Situated in waters between Israel, Lebanon, Syria and Cyprus, the Levant Basin boasted an estimated 122 trillion cubic feet of natural gas, offering a path to energy independence for much of the region.

FORBES: Cyprus Extends East Med Gas Role with Egyptian Deal

The availability of an independent credit card may represent her best chance at establishing independence and a path out of a dangerous relationship.

FORBES: Even Affluent Women May No Longer Be Eligible for Credit Cards

Sometimes they perform their old function of smoothing the path from subjection to independence, as in Namibia and East Timor.

ECONOMIST: From Bosnia, East Timor, and other fragile places