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Experts sound off on 2010: Region

Marah Bukai

Head of the Washington-Based Al Waref Institute and Professor of Contemporary Islam at Georgetown University, Centre for Continuing and Professional Education
"I agree with Dr Abdul Aziz's statement about the chaotic situation facing the Arab world but disagree Arabs have reached their lowest point. At the beginning of the millennium we thought Arabs had come to their lowest point and it was about time to rebound, but that proved to be wrong. We thought the establishment of a sort of democracy in Iraq and the removal of Saddam would help in producing democracy in the Arab world but this did not happen."

Dr Omar Abdul Aziz

A Yemeni analyst and head of the Research Section at the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information
"The most significant incident [in Yemen] was the bloody confrontations which erupted in Sa'ada in the north of the country, while the succession movement in the south was gaining extra momentum to weaken the grip of the central government. Al Qaida is also trying to benefit from the chaotic situation by regrouping its forces to pose a threat not only to Yemen but to the whole region and for the world."

Professor Naila Hamdy

School of Business Economics and CommunicationDepartment of Journalism and Mass Communication at the American University in Cairo
"People in the Arab world have more access to media and information than they had in the past. 2009 brought more positive changes and people now have more internet and satellite opportunities. I am quite happy with the way the young generation is using Facebook and other social sites, for instance. I am sure the future will come up with more tools to offer people access to information."

Salwa Al Lubani

a sociologist and in charge of Al Karmah Educational and Cultural Programme in Egypt
"Based on my experience with our outreach programme in villages and remote areas in Egypt, people's main interest is in earning their day-to-day needs of food and other necessities. People I meet have no time for education and reading. They don't have an interest in how the president is elected.They are worried about their present living and have no plans for the future."

Ayman Abdul Noor

Syrian Political Analyst and Editor-in-Chief of all4syria.org
"I am sure the Arab region is tilting towards more radicalism that will influence decision making in the region and put pressure on decisions taken by international capitals. In my opinion, 2010 will be a very important year in the history of the region because the US administration will take a decisive stand about its position towards the region and the US will either be forced to take action regarding the area or allow it to sink into chaos."