US Secretary of State John Kerry is expected to focus on the ongoing crisis in Syria during his first official tour that will include stops in London, Turkey, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar.

We look at which figures from Middle Eastern politics and cultural life have been included in TIME magazine’s “100 Most Influential People in the World in 2012″ list.

Writing exclusively for CMEC, Shashank Joshi from the Royal United Services Institute considers whether the Arab League can be an effective actor in the Middle East following the events of the Arab awakening and recent turmoil in Syria.

Professor Rosemary Hollis looks at UK policy towards the Middle East since 9/11, providing perspective on the implications for Iraq, the Peace Process and British allies in the region.

The last few months have already seen an unprecedented rise in political activity in the Kingdom. Will women’s driving protests play a pivotal role in pushing Saudi to reform?

Mark Thompson writes for CMEC on the realities behind the recent headlines of reform in Saudi Arabia. Should we have seen it coming? What can we expect in the future?