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CONTENT
CallforPapers&Conferences.........................................................................................................4
BRISMES2018–NewApproachestoStudyingtheMiddleEast.........................................................4
Re-thinkingNationalism,Sectarianism,andEthno-ReligiousMobilisationintheMiddleEast..........5
MediaTransitionsandCulturalDebatesinArabSocieties.................................................................7
Talks&OtherEvents.......................................................................................................................9
RebelPower:AbookeventwithPeterKrause....................................................................................9
Recent&ForthcomingBooks..........................................................................................................9
RebelPower-WhyNationalMovementsCompete,Fight,andWin..................................................9
JournalArticles&otherAcademicPublications.............................................................................10
TheoriginsofCommunistUnity:anti-colonialismandrevolutioninIran’stri-continentalmoment10
[Tunisia:]Rapportmai2017desmouvementssociaux.....................................................................11
EgyptandtheMiddleEast:AdaptingtoTragedy..............................................................................11
Tunisia:ActivismontheRise.............................................................................................................11
Wherehavealltherevolutionariesgone?........................................................................................12
NewsPieces&Commentary..........................................................................................................13
Lebanonhasrepealedits'marryyourrapist'law.............................................................................13
Iranianoppositionleaderbeginshungerstriketodemandpublictrial............................................13
ThousandsofworkersatMahallaspinningcompanyescalatestrike,bossesrefusetoconsiderdemandsuntiltheyresumework.....................................................................................................13
OneRegime,MultipleRevolutions....................................................................................................14
RememberingRabaa:Asurvivor'sstory...........................................................................................14
Witnessingamassacre-FourEgyptianjournalistsreconstructtheRabeaal-Adaweyasit-indispersal............................................................................................................................................15
Israelmovestocurbstrikeatnuclearplant......................................................................................15
Strikes,protestsandEgyptiannightsofcurfew................................................................................16
ItalytoreturnambassadortoEgypt,endingdiplomaticpressureoverRegeni’sdeath...................16
Apresidentialphonecallandanofficial’svisitlater,Warraqresidentscontinuetorejectrelocation...........................................................................................................................................................16
EgyptcoupplotterstriedtooverthrowTunisiandemocracy,saysex-president..............................17
“Iamproudtokeepresisting”:fightingtheoccupationinHebron..................................................17
EgyptiantowneruptsinstrikesinechoofMubarakprotests..........................................................18
TheKamourMovementandCivicProtestsinTunisia.......................................................................18
AlJazeera:Farfromperfect,butstillasymbolofhope....................................................................18
Egypt:anobsessionwiththestate....................................................................................................19
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Jordanbansrapistsfromescapingjusticebymarryingvictim..........................................................19
Morocco:thepopularmovementintheRifsuppressed..................................................................20
Tunisia'sparliamentdelaysvoteonamnestylawasprotestserupt.................................................20
ResidentsofWarraqIslandAreFightingBackAgainstForcedDisplacement...................................20
AqsaCrisisGalvanizesPalestinianActivisminJerusalem.................................................................21
SyrianYouth:WhyisPoliticalActionStillMissing?...........................................................................21
'Lettinggoofeveryprinciple':Tunisia'sdemocraticgainsunderthreat...........................................22
The"HirakEl-Shaabi"protestmovementinMorocco-Theuprisingofthemarginalised...............22
ViolenceintheArabworld-Bornofabarbaricstate.......................................................................23
PositionsandOpportunities..........................................................................................................23
AssistantProfessor-IslamicWorld(History),CUNYBaruchCollege................................................23
AssistantProfessor,ModernMiddleEastand/orModernAfrica,GonzagaUniversity,Washington...........................................................................................................................................................24
BritishAcademyPostdoctoralFellowshipsScheme,King’sCollege..................................................25
Callforparticipants:Tunisia,MiddleEastForum..............................................................................25
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CALLFORPAPERS&CONFERENCES
BRISMES2018–NewApproachestoStudyingtheMiddleEast25-28June2018|DepartmentofMiddleEasternStudies,King’sCollegeLondonDeadline:1December2017TheBritishSocietyforMiddleEasternStudiesandtheDepartmentofMiddleEasternStudiesatKing’sCollegeLondoninviteproposalsforthe2018AnnualBRISMESConferenceonthethemeof‘NewApproachestoStudyingtheMiddleEast’.MiddleEasternstudieshasbeenundergoingaquietrevolutionoverthepastdecade.Asscholarshavegrappledwithexplainingunfoldingeventsintheregion,thefieldhasseenaheightenedlevelofreflectionontheoreticalmodels,concepts,sources,andmethodologies,aswellasonthepoliticsandethicsofMiddleEasternstudies.TheArabSpringanditsaftermathhavestirreddebateabouthowwestudyauthoritarianism,regimeresilience,protestmovements,andtheinterplaybetweensocio-economicandpoliticaldynamics.TheunprecedenteddisplacementofSyrianshasforcedustothinkinnewwaysaboutmovement,traumaandhealthcare,refugeeeducation,andtheroleoftransnationalnetworks.ThecontinuedexpansionofIsraelisettlementsonPalestinianlandhasdeepenedengagementwiththefieldofsettlercolonialstudies.Inpoliticaleconomy,arenewedfocusontheglobal,thehistoricalandthesocialhaveencouragedamoresustaineddialoguewithinternationalrelations,historyandhistoricalsociology,whilehistoriansoftheregionhavebeengalvanisedbythebroaderturnsto‘worldhistory’and‘globalinternationalrelations’.AnthropologyhasbuiltonnewconceptualisationsoffemaleagencyinthecontextofstudyingIslamismandexpandeditsfocusonsexualityandyouth.Deepeningengagementwithqueerstudieshasgivenrisetoinnovativereadingsoftechniquesofsubjectionandthepositionalityofthecritiqueitself.Methodologically,newformsofdataandwaysofanalysingarerevolutionisingwhatweknowandareallowingustorevisitolddebates.Theadoptionofeventdatabaseanalysishasgivensocialmovementscholarsapioneeringwaytostudyproteststemporallyandspatially,whilethe‘worldhistorical’turnhaschallengedmethodologicalnationalismandbolsteredmulti-lingual,multi-sitearchivalresearch.Newdisciplinessuchasdigitalhumanitieshaveintroducednovelmethodslikee-ethnographies,whileadvancesintextanalysishaveshedlightonhowpeoplecommunicate.Quantitativeandspatialmethodsareprovidingnewinsightsintoprimarysourcematerialfromtheregion,suchascensusdata,maps,newspapers,economicindicators,andothergovernmentstatistics.Meanwhile,othershavesoughttousesurveyexperimentstoarriveatgeneralisableinferencesaboutattitudesandopinions.Withinliteratureandthearts,challengingtraditionalepistemologiesandgeographies,exploringdisciplinaryboundariesandstudiesonnewhybridgenreshavestimulatedinnovativeresearch.Thepastdecadehasalsoseengrowingattentiontopreviouslyneglectedsites.LiteratureontheArabianPeninsulahasflourished,asaccesstosomecountrieshasbecomesomewhateasierand
