-
New from Jadaliyya (Part 1 of 2)
برلمان بأياد خارجية في السعودية
Iman Nais
لا تريد السلطة في السعودية لشعبها أن يتطلع إلى الأفق ولا أن ينظر إلى الشعوب المتحررة من حوله، وهي تصادر الحريات في الداخل وفي الخارج وتغيب الكلمة وتغتال الأحلام بالسجن والرصاص. وتلفق التهم ضد كل من يرفع صوته عالياً مطالباً بالحرية والكرامة.تمكنت وزارة الداخلية في السعودية من أن تخفي قضية المطالبين بالإصلاح والتغيير بإشغال شعبها بشخوص القضية ومذاهبهم، بدلاً من أن تسعى لتلبية تلك المطالب أو أن تطرحها على طاولة النقاش،وكانت تهمة الخيانة والعمالة حاضرة وسهلة يسيرة وخصوصاً ضد طائفة الشيعة في المنطقة الشرقية والمعزولين قهراً ثقافياً واجتماعياً عن بقية أبناء وطنهم ومجتمعهم.وصدّق أغلب أطياف المجتمع تلك التهم والتلفيقات دونما أدنى تحقق،ذلك لأن بعض فئات الشعب السعودي مأزوم بجرحه الطائفي الذي أسسته نظرة الدولة الأحادية للمجتمع، لقد أُسقط المطالبون بالحرية والعدالة في بئر الخيانة والعمالة فضاعت نتيجة لذلك أصل القضية التي كانوا يحملونها معهم. Read more
"Up Front" Interview with Jadaliyya Co-Editor Bassam Haddad on Current Developments in Syria
Jadaliyya Reports
This interview was conducted with Jadaliyya Co-Editor Bassam Haddad by Brian Edwards-Tiekert of KPFA's "Up Front." The interview discusses the staying power of Bashar al-Assad's regime in Syria, and why the regime's days may be numbered; the ineffective cease-fire plan of Kofi Annan; what a post-regime Syria might look like; and the increase in violence between uprising forces and the regime. Listen here
Syria's Creative Resistance
Layla Al-Zubaidi
Bashar al-Assad snores, his head twitching on a large white pillow. Suddenly, he wakes up. "The people want to overthrow me!" he screams, the pompom on his nightcap bouncing.
A military officer approaches, pats him on the head and whispers gently, as if comforting a toddler: "Don't worry, my dear Mr. President, nobody wants to bring you down. Go back to sleep."
"But I dreamed that the people don't love me anymore!"
"We all love you, Mr. President", says the officer, "but you have to rest. Tomorrow is Friday and we have a lot of work to do!"
Bashar lies back on his pillow and dozes off.
"Sleep…sleep…let nothing disturb your dreams", the officer croons: "You will see how we deal with terrorists, Salafis and conspirators. We'll get rid of them for you…"But Bashar's nightmare becomes reality. From beneath the wooden stage two actors emerge, their faces swathed in keffiyas. With gleaming eyes, they swing hand puppets from side to side. "How beautiful is freedom!" they chant to the beat of a drum.There were only a few of us in the audience. Sworn to secrecy, we squatted on the floor of a dark stage at the back of a Beirut theatre on a cold November evening. Read more
Roundtable: The Presidential Poll, Unpacked
Dina K. Hussein and Hesham Sallam
On 29 May, Jadaliyya, in collaboration with Egypt Independent, hosted a roundtable discussion on the Egyptian presidential election. The discussion featured a group of our columnists and commentators. Moderated by Ahmad Shokr, the discussion featured American University in Cairo political science lecturers Ashraf El Sherif and Mohamed Menza; columnist Akram Ismail; human rights activist Heba Morayef; independent analysts Mohamed Naiem and Mohamed Said Ezzeldin, in addition to historian Zeinab Abul-Magd.The advancement of Muslim Brotherhood candidate Mohamed Morsy and former Prime Minister Ahmed Shafiq to the presidential runoff scheduled for 16 and 17 June has created a serious dilemma for many Egyptians. Voters' choices have become limited between choosing a figure who represents the Hosni Mubarak regime during its most brutal days, or supporting the head of the Brotherhood's political arm at a time when the group's seriousness about power sharing with other members of the community seems uncertain.Indeed, the results of the first round of voting has raised numerous pressing questions regarding the future of the revolution and the choices facing revolutionary forces, often dubbed the "third bloc" in reference to its autonomy from both traditional Islamist political trends and remnants of the Mubarak regime. Read more
Protests in Tahrir; Drones in Turkey's Skies
Malihe Razazan
