Morocco Archives - Middle East Council on Global Affairs

Interview: The View from MENA on France’s Elections Results

PARIS, FRANCE - JULY 08: A man reads 'Le Parisien' newspaper, seen the day after the second round of the French legislative election in the 11th Arrondissement of Paris, on July 5, 2024, in Paris, France. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto) (Photo by Artur Widak / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

During recent elections to the European Parliament, France’s far right National Rally (Rassemblement National) party led by Marine Le Pen won a resounding victory. In a surprise response, French President Emmanuel Macron dissolved his country’s parliament and called for immediate elections. Yet, despite a strong showing in the first round, the National Rally ultimately came… Continue reading Interview: The View from MENA on France’s Elections Results

The (Surprising) Silence of Arab Universities on Palestine

Students at the American University of Beirut are carrying banners as they attend a pro-Palestinian demonstration on the campus in Beirut, Lebanon, on May 7, 2024. (Photo by Fadel Itani/NurPhoto) (Photo by Fadel Itani / NurPhoto / NurPhoto via AFP)

Since mid-April 2024, western academic institutions, including elite American universities, have been at the forefront of protests for Palestine. Yet, their Arab counterparts have surprisingly remained silent. The disengagement is particularly noteworthy considering that Middle Eastern universities have historically been the hotbeds of protests and engagement concerning the Palestinian cause. This absence is also at… Continue reading The (Surprising) Silence of Arab Universities on Palestine

The Middle East in the Wake of October 7: Interview with Tarik M. Yousef Marking 100 Afkār Posts

We at Afkār are delighted to announce that we have reached a new milestone, our 100th post! To mark the occasion, we have recorded and transcribed a special interview with the Director of the Middle East Council on Global Affairs, Tarik M. Yousef. The in-depth interview was conducted by our editor, Omar H. Rahman, and… Continue reading The Middle East in the Wake of October 7: Interview with Tarik M. Yousef Marking 100 Afkār Posts

Twenty Years of Governance Reform: What’s Next for the MENA Region?

In 2002, the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) produced a remarkable and far-reaching document titled the Arab Human Development Report. Written largely by Arab authors, the report mobilized a wealth of data to argue persuasively that the lack of socio-economic development within the Arab region is the product of three fundamental deficits in freedom, knowledge,… Continue reading Twenty Years of Governance Reform: What’s Next for the MENA Region?