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academicinteresthasshiftedbeyondoilandreligion.Researchoncitieshassimilarlygrowninresponsetothebroadershifttowards‘seeinglikeacity’,whiletheglobalturnhasencouragedscholarstorelocatetheMiddleEastinrelationtootherregions,suchastheIndianOcean,theAmericasorEurope.Meanwhile,escalatingattacksonacademicfreedomacrosstheregionhavebroughtthepoliticsandchallengesofacademicresearchbacktothefore.ThecontinuingresourcegapbetweenMiddleEasternandWesternuniversitiesfurtherpressuresresearchintheregion,evenwhileinitiativestobridgethisgapareincreasing.Theexpansionofdigitallyavailablesourcesandtheblurringofprivate-publicboundariesinsocialmediahassharpeneddiscussionsabouttheethicsofresearch,whilethegrowthofcloud-basedresearchdatahasheighteneddebatesaboutdatasecurityinthecontextofincreasinglyintrusive‘counter-terrorism’strategies.BRISMES2018offersanopportunitytotakestockof,celebrateandfosterinnovationsinthefield.Weencourageproposalsthattakeupthethemeinoriginalways,exploringnotonlynewapproaches,butbringingdifferentnewapproachesintodialoguewitheachother,includingacrossdisciplinesandacrossregions.WesimilarlyencourageproposalsreflectingontheethicalandpoliticalchallengesfacingresearchinandontheMiddleEast.Inaddition,wewarmlyinviteproposalsonanytopicrelatedtoMiddleEasternStudies,regardlessoftheirfitwiththeconference’smaintheme.OuraimistofosterdialoguebetweenscholarsstudyingtheMiddleEastandNorthAfricafromalldisciplines.Proposalsforcompletepanelsessionsareparticularlywelcome.MoreinformationhereBacktotop
Re-thinkingNationalism,Sectarianism,andEthno-ReligiousMobilisationintheMiddleEast(withaFocusSessiononReligionandSectarianism)26-28January2018,UniversityofOxfordDeadline:15September2017Nation-statesintheMiddleEastarefacingprofoundchallenges.Bordersandboundariesarecomingunderpressure,being(re)madeandmobilisedowingtoaconfluenceofinternalandexternalfactorsincludingwar,massmigration,geopoliticalcompetitionanddomesticstruggles.Ontheonehand,theseregionalchallengesrelatetothedynamicsofnation-building.Strugglesoverthequestionsthatwereposedinthenation-buildingera,includingtherelationbetweenreligionandpolitics,thenatureofcitizenshipandthemanagementofdiversityhavecontinuedtoimpactcontemporaryconflicts.ThesehavegainedfurthersalienceinthewakeofeventssuchastheIraqiinvasionandtheArabuprisingssince2011.Ontheotherhand,newstrategiesandtechnologiesutilizedbydiverseactors,
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socialmovements,ethnicentrepreneursandstateelitesareproducingnovelformsofmobilizationandpolitics.AtthecentennialoftheendofWWI,andastheregionappearstobeatanewcrossroads,thisconferenceintendstoreflectonnatureofbordersandboundaries,tobeexploredfrombothhistoricalandcontemporarylenseswithanaimtodrawcomparativelessonsandidentifythedynamicsofcontinuityandareasofchange.Focusingthereforeonthequestionsofwhy,howandinwhatwaysbordersandboundarieshaveandarebeing(re)constructedandtheirimplicationsforthemanagementofdiversity,theconferenceinvitessubmissionsfromdifferentdisciplinessuchashistory(latenineteenthcenturytopresent),sociology,IR,politicsandgenderstudiesamongothers,alongsideinterdisciplinaryandcomparativeperspectives.FocusSession:ReligionandSectarianismintheIslamicWorldThisspecialsessionwillexploretheroleofreligiousactors,institutionsanddiscoursesinmakingmodernsectarianism.Well-meaningcritiquesofthe‘primordialreligiousconflict’diagnosisoftenswingallthewaytoequallyeasyconclusionthatsectarianismisessentially‘aboutpolitics,notreligion’.Whatisleftunchartedintherushtodefinesectarianismasa‘political’ratherthan‘religious’phenomenon?Specifically,whatIslamicorotherreligiousconcepts,practices,institutionsorsocialdynamicscouldshedlightoncommunalboundary-making,mobilisationorconflict?Possibletopicsinclude,butarenotlimitedto:
• Newtheoreticalthinkingonethno-religiousbordersandboundarymaking,includingprocessesofminoritisationandmajoritisation,andtheroleofreligioninethnicmobilisationandconflict.
• Theroleofintellectualssuchasreligiousleaders,ulama,historians,thinkers,writers,andartistsinconstructingnewsectarian/nationalidentities.
• Colonialismanditsinfluencesonthenatureofbordersandboundarymaking.• Challengestothenation-stateframeworkandmanagementofdiversityinanenvironmentof
transformingboundariesandborders.• Thedynamicsofsectarianismandsectarianisation.• Interventionsandinfluencesoftransnationalpoliticalorreligiousnetworks,massmigration
anddiasporamovementsonethno-religiousmobilisation.• Impactofnewtechnologiesandmedia.• Officialorunofficialrepresentationsofethnic/religiousidentitiesasinclusiveorexclusive,or
ofsocietyasdeeplydivided.• Theoreticalreflectionsontheutilityof‘religion’asacomparativecategoryinstudying
sectarianism.SubmissionGuidelines:[email protected],including:
• Papertitleanda300-wordabstract.• CVincludingalistofrelevantpublications.• Pleaseindicatewhetheryouwouldliketobeconsideredfortravel/accommodationfunds.
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Proposalsmustbesubmittedby15September2017.Acceptedparticipantswillbeaskedtosendcompletepapers(c.2000words)by1January2017.Participantswillbeinvitedtosubmitpapersforpublicationaspartofaneditedcollectionfollowingapeer-reviewprocess.TravelandAccommodation:Somefundingisavailableforaccommodationandtravelexpenses.Werequestthatparticipantsapplytotheirhomeinstitutionsfirst,and,ifthisisnotpossible,wewillseektoprovideapartialre-imbursementsubjecttoavailabilityoffunds.Thoseparticipatingwillbeinformedofhowmuchwecanreimbursebeforetheymakeafinalcommitmenttoattend.Conveners:TheconvenersoftheconferenceareDr.AlexHenley([email protected]),Dr.CerenLord([email protected])andDr.HirokoMiyokawa([email protected]).ThisconferenceisfundedjointlybytheSasakawaPeaceFoundationandPembrokeCollege,Oxford.Backtotop
MediaTransitionsandCulturalDebatesinArabSocieties24-26Nov2017|12a.m.-11:59p.m.Beital-Hikma-TheTunisianAcademyofSciences,LettersandArts,Tunis,Tunisia(tbc)Deadline:31August2017Inthelastdecades,theArabworldhaswitnessedtheemergenceandbroaddiffusionof‘new’media,mostprominentlytheInternet.Theopportunitiesprovidedbythesenewcommunicationtechnologieshavenotonlyinspiredandempoweredanewgenerationofyouthforpoliticaldissent,buthavealsofosteredtheemergenceofnewmodesofculturalexpression,literarystylesandgenresaswellasnewlayersofreadersandwriters.Whiletheimpactofnewcommunicationtechnologieshasbeenmainlystudiedinregardtosocialandpoliticalmovements,thisworkshopwillfocusontherelationbetweenmediumandcultural,particularlyliterary,production.Inaddition,thestudyofmediaintheArabworldispredominantlymarkedbywhatWalterArmbrustcalleda‘relentlesspresentism’,whichtendstolookatdigitalmediafromasynchronicperspective,asifitwerethefirst‘newmedia’toappearintheArabworld.However,theadoptionofInternettechnologiesinrecenttimescouldbecomparedtothetransitionfromoraltoscriptculturethattookplaceinthe9thcentury,ortothespreadofprinttechnologiesafterseveralcenturiesofaflourishingmanuscriptcultureinthe19thcentury.Thetranshistoricalperspectivehasprovenusefulinthefieldofmediastudiesingeneral,butrequiresfurtherexplorationwithspecificstotheArabregion.Withregardtodifferentmediaatdifferenttimeperiods,weareinterestedinexploringhowtheemergenceanddiffusionof‘newmedia’orcommunicationtechnologiesinArabsocietieshaveaffectedthe(conditionsof)literaryandculturalproduction,distribution,andreceptionandhowculturaldebatesareshapedbytheuseofdifferentmedia.Thequestionswewouldliketodiscussinclude:
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• Doestheemergenceofnewcommunicationtechnologiescorrespondtotheemergenceofnewculturalactors?Anddopreviouslyexistingprofessionschangeordisappear?
