporters without Borders (RSF), Journalists Constantly Harassed and Attacked in Yemen, (13 March 2014). 
• Yemen Polling Center (YPC), Policy Brief - Media and Parliament in Yemen: Challenges for Reporters and Possible Solutions, (December 2013).

AUB talk: Battling for Rights

My talk at Amerian University of Beirut's Asfari Institute Conference

Yemen's Independent Youth and Their Role in the National Dialogue Conference- Triggering a Change in Political Culture

Published in SWP Comment

Summary:
In March 2013, a six-month National Dialogue Conference (NDC) began. It has brought together 565 diverse participants, among them representatives of Yemen's independent youth, who were essential in starting the 2011 uprising. The Conference is tasked with putting forward decisions on major topics related to Yemen's future. In July, a majority of participants adopted the decisions and recommendations of six of the nine working groups. Youth and other independent participants were crucial in pushing for recommendations promoting equal citizenship for men and women in the decisions adopted. Yet, their impact on decision making remains limited. In addition, amidst continued insecurity and economic crisis, the working groups on the structure of the state and long-lasting conflicts in the north and south have not reached agreement. While failure of the NDC is thus not unlikely, the participation of independent youth has already triggered positive changes in the country's political culture. Europeans should support this trend and provide technical assistance and skills-building to independent youth groups.

Continue reading here

“Youth” Inclusion in Yemen: a Necessary Element for Success of political transition اليمن إشراك "الشباب" ضرورة لنجاح المرحلة الانتقالية

شهد تاريخ اليمن المعاصر عدة ثورات وانقلابات. ولكن ثورة ٢٠١١ لها جانب فريد ومتميز، وهو أن الشباب هم من قاد الثورة (على الأقل في أولها) بمشاركة شعبية واسعة من كافة الأطياف، وهو ما جعل الثورة تتجاوز دائرة النخبة السياسية. والسؤال الذي يطرح نفسه اليوم هو: أي دور "للشباب" الذين أشعلوا جذوة الحراك السلمي الشعبي خلال المرحلة الانتقالية؟

وعلى الرغم من الدور الهام الذي لعبه الشباب في الثورة، فقد تم إقصائهم من المفاوضات السياسية التي أدت إلى توقيع الخطة الانتقالية (المبادرة الخليجية). كما أن هناك مؤشرات اليوم تشير إلى احتمال تهميش الشباب في الحوار الوطني المقبل.

إن أحد المؤشرات الرئيسية لتغير الهيكل السياسي هو مدى إشراك فئات غير تقليدية خارج الدائرة الصغيرة المغلقة في العملية السياسية. ومن هنا، تحاول هذه الورقة أن تسلط الضوء على مدى إشراك الشباب في العملية السياسية من خلال تعريف مفهوم "الشباب المستقل" في البداية، ثم التركيز على دورهم في الثورة ودورهم الحالي والمحتمل في العملية الانتقالية.

الورقة كاملة

Modern Yemen has witnessed previous revolutions and coups, but the revolution of 2011 had the unique aspect of being a youth led mass movement [at least at the beginning] with participation from people of various backgrounds, transcending the elite circle of politics. A common question arises: what role do the “youth” who ignited the mass protest movement play today in the transitional process?

While youth played a significant role in the revolution, they were sidelined in the political negotiations that led to the signing of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) transition plan and there are indicators today that show their potential marginalization in the upcoming national dialogue process.

A key indicator for change in the political structure of the country is the level of political inclusion that transcends the traditional small inner circle.  Hence, this paper attempts to review the level of “youth” inclusion, by first defining the “independent youth”, and focusing on their past, current and potential role in the transitional process.

Full paper found here.

Yemen in Transition: Challenges and Opportunities

My presentation at Harvard University focused on civilian casualties of air strikes in Yemen

Achieving Long-Term Stability in Yemen: Moving Beyond Counterterrorism

Policy Brief published by Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED)

With a new president in power, Yemen has the opportunity to fundamentally restructure its political and military system, but multiple obstacles stand in its path. The Yemeni military remains a disjointed body split by corrupt and self-serving officials, many of whom are supported by the U.S. and Saudi Arabia. With its counterterrorism-based ties to the Yemeni security sector, the U.S. appears reluctant to forgo these relationships for a reform process. Alwazir argues, however, that the United States’ counterterrorism efforts have been counterproductive and have provided fuel for terrorist groups’ recruitment efforts. To achieve true long-term stability, the U.S. should focus on providing economic support and development, encouraging fundamental restructuring of the Yemeni military, tying military aid to this restructuring process, and recalibrating the U.S-Yemeni relationship to be less military-centric.

Click here for the full text of the policy brief.

The Square of Change in Sana'a: an Incubator for Reform

Published in the Arab Reform Initiative

“Welcome to the land of liberty” (Photo by Benjamin Wiacek

Summary
Yemen has witnessed widespread protests and sit-ins throughout the squares of change for the past three months. These squares became incubators for change and the birthplace of a new political culture. The time spent at the square has given protestors the time to network, organize, engage in awareness raising activities, engage in honest dialogue, and agree upon general principles. While the focus at the beginning was solely on political reform, the interplay between different actors on the ground has forced individuals to begin discussion on social and cultural change as well, as a holistic approach. These terminologies are being tested on the ground. While this gave the movement an opportunity to mature, the longer this political deadlock lasts, the higher the chance of violence, especially by the circle around the President who will try to protect their own interests. The interplay between various actors on the ground will determine the future of the movement, and the country’s future direction.

This eyewitness report is by a Sana'a based researcher who was involved in the protests since late January 2011. While the protests are nationwide, the paper will focus only on the square of change in Sana'a.

Click here for the full report