U.S. Foreign Assistance and the Arab Spring: Bold, but Not Bold Enough

President Obama should acknowledge the limitations of a security-centric approach to the Middle East and endorse a universal vision that is centered on broad and inclusive economic and social development, writes Sarah Margon.

President Barack Obama’s May 19th speech was an important and long overdue departure from previous U.S. policy towards the Middle East. After months of struggling to keep up with events on the ground, President Obama finally presented some core priorities to help guide the nation’s response to the Arab Spring. Speaking to the diplomatic corps from the 7th floor of the U.S. State Department — the symbolism of his surroundings was lost on no one — the President’s message was clear: to adapt to a new reality, U.S. policy toward the region will undergo a major shift.

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