This week we talk to Egyptian journalist Ahmad Shokr about the political landscape in his country after the pivotal verdict on Hosni Mubarak and members of his regime announced on Saturday, 2 June 2012. We'll also discuss Turkey's plans to purchase US armed drones with University of Indiana researcher, Burhan Althuran. Last year, the United States had moved four of its Predator drones from Iraq to Turkey, and now that country is trying to acquire armed drones of its own---the kind used by the US in Yemen, Afghanistan, and Pakistan. Listen here
On Mubarak's Trial, Presidential Elections, and the Return to Tahrir: An Interview with Sharif Abdel Kouddous
Ziad Abu-Rish
In the following interview Egyptian journalist Sharif Abdel Kouddous discusses developments in Egypt in the wake of last Saturday's verdict in the Mubarak trial. The interview begins with an overview of the verdict, the legal process that led up to it, and the erruption of protests in its aftermath. It then tackles the broader context within which the trial and verdict unfolded: the struggle to define the scope of revolution in Egypt. Sharif discusses the (re)emergence of Ahmad Shafiq (Mubarak's last prime minister and retiured air force general) in the context of the presidential elections and what this represents about the these elections as opposed to the parliamentary elections. Also addressed is the position of the Muslim Brotherhood vis-a-vis the Mubarak verdict, the presidential elections, and its changing strategic position since the parliamentary elections. In discussing this broader context, Sharif highlights the importance of the coming two weeks, which will feature a constitutional court ruling on the Political Isolation Law as well as another one on the Parliamentary Elections Law. Both rulings have the potential to either consolidate the existing political dynamics or radically alter them. Towards the end of the interview, Sharif discusses the proposed presidential council, noting its origins, viability, and reactions to it, as well as the status of the constitutional assembly. Watch here
Syria Media Roundup (June 7)
Syria Page Editors
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on Syria and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Syria Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to syria@jadaliyya.com by Monday night of every week]Regional and International perspectivesWhen Syria Sneezes Murhaf Jouejate argues that the Syrian regime is trying to export sectarian violence to Lebanon as a means to deter foreign intervention on Syrian soil.Gulf States and Turkey Going all-out Against Syria Ibrahim al-Amin argues that they are not just following orders from the West but have their own interests in de-stabilizing Syria.Hands off Syria Ivan Eland says morally and financially, the US cannot be involved in the Syrian "mess" but paradoxically writes we should leave Turkey and the Gulf states deal with the case.Calls for Jihad Split Salafists Jordan's Salafi community divided over the Syria uprisingLe Brésil défend le dialogue avec la Syrie en vue d'une transition politique Former Brazilian ambassador Antonia Patriota in an interview on the Brazilian position on SyriaExclusive: Veteran Lebanese fighter trains new generation of jihadis – for Syria Around 300 Lebanese fighters have left the Bakaa Valley of Lebanon to join so-called FSA groups in SyriaSyria's Bashar Al-Assad Hangs on to Power Despite Turmoil Joshua Landis draws a profile of Bashar al-Assad.Imperialism and the LeftHollow Responses to Houla Massacre Karl Sharro criticizes the "unprincipled and improvised nature of Western attitude toward Syria."Syria Must Determine its own Future William Engdahl on the importance of not intervening in Syria.
On the Edge of Darkness Patrick Cockburn argues that Western powers should push for reforms that leave a modified version of the Syrian regime in place.The Houla affair highlights Western intelligence gap in Syria Thierry Meyssan says that "the Houla affair shows that the West is incapable of knowing the situation on the ground, whereas Russian military intelligence is privy to exactly what is happening."Haytham Manna : « pour Moscou, Bashar al-Assad n'est pas sacre » Haytham Manna talks about his recent visit to Moscow and says the Russians care more about the Syrian state than its regime.
