Perspectives Middle East No.1: Nuclear Energy and the Arab World

Editorial - Nuclear Energy and the Arab Spring

After decades of relative quiet, popular discontent erupted massively in Arab streets.Starting with the protests in Tunisia, and across social, political and demographic boundaries, Arab populations are openly challenging those tenets of power that oppressed them for decades. Aged dictators are forced into exile. In some countries, authoritarian rule, hereditary presidencies and exclusive decisionmaking by isolated elites seem patterns of the past. Dignity is the word of the day. Arab societies long portrayed as conglomerates of tribal confederations and clan-based clienteles rediscover in their revolts collective responsibility and sense of belonging.

Identical slogans and political demands are reverberating in the main squares of Tunis, Cairo, Sanaa and many other cities. The collective movements that proved so powerful, mature and disciplined in overthrowing the top brass of oppressive structures in Tunisia und Egypt are now facing the massive task to transform ailing political institutions, to reform security apparatuses, to combat corrupt structures, and to increase opportunities for social, economic and political participation. In Libya, the country’s leadership is waging outright war against the uprising of its people. And in again other countries, such as Algeria, Bahrain, Syria, Saudi-Arabia and the Gulf in general, authoritarian rule seems deeply entrenched and quite resilient.

Despite all uncertainties, one factor is clear: there is an element of irreversible change and open debate in the Arab World, and a sense that democratic participation is not limited to forming political parties and competing in elections. Today, Arab citizens claim their right to be informed and to have a word when
decisions are being taken by governments that may affect the very future of their societies.

The transfer and use of modern technologies requires such decisions. Among the most controversial of all, the civilian use of nuclear energy ranks high on the list. The nuclear disaster in the Japanese city of Fukushima on 11 March 2011 has brought the destructive potential of this technology to the forefront again. A leading industrial nation, Japan was not able to prevent the exposure of its citizens to massive hazards and risks as a result of the nuclear meltdown.

Should Arab countries with less advanced technological capacities invest in nuclear energy production that proved uncontrollable in Japan? Why do Arab decisionmakers perceive nuclear energy as bridge to the solar age and potential to decrease the dependency of external resources? Why is nuclear power so popular, despite its negative reputation in reliability, security and sustainability? What are the viewpoints of civil society?

These and other questions will be discussed in the first edition of Perspectives Middle East - Political Analysis and Commentary, of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung. Analysts, activists and decision-makers in the region and Europe take a critical look at the emergence of nuclear energy programs in the Arab world. The eight articles and interviews of this e-publication will be followed by a special issue of Perspectives Middle East in April 2011, with an in-depth focus on the extraordinary developments of the Arab revolutions.

Perspectives Middle East is a publication series of the Heinrich Böll Stiftung’s offices in Beirut and Ramallah that seeks to provide a platform for presenting analysis and viewpoints primarily of experts from the region.

Layla Al-Zubaidi, Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Middle East Office Beirut
Joachim Paul, Director, Heinrich Böll Stiftung, Middle East Office Ramallah




CONTENTS:

• Editorial - Nuclear Energy and the Arab Spring
• The Arab Region as Part of a Nuclear Renaissance: Outlooks and Alternatives
  Dennis Kumetat and Nikolaus Supersberger
• Nuclear Reactors or Hernia Surgery?
  Najib Saab
• Going Nuclear: An Arab Oppenheimer? An Arab Response to Iranian Nuclear Energy Ambitions Should be Dictated by Wisdom and Not by Emotion
  Larbi Sadiki
• Women and Nuclear Energy
  Leila Ghanem
• United Arab Emirates (UAE): The Nuclear Program and Renewable Energy Alternatives
  Mohamed Abdel Raouf
• Energy of the Future Instead of Technology From the Past
  Jürgen Trittin
• We Need a Long Term Advocacy Strategy Towards a Nuclear Free Region
  Interview with Ali Darwish
• Nuclear vs. Renewables? Energy Options for Iran
  Hamed Beheshti 

Political analysis and commentary from the Middle East - Perspectives Middle East No.1: Nuclear Energy and the Arab World
Editor	Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung
Place of publication	Beirut / Ramallah
Date of publication	April 2011
Pages	36
ISBN	--
Service charge	Free of charge