Probably the most important thing going on right now is a series of popular uprisings in North Africa.

In one respect its sort of like the Rodney King riots. An act of police brutality resulted in a self immolation that prompted a mass protest. But what are the root causes of the underlying tension? Police brutality, and poverty, but also corruption, illuminated by Wikileaks:

I asked our experts at Human Rights Watch to canvass their sources in the country, and the consensus was that while Tunisians didn't need American diplomats to tell them how bad their government was, the cables did have an impact.

What does the future hold? Will the government of Egypt topple? If so, will other governments follow?

The wild card here is that all this chaos presents long term opportunities for islamists. I think the rise of radical islamist power sources is far more likely than the rise of a more benevolent government that polices corruption and engages in genuine efforts at long term economic development. A certain enlightened self interest is required to achieve the later. Perhaps they ought to try using religion.