• Whathappenstothenotionofauthority?Ifexistingnormsandauthoritiesareoverthrown,donewnormsandauthoritiesemerge?Wheredotheydrawtheirauthorityfrom?
• Howdoestheemergenceofnewmediacreatenewnetworks,beitovergreaterdistancesorevenlocally?
• Domediatransitionsnecessarilyinvolveachangeinthepublicandthereceptionofthe‘text’?Ifso,whataretheconsequences?
• Howdo‘old’and‘new’mediacompete,coexistorcomplementeachotherwithregardtoculturalproduction?
• Doescontentandcharacterofpublicdebateschangewiththeemergenceofnewcommunicationtechnologies?
• Doformandcontentchangewhenthemediumofproductionandtransmissionchanges?Andifso,howandwhy?
• Doesthespreadofanewmediaentailtheemergenceofnewartistic/culturalforms?• Whatistherelationshipbetweenmediaandlanguageandstyle?
TheconferenceisorganizedbyAGYAmembersBarbaraWinckler(JuniorProfessorforModernArabicLiterature,UniversityofMünster),CarolaRichter(ProfessorforInter-nationalCommunication,FreieUniversitätBerlin)andBilalOrfali(AssociateProfessorforArabicStudies,AmericanUniversityofBeirut),incooperationwithTeresaPepe(AssociateProfessorattheInstituteforCultureStudiesandOrientalLanguages,UniversityofOslo).ItisaprojectoftheAGYAWorkingGroupCommonHeritage&CommonChallenges.ItbuildsupontheexperiencesofanexploratoryworkshopheldinMünster(Germany)inOctober2015,whereparticipantshaveexploredpreliminaryideasforatranshistoricalperspectiveontherelationbetween‘newmedia’andArabicliterature,focusinginparticularon‘writingtechnologies’(writing,print,digital;seewww.uni-muenster.de/ArabistikIslam/tagungen/workshop_media_transitions.html).Inthissecondphase,weaimatfurtherexploringissueswediscussedinthepreviousworkshopbyincludingothermedia(e.g.,radio,TV,photography,film,culturalmagazines,paperbacks)andbydiscussinghowculturaldebatesareshapedbytheuseofaparticularmedium.Weinvitepapersthatdealwithspecificcasestudiesand/orquestionsofmethodology,withaparticularfocuson(someof)theresearchquestionsmentionedabove.TheAGYAconferenceaimsatcreatingadialoguebetweenscholarsfromvariousdisciplines,suchasArabicliterature,communicationandmediastudies,history,arthistory,andculturalanthropology,whoworkonvariousmediaindifferenttimeperiods.Thematicpaperpresentationswillbecompletedbyroundtablediscussionswhichwilldiscussoverarchingthemesacrossdifferentperiodsoftimeandwithregardtodifferentmedia.Byinvolvingpractitionersintheculturalfield,suchaswriters,bloggersandjournalists,itseekstoreachouttoawiderpublicbeyondtheacademicsphere.Selectedpaperswillbepublishedwithaninternationallyrenownedpublisher,inaneditedvolumeoraspecialissueofapeer-reviewedjournal.Speakerswillberequestedtogivea15minutespaperpresentation,followedbya15minutes
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discussion.TravelandaccommodationexpensesofinvitedspeakerswillbefullycoveredbyAGYA.Fundingisstillsubjecttoapproval.MoreinformationhereBacktotop
TALKS&OTHEREVENTS
RebelPower:AbookeventwithPeterKrause18September18,2017,12:00PM–2:00PMVenue:ElliottSchoolforInternationalAffairs,LindnerFamilyCommons,1957EStNW,Washington,DC20052,USASpeaker:PeterKrausePeterKrausewilldiscusshisnewbook,RebelPowerWhyNationalMovementsCompete,Fight,andWin(CornellUniversityPress,2017)withPOMEPSonMonday,September18,2017attheElliottSchoolforInternationalAffairs,LindnerFamilyCommons,Room602.ExaminingthePalestinian,Zionist,Algerian,andIrishnationalmovements,thisbookexploreswhycertaingroupssucceedintheireffortstoachievestatehoodwhileothersfailandoffersnoveltheoreticalframeworkforunderstandingtheimportanceofinternalpowerdynamics.MoreinformationhereBacktotop
RECENT&FORTHCOMINGBOOKS
RebelPower-WhyNationalMovementsCompete,Fight,andWinPeterKrause2017-CornellUniversityPressInRebelPower,PeterKrauseoffersapowerfulnewtheorytoexplainthisvariationfocusingontheinternalbalanceofpoweramongnationalistgroups,whocooperatewitheachothertoestablishanewstatewhilesimultaneouslycompetingtoleadit.Themostpowerfulgroupspushtoachievestateswhiletheyareinpositiontorulethem,whereasweakergroupsunlikelytogainthespoilsof
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officearelikelytobecomespoilers,employingrisky,escalatoryviolencetoforestallvictorywhiletheyimprovetheirpositioninthemovementhierarchy.Hegemonicmovementswithonedominantgrouparethereforemorelikelytoachievestatehoodthaninternallycompetitive,fragmentedmovementsduetotheirgreaterpursuitofvictoryandlesseruseofcounterproductiveviolence.KrauseconductedyearsoffieldworkingovernmentandnationalistgrouparchivesintheMiddleEast,NorthAfrica,andEurope,aswellasmorethan150interviewswithparticipantsinthePalestinian,Zionist,Algerian,andIrishnationalmovements.Thisresearchgeneratedcomparativelongitudinalanalysesofthesefournationalmovementsinvolving40groupsin44campaignsoveracombined140yearsofstruggle.Krauseidentifiesnewturningpointsinthehistoryofthesemovementsandprovidesfreshexplanationsfortheiruseofviolentandnonviolentstrategies,aswellastheirnumeroussuccessesandfailures.RebelPowerisessentialreadingforunderstandingnotonlythehistoryofnationalmovementsbutalsothecausesandconsequencesofcontentiouscollectiveactiontoday,fromtheArabSpringtothecivilwarsandinsurgenciesinSyria,Afghanistan,Iraq,andbeyond.Backtotop
JOURNALARTICLES&OTHERACADEMICPUBLICATIONS
TheoriginsofCommunistUnity:anti-colonialismandrevolutioninIran’stri-continentalmomentEskandarSadeghi-BoroujerdiBritishJournalofMiddleEasternStudies-Pages1-27|Publishedonline:01Aug2017ThisarticleanalysesthehistoricalemergenceoftheOrganizationofCommunistUnity,whichcoalescedoutoftheNationalFrontofIrananditsOrganizationsabroad.IntheaftermathoftheMI6/CIA-orchestrated1953coupd’état,anewgenerationofpoliticalactivistsleftIranforEuropeandtheUnitedStatestopursuetheirhighereducation.WhilepoliticallyactiveintheOrganizationsoftheNationalFrontAbroad,theygraduallyturnedtorevolutionaryMarxismagainstthebackdropofthetorrentialwavesofdecolonizationandresistancetoimperialmilitaryinterventionsundulatingacrosstheGlobalSouth.Thissameconstellationofactivistswasnotonlyfiercelyanti-imperialist,butalsoopposedanyformofdependenceontheU.S.S.R.orthePeople’sRepublicofChina.TheywouldmovefromEuropeandtheUnitedStatestoestablishthemselvesinseverallocationsacrosstheArabworld,andpursuepoliticalactivismandtheiradvocacyofguerrillawarfare,aspartoftheirambitiontolaunchanationalliberationstruggleagainstthePahlaviregime.ByexaminingCommunistUnity’spredecessorsandtheirmanifoldtransnationalideological,politicalandlogisticalnetworkswithlike-mindedrevolutionarymovementsinsidetheMiddleEast,thisarticlebringstotheforehithertounder-exploredSouth–Southconnections,andsituatesIran’srevolutionaryoppositionwithintheglobalmomentof‘1968’. Backtotop
