Misreading conflict: The Arab world’s costly cycle of escalation

When institutions are fragile disputes whether between states or within them are more likely to explode as natural channels for resolution are ineffective. Institutions are not a luxury they are political safety valves. Economics too is often sidelined in analyzing Arab disputes though it frequently lies at their core. Competition over resources or divergent development models can generate silent tensions that later erupt into open conflict. Ignoring this dimension leaves analysis incomplete and solutions superficial. Nor can the role of elites be overlooked. When elites fuel polarization instead of mediating wisely they complicate the landscape further.