Events
The Shiites and the U.S. in Iraq
The United States is facing a moment of truth in Iraq, the outcome of which will determine not only Iraq's political future but America's standing in the Middle East. Yitzhak Nakash, Chair of the Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Department at Brandeis University explains that while moderate Shiites, who form the bulk of the Shiite majority in Iraq, have not yet joined Sadr's uprising, the U.S. must act quickly to avert an all-out Shiite revolt.
Women’s Rights Under Egypt’s Constitutional Disarray
Egypt’s post-revolution constitution does not explicitly prohibit discrimination based on gender or religion. It only recognizes women’s domestic role within a family “founded on religion, morality, and patriotism.” Clerics will have the final word over the new laws.
Exile of Assad Family A Key First Step in Political Transition
With a Tuesday ceasefire date in doubt and allegations continuing to swirl of military atrocities, it is becoming clearer that the first step of Syria’s political transition should be the removal of President Bashar al-Assad and his family, Wilson Center Director Jane Harman tells MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell.
The Media in International Affairs
Journalists and academics from around the world convened to discuss the state of reporting in their respective countries. Panelists discussed journalist's access to, and freedom to disseminate, information and the media's impact on public opinion and policy.
The Nuclear Issue: Why is Iran Negotiating?
After several months of uncertainty, the Iranian government finally agreed to meet again with the P5+1 group in Almaty, Kazakhstan on February 26 for negotiations over its nuclear program. Iran’s economy is suffering the effects of the severe sanctions imposed by the West, but the government is not yet prepared to change course on the nuclear issue. Iran needs to be certain of a positive outcome from the negotiations before it commits itself to meeting the West’s concerns over its nuclear intentions.
Fostering the Next Generation
The following is the text of the keynote address by Public Policy Scholar Moushira Khattab at the Centre for Development and Population Activities conference co-sponsored by the Middle East Program, “Fostering the Next Generation: Evolving Models of Women’s Leadership in the Middle East” held on April 18, 2012.
Reformist Women Thinkers in Islamic Societies
What place does gender reform have in modern Islamic societies? A May 4 conference sponsored by the Middle East Program examined the efforts of reformist women to improve the status of women throughout the region.
Has the Arab Spring Become a Nightmare for Women?
In the wake of the Arab Spring, women are not participating in the drafting of new constitutions and political violence against them is on the rise. In this interview, Special Representative to Civil Society for the League of Arab States Haifa Abu Ghazaleh discusses the challenges women of the MENA region are facing in the post-Arab Spring period and prospects for their future.