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[Tunisia:]Rapportmai2017desmouvementssociauxRapportdel’ObservatoireSocialTunisien,Mai2017LesprotestationscitoyennesontcontinuéaveclamêmeintensitéaudébutdumoisdeMai,surtoutdanslesudtunisienetspécialementdanslegouvernoratdeTataouineetlesgouvernoratsenvironnantsàdesdegrésmoindres.Cesmouvementsontcommencéilyadeuxmoisenvironenconnaissantuneévolutiongraduellepourfinirenescaladeetaffrontementsaveclesforcessécuritaires.Sansrentrerdansunechronologiedesévénementsetlesoutilsdedéveloppementetloindesdifférenteslecturesdanslesmilieuxmédiatiquesetpolitiquestunisiensquiontaccompagnél’évolutiondesévénementsdansplusieursrégions,ledossierdudéveloppementrégionalcontinued’êtrel’essentieldesdifférentesproblématiquessocio-économiquesetpolitiquesenTunisie.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
EgyptandtheMiddleEast:AdaptingtoTragedyHafsaHalawaGlobalCivicActivisminFlux,CarnegieEndowmentforInternationalPeace,17March2017CivicactivismintheMiddleEastandNorthAfrica(MENA)providedmuchofthemomentumfortheArabrevoltsof2011.Sincethen,thetrendtowardnewtypesofcivilsocietyhasdeepened.TheMENAcivicsphereisincreasinglyattunedtolocalcommunitypriorities.Theregion’scivicactivistsalsohavecomeundergovernmentfire,andthiscompoundseffortstomoveawayfromtraditionalnongovernmentalorganization(NGO)identities.ThethreattocivilsocietyisespeciallyseriousinEgypt,acountrythatstarklyencapsulatesboththedynamismandthefragilityofnewcivicactivism.Meanwhile,localgroupsarerespondingtothehumanitarianconsequencesofviolentconflictinpartsoftheregion,andtheireffortsaregivingrisetonewformsofvolunteerismandcivicorganization.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
Tunisia:ActivismontheRiseYoussefCherifGlobalCivicActivisminFlux,CarnegieEndowmentforInternationalPeace,17March2017SincetheuprisingthatoustedthenpresidentZineel-AbidineBenAliinJanuary2011,Tunisiahasbecomeabreedinggroundfornewtypesofcivicactivism.Whilemanymovementsoriginatedbefore2011,theiroverallnumbersandinfluencehasgrownastheauthoritarianstatehasgivenwaytoamoredemocraticenvironment.Medialiberalizationhashelpedgivecivilsocietyahighernational
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andinternationalprofile.ThecontinuedvitalitydisplayedintheTunisianstreetshasbeenleadingmanyobserverstosaythatthespiritofthe2011revolutioncontinuestodayascivicactivismtakesonabroaderrangeoforganizationalforms.IfTunisiarepresentsoneofcivilsociety’sgreatestsuccessstories,however,thestateofplayforitsdevelopmentisnotentirelyrosy—thecountry’snewactivismexhibitsclearweaknesses,aswellasstrengths.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
Wherehavealltherevolutionariesgone?SarahYerkesBrookings,March2017Inherpaper“WhereHaveAlltheRevolutionariesgone?,”SarahYerkesaskswhyyoung,non-IslamistTunisianshaveabstainedfromparticipatinginformalpoliticssincetheTunisianrevolution,andassessestheeffectofthistrendonthehealthofTunisia’sdemocracy.Yerkesbeginsbyanalyzingthelowlevelofnon-Islamistyouthparticipationinformalpolitics.Shedescribeswhatformalpoliticalparticipationlookslikeandexplainswhyyouthparticipationmattersinthecontextofpost-revolutionTunisia.Yerkesthenexaminesthediscrepanciesbetweentheexpectedrateofparticipationandtheactualrateofparticipation,providingseveralpossibleexplanationsforthelowlevelofyouthparticipationinformalpolitics.Next,Yerkesconsiderswhynon-IslamistTunisianyouthhavechosentopartakeincivilsocietyinlieuofformalpoliticsanddescribesthepotentialimpactthishasonTunisiandemocracyandpoliticalstability.Thepaperarguesthattheabsenceofnon-IslamistyouthfromtheformalpoliticalsceneimpedesTunisia’sabilitytoconsolidateitsdemocraticprogress.Yerkesalsonotesthatthephenomenonofcitizendisengagementfromformalpoliticsisincreasingglobally,offeringthatthelessonslearnedfromtheTunisiancasecanbeappliedtootherdemocraticcountries.ThepaperconcludeswithpolicyrecommendationsforboththeTunisiangovernmentandtheinternationalcommunitytohelpmakeformalpoliticsmoreattractivetoyoungTunisians.Civilsociety’slackofdesireorabilitytobuildallianceswiththegovernment,Yerkesargues,preventscivilsocietyfromfulfillingitsdemocraticroles.TheTunisiangovernmentmustworktobuildmechanismsoftrustandcooperationbetweengovernmentandcivilsociety,andshouldmoreearnestlyaddressyouthgrievances.Downloadhere Backtotop
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NEWSPIECES&COMMENTARY
Lebanonhasrepealedits'marryyourrapist'lawBethanMcKernanIndependent,17August2017Archaiclegislationcontraveningwomen'shumanrightsfinallyabolishedafteryearsofcampaigning.TheLebaneseparliamenthasvotedtorevokeanarticleofthecountry’spenalcodewhichallowsarapisttoescapepunishmentforhiscrimesolongashemarriesthevictim.ThedecisioncomesaftersimilarmovesinTunisiaandJordaninrecentweeks.Article522inLebanon’spenalcodeisastatutefromthe1940swhichdeclaredrapetobepunishablebyuptosevenyearsinprison.Thepenaltyforrapingaminororsomeonewithmentalorphysicaldisabilitiesishigher-butthearticle’sloopholesaidthatcriminalprosecutionissuspendediftherapistandsurvivormarryforaminimumofthreeyears.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
IranianoppositionleaderbeginshungerstriketodemandpublictrialMiddleEastEye,17August2017AleadingIranianoppositionleaderwhohasbeenunderhousearrestsince2011,hasbegunahungerstrikeinabidtopushtheauthoritiestotryhiminpublic.MehdiKarroubi,79,hadbeenputunder24/7surveillancesixyearsagowithoutbeingputontrialorpubliclycharged.TheclericandformerspeakeroftheIranianparliamentraninthedisputedpresidentialelectionin2009whichsawthere-electionofMahmoudAhmedinejad.ThereleaseofKarroubiandanotherformerpresidentialcandidate,MirHusseinMousavi,whoisalsounderhousearrest,wasamajordemandbysupportersofHassanRouhaniduringhisre-electionaspresident.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
ThousandsofworkersatMahallaspinningcompanyescalatestrike,bossesrefusetoconsiderdemandsuntiltheyresumeworkMadaMasr,15August2017ThousandsofworkersatMisrSpinningandWeavingCompanyintheNileDeltacityMahallaal-Kubrastagedarallyatthecompany’sheadquartersonTuesday,escalatingstrikeactionthatcommencedonAugust6overunpaidbonuses.TherallybeganasparliamentaryrepresentativesforMahallaandfromthenearbytownofSamanoud,wheremanyoftheworkerslive,scrambledtoresolvethedisagreementsbetweenworkersandtheholdingcompany,whichhasrefusedtomeetworkers’
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demandsunlesstheyreturntoworkfirst.Sixteenthousandworkershavenowjoinedthestrike,demandingthattheybepaidtheirdelayedannualbonuses,andthattheirshareofcompanyprofitsisincreased,amongothergrievancesrelatedtopromotionsandfoodallowances.OneofthestrikingworkerstoldMadaMasrthat3,000workerstookpartinTuesday’sdemonstration,whichwasplannedinresponsetotheholdingcompany’srefusaltorespondtotheworkers’demands,andthereluctanceofcompanymanagerstorecognizetheinterventionsofseveralMPs.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
