The experience of women in Afghanistan under the Taliban, in Iran in the early days of the Islamic Republic, and now in Iraq, is a reminder that while considerable progress has been achieved in the area of women's rights in the Middle East and North Africa, reverses are always possible.

The Middle East Program's Haleh Esfandiari compares the approach of various Muslim countries toward population growth and family planning, in this Point of View column from the May issue of Centerpoint.

What do most cases of suicide terrorism have in common? Ami Pedazhur, an expert on suicide terrorism, describes the organizational, community, and personal levels of what he considers a social political phenomenon.

Iraq's progress toward democracy has been marred by violence, delays in reconstruction, and only intermittent nurturing of civil society. Despite these formidable obstacles, many Iraqis labor tirelessly for peace and stability. Among those strongly committed to a stable Iraq are the country's women, who face an ongoing battle for political representation. In this report, available for download, read how women leaders in Iraq are ensuring their voices are heard.