Read more
Media on Bahrain: An Interview with Alaa Shehabi
Adel Iskandar
Hotspot, Bloodspot, or Blindspot?Bahrain's protracted and intransigent political deadlock remains one of the paradoxes of the Arab uprisings. At the nexus of regional influence, global political power, and economic interests, the human rights and democracy movement there face colossal challenges to realizing its goals. Not the least of these is a complicated network of media that both advantages and disadvantages the regime and its adversaries. In this video interview, we speak with Alaa Shehabi, a British-born Bahraini who is an economics lecturer, activist and writer on the varied aspects of media in this ongoing conflict. From the hyperbolic narratives of pro-government state media and the deafening silence of the Arabic media such as Al-Jazeera, to the growing dominion of cyberactivism and the increasing rhetoric of sectarianism. Shehabi explores the global media's attention to the F-1 Formula race offering a chilling account of her arrest alongside a British journalist who was reporting on protests that coincided with the race. She gives a deeply unsettling description of what is effectively a media blackout on the small island kingdom and the struggle of a small population to break out of a soundproof enclosure. Shehabi is a human rights activist whose husband is a political prisoner in Bahrain. She holds a PhD from Imperial College London.The interview was conducted on 29 April 2012 in Lund, Sweden on the heels of a conference entitled "Contesting Narratives, Locating Power" about the uprisings in the Arab world. . Watch here
Maghreb Media Roundup (June 7)
Maghreb Page Editors
[This is a roundup of news articles and other materials circulating on the Maghreb and reflects a wide variety of opinions. It does not reflect the views of the Maghreb Page Editors or of Jadaliyya. You may send your own recommendations for inclusion in each week's roundup to maghreb@jadaliyya.com by Sunday night of every week.]Algeria
"Aftermath of the Legislative Elections in Algeria: Women Made History and Hopes for True Change"- Algerian Journalist Kamel Mansari links low voter turnout to disillusionment with the government's capabilities and sincerity, particularly because of high unemployment rates and admissions of money laundering.
"الأمم المتحدة تشرف على ملف المفقودين الجزائريين" - Algeria agrees to redress cases of forcibly disappeared citizens.
"Did Algeria Avoid the Arab Spring?" - Analysis of Algeria's political future in light of recent parliamentary elections and the potential role of 'Islamist' parties.
"L'exercice de la démocratie "- Analysis of Algeria's party histories and its effect on voter participation and government transparency.Libya
"Revolutionary Road: Music From Carthage To Cairo" - Curation of contemporary and classical music from Tunisian, Libyan, and Egyptian radio stations.
"Libya's delayed elections are hard to call" - Over 370 political parties and candidates have registered for the first national election in over 40 years.
"Libyan Former Gaddafi Chief Spy Dorda Charged in Libya Court"- Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International will monitor the first trials of Gaddafi-era officials.
Despite Airport Incident, Henry Kissinger is Wrong about Libya - Juan cole reflects on his recent trip to Libya, challenging imperialist and anti-interventionist narratives.Mauritania
"Young Muslims confused by Sharia, religious leader claims" - Members of Nouakchott's Mauritanian Ulema Training Centre rehabilitate imprisoned extremists by illuminating jihad's full meaning."Where is Mauritania Headed?" Analysis of Mauritania's political turmoil, and its "Spring"-like potential.Morocco
"La libération du peuple passe par la libération de la femme – Interview avec SamiraKinani sur l'affaire Amina Filali" - Interview with assistant secretary of the Moroccan Association for Human Rights regarding the backlash against Moroccan law and social taboos that was sparked by Amina Filail's suicide
"Free Mohammed Sokrat !"- Moroccan merchant, blogger, and government critic ostensibly arrested for selling hashish.Tunisia
"Tunisia: Protesting the Military's Lack of Transparency and Censorship"- Nawaat.org blogger continues his hunger strike to protest the government's mishandling of the Martyrs' Case.
"Politiques migratoires : "dégage"" - Disappeared Tunisian migrants remain systematically ignored and denied by both Italian and Tunisian authorities.
"Tunisie : La révolution des blouses blanches "- Tunisia's public health sector flounders as resources are redirected to an elite private sector.
"تناقضات مسيرة الدار البيضاء" - March envisioned to protest working class conditions includes ex-government members, feb 20 activists, trade union members, and incompatible demands.
"The Explosion of New Media in Tunisia" - New TV channels and radio stations are complemented by audiences' demand for engaging, tailored media.
"Tunisia: Confronting Social and Economic Challenges" - The International Crisis Group recommends steps to improve the job market, including support for rural and informal economic sectors.
"France-Tunisie : mêmes peurs, mêmes malaises "- Similarities between French and Tunisian political culture underlie analysis of French-Tunisian identity. Read more
More on Jadaliyya
About Jadaliyya Submission Guidelines Culture Roundtables Arabic Section
Jadaliyya Team Release Form Reports Essential Readings Arabic-Culture
Contributors Privacy Policy Reviews Photo Essays Arabic-Politics
Contact Information Terms of Service Interviews Pedagogy Section Arabic-Economics
Jad Navigation Pedagogy Homepage Arabic-History
O.I.LFollow Us!The Jadaliyya App is Here! for iPhone/iPod/iPad Download Here! Jad App for Android Download Here!
__._,_.___
.
__,_._,___
No comments:
Post a Comment