OneRegime,MultipleRevolutionsAliBahloulAl-Jumhuriya,15August2017SincetheconsolidationoftheAssadstateinthe1970s ٕ◌,Syrianshavebeendrowninginaragingseaofauthoritariansymbolsbroughtforthbyataboo-generatingregime.Manyof ٕ◌thesesymbolsunambiguouslydemandedobedience,suchastheiconicleader,hisstatues,andthereductionofSyriatohisname.OthersymbolshadratherobscureeffectonthestructureofSyriansociety,latentlyterrorizingthemintoinstinctive,oftenunconsciousobediencetothestateapparatuses.Afewsymbolsservedthetwofunctionssimultaneously.AfterthisimmaculatesymbolicorderwasfinallytransgressedandunderminedbytheSyrianrevolution,wefoundourselvesonceagainawashwithnewsetsofauthoritariansymbols,whichintheirmajorityeerilyresembleAssadstatesymbolsintheirintenttoterrorizeandintimidate.ThistextwillattempttodecipherSyriansymbolism,andtoidentifytheintersectionsbetweentheAssadregimeandsomeofitsadversariesinthisregard.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
RememberingRabaa:Asurvivor'sstoryMahmoudBondokMiddleEastEye,14August2017Fleeingsnipersasbodiesfellandbulletsricocheted,MahmoudBondoksentascreenshotofhiswilltofriend,thenran.Itwas6am,17percentpowerremaininginmyphonebatteryandIcouldn'tsleep.Withinthenexthour,Iwouldbemakingwhatcouldhavebeenmylastphonecalltomybrother,beforewitnessingwhatwaslatercalledthe“worstsingle-daykillingofprotestersinmodernhistory".ThedatewasWednesday14August2013andIwastwomonthsintomyannualholidaytoEgypt.MyfriendsandIhadwatchedthemilitarycoupunfoldonTVscreensjustamonthearlier.Wejoinedthesit-ininRabaaSquaretoaddourvoicestothethousandsofpeoplegatheredtherewhowereaskingfortheirdemocraticrightstoberespected.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
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Witnessingamassacre-FourEgyptianjournalistsreconstructtheRabeaal-Adaweyasit-indispersalHebaFaroukMahfouz,LinaAttalah,Mosa’abElshamyandSharifAbdelKouddousMadaMasr,14August2017ItwasinsidethehospitaladjacenttotheRabeaal-AdaweyamosquethatIfirstbegantofathomthescaleofthekilling.Inthehalls,ineverycorner,oneveryfloor,thedeadandwoundedweresprawled;andtherewasanincessantflowofmorebeingcarriedinside.Thestairswereslipperywithblood.Itwasstiflinglyhot.Allthewindowshadbeenshuttokeeptheteargasoutandtheair,pungentwithchemicalsandsweat,hungheavy.Thecacophonyofshoutingandmoaningandsobbingroseabovethemechanicalcrackleofthemachinegunsdoingtheirworkoutside.Massdeathassaultsallthesensesatonce.Icameacrossanelderlywomansittingonthefloor,herheadwrappedinbloodiedbandages,herhandsdroopedtotheground,wrinkledpalmsfacingupward.Shewasfartoooldtobeinthisplace.Thisiswheretheyoungdie.Shelookedexhausted,staringintothemid-distance,hereyesvacant,hermouthslightlyopen.IfeltIcouldseethelifeseepingoutofher.Amanwastryingtotalktoher,togetanameoraphonenumber,someonetocall,butshejuststaredstraightahead,gazingatsomethingonlyshecouldsee.AlittlewhilelaterIsawheragain.Shehadcrumpledawkwardlytotheside,herheadonthefloor,thecommotionaroundhercontinuingwithoutpause.Shehaddiedunnoticed.Icannotforgether.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
IsraelmovestocurbstrikeatnuclearplantMiddleEastEye,14August2017Israel'sgovernmentapprovedonSundayemergencymeasurestoenda"disruptive"months-longstrikeoverpaybyscientistsworkingatthecountry'stopsecretnuclearresearchcentre.ScientistsattheDimonaNuclearResearchCentrehavebeenonaslowdownstrikeforthepastthreemonthsaftertheirdemandforawageincreasewasrefused.IsraelisbelievedtobetheMiddleEast'ssolenuclearpowerbuthaslongrefusedtoconfirmordenythatithassuchweapons,andtheDimonaplantofficiallyfocusesonresearchandenergyprovision."ThegovernmentunanimouslyapprovedtherequestoftheIsraelAtomicEnergyCommissionheadtoimplementemergencyregulationsthatwouldenabletheissuingofback-to-workorderstoemployeesofthenuclearresearchcentre,"theprimeminister'sofficesaid.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
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Strikes,protestsandEgyptiannightsofcurfewGiuseppeAcconciaandMonaAbazaopenDemocracy,14August2017ThisisanotherinterviewinaseriesonthedilemmasandcontradictionsresearchersencounterinundertakingresearchintheMiddleEast.TheideaofinterviewingsocialscientistsontheprocessesoftheproductionofknowledgehasbeeninspiredfromMichaelBurawoy’sconceptof‘publicsociology’,whichheinitiatedandwasfollowedbyothersociologistswhocarriedoutfurtherinterviewswithsocialscientistsin‘GlobalDialogue’.Theseinterviewswillattempttofocusonquestionsofmethodology,equally,ontheobstaclesencounteredbyresearcherswhenundertakingfieldworkinenduringpoliticalupheavals.ItwillalsoattempttohighlightthemultipleandvariedtrajectoriesandvoiceswhichayoungergenerationofsocialscientistsintheMiddleEasthavebeenconfronting.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
ItalytoreturnambassadortoEgypt,endingdiplomaticpressureoverRegeni’sdeathMadaMasr,14August2017MorethanayearafterItalyrecalleditsformerambassadortoEgyptamidtensionovertheinvestigationintothemurderofItaliangraduatestudentGiulioRegeni,ItalianAmbassadorGiampaoloCantiniwill“soon”takeuphispositioninEgypt,ItalianForeignMinisterAngelinoAlfanosaidinanofficialstatementMonday.AlfanoassertedthatthedecisionwasmadeinlightofdevelopmentsincooperationbetweentheEgyptianandItalianauthoritiesinvestigatingthestudent’sJanuary2016death.“Sendinganauthoritativeliaison(ambassador)willhelp,throughcontactswiththeEgyptianauthorities,reinforcejudicialcooperationandasaconsequencethesearchforthetruth,”Alfanosaid.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
Apresidentialphonecallandanofficial’svisitlater,WarraqresidentscontinuetorejectrelocationMostafaMohieMadaMasr,13August2017Aftergettingofftoarockystart,thestateiscontinuingitsattemptstoappeaseresidentsoftheNileislandofWarraqfollowingthedeadlyclashesthatbrokeoutlastmonthwhensecurityforcesattemptedtodemolishhousesdeemedtobebuiltonillegallyoccupiedstate-ownedland.InapublicconferenceheldonSundayinatentedareaontheislandandattendedbyhundredsofconcerned
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residents,theheadoftheArmedForcesEngineeringAuthorityGeneralKamelal-Wazirstartedbyreassuringtheresidents:“Iambearingamessagefromthepresident,reaffirminghiscommitmenttoprotectingtheinterestsoftheresidentsandensuringthatnocitizenwillbeharmedortreatedunjustlyunderhisrule,eitheronWarraqIslandoranywhereelseinEgypt.”ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
EgyptcoupplotterstriedtooverthrowTunisiandemocracy,saysex-presidentOussamaKardiMiddleEastEye,11August2017Tunisia’sdemocratictransitionwasnearly"liquidated"bythesameforcesbehindtheEgyptiancoup,formerpresidentMohamedMoncefMarzoukihasalleged.Marzoukisaidthattheoperation,whichworkedtothwarttheEgyptianrevolution,isthesameonewhichtriedtodestroytheTunisiandemocraticprocess,statingitwas"thesamemastermindusingthesametools,rhetoricandstyle".InatelevisedinterviewairedbyAlJazeeraonSunday,Marzouki-whowaselectedpresidentbetween2011and2014-saidthat"thedeepstateinTunisiatriedtorepeatthecoupd'etatontherevolutionthatsucceededinEgypt”.Egypt'sfirstdemocraticallyelectedpresident,MohamedMorsioftheMuslimBrotherhood,wasoustedbyacoupledbythen-general-nowpresident-AbdelFattahal-SisiinJuly2013,followingmassprotestsagainsthisrule.SaudiArabiaandtheUnitedArabEmiratesprovidedbillionsinfinancialaidtothenewregimeintheaftermath.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
