Syria Shows How Middle East Can’t Take Stability for Granted
- Economies have stagnated in 15 years since Arab Spring erupted
- Wider region buffeted by conflict and rising living costs
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When the International Monetary Fund chief visited Cairo last month, she found herself staring at Egypt in the form of a huge woven wall map, whose intricacy could be a metaphor for her delicate task across the Arab world.
The abrupt and unusual diplomatic mission by Kristalina Georgieva underscored the Washington lender’s sense of urgency about preserving Middle East stability, well before events this week in Syria further showed just how fragile its governments can be.