“Iamproudtokeepresisting”:fightingtheoccupationinHebronMagdalenaLandCarolinaLopenDemocracy,10August2017ForthosewellversedintheIsraeli-Palestinianconflict,itisnosecretthatIsraelisettlershavebeenencroachinguponPalestinianlandsfordecades.YetthecaseoftheHazemAbuRajabfamilyisexceptionalinthatthesettlershavegoneasfarastoforciblydisplacethefamilyfromtheirownhome.OnThursdaymorning,25thofJuly,settlers,accompaniedbytheIsraelipolice,tookoverthetoptwofloorsofthefamily’shouse,forcingthefamilyoutofthissectionoftheirhome.ThehouseissituatedbetweenareaH1andH2,sothatonepartexistsoutsideamilitarycheckpointandtheotherinside,whichforthefamilymeansitisunsafetouseoneoftheentrancesoftheirhouse.ThedisputeovertheAbuRajab’shousestartedonthe27thofNovember2012,whensettlersforthefirsttimeoccupiedtwotopfloorsofthehouse,claimingtheyboughtit.However,accordingtoHazemAbuRajab,thehouseisownedbymanypeople,makingitimpossibletosellwithouttheapprovalofeverysingleowner.Thefamilytookthemattertocourtthatruledthatthefamilyhadtherighttokeeptheirhome,sothesettlerswerethrownoutuntilthefinalverdicttakesplace.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
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EgyptiantowneruptsinstrikesinechoofMubarakprotestsMiddleEastEye,10August2017ThousandsofEgyptiantextileworkersarestrikingoverlowpayinanorthernEgyptiancitywhereprotestsin2011helpedsparktherevolutionagainstHosniMubarak.Asmanyas16,000workersattheMisrSpinningandWeavingCompany(MSWC)inMahallahavegoneonstrikedemandinghigherwagesandbenefits,andthepaymentofdelayedbonuses.Accordingtoreports,asmanyas10,000peoplefromthecompanyjoinedthestrikeyesterdayaloneinaregionofEgyptthatisconsideredtheheartofEgypt’stextileindustry.MSWCisEgypt’slargeststate-ownedcompanyandemploysmorethan25,000workers.ThestrikesbrokeoutasEgyptreporteditsannualconsumerpriceinflationjumpedinJulyto33percent,from29.8percentinJune-thehighestratesincetheflotationoftheEgyptianpoundinNovembertohelpmeetthetermsofthe$12bnIMFloanagreement.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
TheKamourMovementandCivicProtestsinTunisiaYoussefCherifCarnegieEndowmentforinternationalpeace,8August2017ThenumberofsocialmovementsinTunisiahasbeengrowinginrecentyears.Inonenoteworthycase,startinginApril2017,hundredsofprotestersoccupiedanoilandgasfacilityatKamourinsouthernTunisia.Afterthegovernmentacceptedtheprotesters’maindemandsinJune2017,theprotestended.Thesuccessofthismovementseemstosignifythatthedecentralized,highlyparticipatoryapproachthattheseTunisianprotestersadoptedcansometimesachievetangiblebutmodestgainswhenparticipantsmakespecificachievabledemandsoftheirgovernment.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
AlJazeera:Farfromperfect,butstillasymbolofhopeTanerDoganMiddleEastEye,6August2017Qatar’scapitalDohawasoncerecognisedasagatheringplaceforpoliticalandreligiousfiguresofallstripesfromacrossthepoliticalspectrumintheMiddleEast.ItwasclassifiedasthemoderatefaceoftheGulfandthemainmediatorintheIsrael-Palestinedispute.Indeed,afteritslaunchin1996,AlJazeera(AJ)playedakeyroleincraftingthisimage.ForthefirsttimeintheMiddleEast,anewschannelfromthenon-Westernworldchallengedthe"established"mediawithitsprofessional,insightfulandthoroughcoverage.Theso-calledArabuprisingsintheMiddleEastnotonlyelevated
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AJ’sroleregionally,butalsoglobally.Itwasanopportunitytochallengedictatorshipsintheregionandcreateanewnarrative.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
Egypt:anobsessionwiththestateMagedMandouropenDemocracy,4August2017Eversincethe2011eruption,theprotestmovementhasvehementlyattemptedtorefutetheaccusationthatitsgoalistoteardownthestate.Thisaccusationcontinuedfrom2011,reachingitsheightwiththecoupof2013,whereallformsofprotestwerecategorizedasattemptstotriggeraprocessofstatecollapse.Many,especiallythosewithurbanmiddleclassorigins,rationalizetheirsupportforthemilitaryregime,despiteitsmanyeconomicandsecurityblunders,asnecessarytopreventstatecollapse.Thephrase,“betterthanSyriaandIraq”areutteredwheneveroppositionalforcesattacktheregimeorwhenjustificationsforstateviolenceandrepressionareneeded.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
JordanbansrapistsfromescapingjusticebymarryingvictimRebeccaRatcliffeTheGuardian,2August2017Women’srightsgroupshavewelcomeda“historicdecision”bytheJordanianparliamenttoabolishalawthatallowsrapiststoescapepunishmentprovidedtheymarrytheirvictims.ThelowerhouseofJordan’sparliamentvotedonTuesdaytoeliminatearticle308,whichallowsrapechargestobedroppedaslongastherapistmarriestheirvictimandstaysmarriedforatleastfiveyears.Thelawstemsfromabeliefthatmarriagecanlessenthestigmaassociatedwithrape.InaheateddebateonTuesday,somelawmakersarguedthatanamendedversionofarticle308wasneededtoprotectrapevictimsagainstsocialstigmabygivingthemtheoptionofmarriage.However,ultimatelytheyvotedtoabolishit.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
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Morocco:thepopularmovementintheRifsuppressedMayssaeAjzannayBenMoussaOpenDemocracy,1August2017TheprotestsbeganonthenightofMohsinFikri'sdeath,andsoonturnedintoapopularmovement.MohsinFikri,wasafishsellerkilledinagarbagecontainerbytheauthoritiesonOctober28,2016.Thisincidentwasthefirstsparkforawidepopularmovement,inwhichvarioussegmentsofsocietyhaveparticipated.Themovementhasandcontinuestocallforpeacefulprotest.Afterauthoritiesconfiscatedhisgoodsandthrewthemintothegarbagetruck,thefishsellerclimbedintothetrucktoretrieveitwherehewascrushedwithoutmercyasavideothatcirculatedonlineshows.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
Tunisia'sparliamentdelaysvoteonamnestylawasprotestseruptOussamaKardiMiddleEastEye,29July2017Tunisia'sparliamentdelayedvotingonabillthatcallsforamnestyforformerpublicofficialsaccusedofcorruptionduringtheruleofpresidentBenAli.LawmakersdecidedtodelaythevoteuntilSeptemberafterthenewlycreatedHighJudicialCouncilaskedformoretimetostudythebill.AimedatbuildingreconciliationafterTunisia's2011revolutionthatremovedBenAli,thebillofferedamnestyforhigh-rankingstateofficials,includingambassadorsandotheradministrativeworkers,involvedincorruptionduringtheformerdictator'srule.AtleastathousandpeopletooktothestreetstoprotesttheproposalinthecaptialofTunis,rightsgroupssaid.ProtestsorganisedbycivilsocietygroupsinresponsetothebillwerecalledonThursdayeveningandcontinuedonFridayaspartofawider#Manich_Msemah(Iwillnotforgive)campaign.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
ResidentsofWarraqIslandAreFightingBackAgainstForcedDisplacementMariamElbaMuftah,26July2017TheEgyptianstatehasyetagainprovedintentonpursuingitsownmoneyedinterestsattheexpenseofthelivesandlivelihoodsofitsmostvulnerablecitizens.OnJuly16,securityforcesattemptedtoevicthundredsofresidentsfromWarraq,aNileRiverislandjustnorthofCairo,anddemolishtheirhomes.Hundredsofdemonstratorscameouttoresistthedemolitions.Onepersonwaskilledand19wereinjured,assecurityforcesfiredrubberbulletsandreleasedteargastodispersetheprotests.
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ThestandoffatWarraqisnotanisolatedincidentandspeakstothedebilitatingandfatalcostofthestate’svisionofurbanexpansion.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
AqsaCrisisGalvanizesPalestinianActivisminJerusalemCharlieHoyleMuftah,26July2017
Israel’snewsecuritymeasuresatJerusalem’sflash-pointal-AqsamosquecompoundhaveledtomassPalestinianprotests,unintentionallygalvanizingpoliticalactivisminthecity.OnJuly14,PalestiniangunmenkilledtwoIsraeliDruzepoliceofficersattheholysitebeforethemselvesbeingshotdead.Israelclosedthereligiouscompoundtoworshipersfollowingtheincident,cancellingFridayprayersforthefirsttimeindecades.Thesite,knowntoJewsastheTempleMountandtoMuslimsandPalestiniansasal-Haramal-Sharif,wasshutfortwodays.Whenitreopened,Israelhadunilaterallyinstalledmetaldetectorsatentrypoints,amoveperceivedaschallengingthedelicatestatusquojointlyenforcedwithJordan’sWaqfsinceIsrael’s1967militaryoccupationofEastJerusalem.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
SyrianYouth:WhyisPoliticalActionStillMissing?Adelal-AyedAl-Jumhuriya,25July2017AnamalgamofuneaseanddreadoverwhelmmeasIwritethispiece,especiallyafterafriendwarnedmethatthisissueisinfinitelythornyanddifficulttotackle.Inonethelessmaintainedtheideaofwritingandformulatingmyownperspective.Asayoungmanwholivedthroughyearsofrevolution,Iwasamongstthosewhowereoverlyoptimisticinthebeginning,thengrewdismayedandfrustratedastheysawthedreamsoftheirgenerationawashinblood.Howcanarevolution,apoliticalactparexcellence,produceapoliticalorevenanti-politicalactivists;oneswhoareskepticalofpoliticsandpoliticians?Thisisprobablyrelatedtoourpreconceivednotions,andtosomeunsavoryimageryandideaswhichweoftenassociatewiththeword“politics.”ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
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'Lettinggoofeveryprinciple':Tunisia'sdemocraticgainsunderthreatMonicaMarksMiddleEastEye,24July2017IthasbeenadangerousweekforTunisia'sfragiledemocracy.Tworetrogressivebillsappearlikelytopassparliament,possiblywithindays.Thefirstwouldeffectivelyamnestypublicofficialswhocommittedcrimesinpre-revolutionaryTunisia.Thesecondwouldgrantcorruptsecurityforcesmoreleewaytoviolatehumanrights.BothbillsunderminethequestfordignityandjusticeembodiedinTunisia's2010-11revolution.TheywillalmostsurelybecomelawwithindaysorweeksunlessTunisiancivilsocietyandinternationalactors,mostimportantlytheWorldBankandInternationalMonetaryFund(IMF),managetoconvincethegovernmenttoreversecourse.Tunisiahasdebatedbothpiecesoflegislationsince2015.Thatspring,newlyelectedPresidentBejiCaidEssebsi,whoinsistedTunisiamustfocusonfuturedevelopmentratherthanonpastabuses,proposedthefirstbill.CalledtheReconciliationLaw,itinitiallyofferedamnestytotwogroups:corruptbusinesspeopleandpublicofficials.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
The"HirakEl-Shaabi"protestmovementinMorocco-TheuprisingofthemarginalisedMohamedLamrabetQantara,18July2017Thewell-knownactivistandregimecriticNasserZefzafiwasarrestedinAl-HoceimainnorthernMoroccoon29May.Sincethen,barelyadaygoesbywithoutademonstrationofsomekind.Theauthoritiesareaccusingthe37-year-olddefactoleaderofaseriesofprotestslastingmorethansevenmonthsinthestructurallyweakRifregionofhavingpreventedfreereligiousworshipinamosque.HehadvehementlycontradictedtheimamduringFridayprayers,aftertheimamaccusedtheprotestersofwantingtodividethenation.ThewaveofprotestsbeganlastOctoberfollowingthedeathofMohsinFikri.Policeofficershadconfiscatedthefishmonger'scatchandthrownitintoarubbishtruck.WhenFikrijumpedintothetrucktosavehiscatch,oneoftheofficersallegedlycalledout:"Thanmu"("crushhismother").FikriwascrushedtodeathandtriggeredthelargestseriesofdemonstrationssincethosethatsetofftheArabSpringin2011.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
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ViolenceintheArabworld-BornofabarbaricstateMorrisAyekQantara,11July2017"Thestateofbarbarism"wasthetitleMichelSeuratgavetohisstudyofHafizAl-Assad'sSyria.In1985,justoneyearlater,hewouldbekidnappedandmurderedinLebanon,himselfavictimofthebarbarismhehadonceinvestigated.Hisaccountpinpointedcertaincharacteristicsofastatethatactsandexercisesitspowerbeyondtheruleoflaworinstitutionalchecksandbalances.Itstreatmentofitsowncitizens–opponentsorotherwise–ismarkedbyunprincipledandunscrupulousbehaviour.Anotherpotentiallydecisivefactoristhatthepowerandauthorityinsuchastatedrawsitslifebloodfromfanaticismstemmingfromagroupconsciousness,describedbyIbnKhaldunastakingtheformofconfessionalismortribalism.ContinuereadinghereBacktotop
POSITIONSANDOPPORTUNITIES
AssistantProfessor-IslamicWorld(History),CUNYBaruchCollegeReviewofapplicationswillbegin16October2017.TheDepartmentofHistoryatBaruchCollegeoftheCityUniversityofNewYorkinvitesapplicantsforatenure-trackassistantprofessorshipinthehistoryoftheIslamicWorldtobeginAugust2018.Specializationisopen,butpreferencewillbegiventocandidateswhoseresearchfocusesontheMiddleEastand/orNorthAfrica.Teachingdutiesincludeaglobalhistorysurveyandupperlevelundergraduateelectives.Activeresearch,committeeparticipationandservicearealsoexpected.Forquestionsaboutthesearch,[email protected]:Ph.D.degreeinarea(s)ofexperienceorequivalent.Alsorequiredaretheabilitytoteachsuccessfully,demonstratedscholarshiporachievement,andabilitytocooperatewithothersforthegoodoftheinstitution.COMPENSATION:CUNYoffersfacultyacompetitivecompensationandbenefitspackagecoveringhealthinsurance,pensionandretirementbenefits,paidparentalleave,andsavingsprograms.Wealsoprovidementoringandsupportforresearch,scholarship,andpublicationaspartofourcommitmenttoongoingfacultyprofessionaldevelopment.
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Candidatesshouldprovidearesume,acoverletterandthreelettersofreference.Allapplicantsarerequiredtohavethreeconfidentiallettersofrecommendationsubmittedelectronicallybytheirreferencesasdescribedbelow.Theonlinesystemwillautomaticallysendyourreferencesarequesttosubmitaletterviathesystem.Fullinstructionswillbeprovided.Emailedorhardcopyapplicationswillnotbeconsidered.Moreinformationandapplication here Backtotop
AssistantProfessor,ModernMiddleEastand/orModernAfrica,GonzagaUniversity,WashingtonDeadline:16October2017.TheHistoryDepartmentatGonzagaUniversityinvitesapplicationsforatenure-trackAssistantProfessorbeginninginfallof2018.Weseekateacher-scholaroftheModernMiddleEastand/orModernAfrica(1800topresent)withexperienceteachingHistoryofWorldCivilizationII.Preferencegiventocandidateswhocancontributetointerdisciplinaryprograms,suchasInternationalStudies,WomenandGenderStudies,EnvironmentalStudies,ArtHistoryorReligiousStudies.WearesearchingforcandidateswhowillalsocontributetoCollegeofArtsandSciencesinitiatives,suchasPublicHumanities,DigitalHumanities,andundergraduateresearchandinquiry.Allfacultyinthedepartmentshareresponsibilitiesforteachinglower-divisionsurveycoursesaswellasupper-divisioncoursesinareaofexpertise.Theteachingloadis9creditspersemester.Applicantsmustcompleteanonlineapplicationandelectronicallysubmita(1)coverletter,(2)acurriculumvitae,(3)atwo-pagestatementofteachingphilosophy,and(4)threelettersofreference.GonzagaUniversityvaluesitstraditionofexcellenceinundergraduateeductionandthesuccessfulcandidatewillprovideevidenceofpotentialforasuccessfulcareerintheprofession.Candidatesshouldprovidestrongevidenceofteachingexcellenceandthecommitmenttoscholarship.InquiriescanbedirectedtoDr.RobertDonnelly,Chair,HistoryDepartment,[email protected],2017,midnight,PST.Forassistancewithyouronlineapplication,callHumanResourcesat509.313.5996.Qualifications:•Ph.D.inHistory,withspecialtyintheModernMiddleEastorModernAfrica.ABDconsidered,withtheexpectationthecandidatewillhavethedegreeinhandbyAugust1,2018•Evidenceofteachingeffectivenessatthecollegelevel.•Evidenceofactiveresearchprogram.Moreinformationandapplication here Backtotop
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BritishAcademyPostdoctoralFellowshipsScheme,King’sCollegeDeadline:25August2017TheDepartmentofMiddleEasternStudiesatKing’sCollegeLondonwelcomescontactfromoutstandingearlycareerresearchersinterestedinapplyingforaBritishAcademyPostdoctoralFellowshiptobeheldatKing’s.Beforecontactingus,pleaseensurethatyoumeettheeligibilitycriteriafortheFellowships.PleasenotethatthereisaveryhighlevelofcompetitionfortheseFellowshipsandthesuccessrateislow.InorderfortheDepartmenttoconsidersupportingyourapplication,youwillneedtodemonstrateatrackrecordofexcellentresearch,evidencedthroughsuchthingsasdoctoralfundingand/orpublicationsintoptierjournals.Ifyouwouldliketobeconsideredforinstitutionalapproval,pleasesendthefollowingmaterialstoSeniorProgrammeOfficerJoannaPauk([email protected])by25August2017:
• AbriefCV,including:• Yournameandcurrentinstitution• Thedateofsubmissionofyourdoctorateordateofyourdoctoralviva• Oneparagraphsummarisingyourplannedpostdoctoralresearch• Oneparagraphunderliningwhyyouconsideryourselftobeanoutstandingcandidate(with
detailsofe.g.funding,publications)• OneparagraphexplainingwhyyouconsiderthattheDepartmentofMiddleEasternStudies
atKing’swouldbeagoodfit,asaresearchenvironment,foryourplannedresearchproject• AnotetoconfirmthatyouhavereadtheeligibilitycriteriafortheFellowshipsinfullandthat
youmeetthesecriteria
PleasenotethatanyresearcherswhosecuresupportfromKing’stoapplytotheBAPostdoctoralFellowshipsschemewillneedtobeinapositiontouploadafullapplicationtotheBA’sonlinesystembymid-September.Moreinformationandapplication here Backtotop
Callforparticipants:Tunisia,MiddleEastForumDeadline:15September2017openDemocracyislookingforparticipantsfortheMiddleEastForumforTunisia.TheMiddleEastForumisaprojectthatencouragesemergingyoungvoicestoexpressthemselves,exchangeviewsandbeheard.Theprojectprovidesparticipantswithaseriesofworkshopstodevelopwritingskills,mediapresence,anddigitalsecurityaswellasafreediscussionspacewheretheyhavethecapacitytodebateconstructively.Participantsintheforumhostspeakers,acquireskills,shareknowledge,andgivefeedbacktooneanother.Wearecurrentlylookingfor7participantsinorfromTunisiatojointheproject.Ifyouareinterestedinparticipatinginthisprojectanddevelopingyourjournalisticskillsreadtheinformationbelowandsendinyourapplication.Weexpectthateachparticipantwillhavetheopportunitytoachievethefollowingbenefits:
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-Career-relatedexperience-Practicalandincreasedpractice-basedknowledgeofjournalisticwriting,debate,socialmedia-Trainingwhichenhancesdigitalsecurityandthehandlingofhumanrightsissues-IncreasedknowledgeandexperienceonhowtocreateanonlinejournalisticpresenceParticipantswillbeexpectedto:-Adheretopolicies,procedures,andrulesgoverningprofessionalbehavior;-maintainapunctualandreliableworkingrelationship,abidingbythescheduledsessionsandnumberofarticlesagreedto;-communicateregularlywiththefacilitator,particularlyinsituationswheretheparticipantmayneedtoadjustthetermsoftheworkingrelationship(e.g.,torescheduleameeting/session);-respecttheopinionsexpressedandconfidentialityofthegroup;-taketheinitiativetovolunteerfortasksorprojectsthattheparticipantfindsinteresting.RequirementsInadditiontothesegeneralexpectations,theparticipantwillalsoberequiredtomeetthefollowingrequirementsduringtheprogram:-Meetaminimumcommitmentof12sessions;-developaworkingrelationshipwiththefacilitator,suchthatheorshecanadequatelyserveasamentor;-activelyengageindebate,withafocusonthetopicsandhowthediscussionsunfold;-activelytakenotesduringeachsession,tobesharedamongstthegroup;-activelyengageandparticipateindevelopinganonlinespacefordebate;-activelyproduceaminimumofonearticlepermonth,basedonthediscussionsthattakeplace;-understandhowtoandactivelypromoteyourwork;-evaluateandmonitoryourownsuccessintermsofreach;-uponcompletionoftheprogram,reflectuponandwriteaboutyourexperienceduringtheprogram.Whocanapply?Youcanapplyforthepositionifyoufallunderanyofthefollowing:Betweentheageof21-30;Areanaspiringjournalistorblogger;Possessknowledgeinthespecificregionoftheprogram;HaveanexcellentcommandofArabicand/orEnglish.Howtoapply?-Sendinasamplepieceof1000-1500wordsinArabicorEnglishofsomethingthatinterestsyou-aconversationthattookplacethatstruckachord,anobservationfromyoursurroundings,aculturalevent,aninterestinginitiative,yourpointofviewonthepoliticsoftheregionorwhyyouwouldliketotakepartinthisprogram.-Yourresume.Moreinformationandapplication here Backtotop
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