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Full-Text Articles in Arts and Humanities
A Fragile Alliance: How The Crisis In Egypt Caused A Rift Within The Anti-Syrian Regime Block, Ahmed Souaiaia
A Fragile Alliance: How The Crisis In Egypt Caused A Rift Within The Anti-Syrian Regime Block, Ahmed Souaiaia
Ahmed E SOUAIAIA
Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirate (UAE), Turkey, and the West condemned in unison the Syrian regime for its harsh treatment of Syrians from the first day of the uprising in that country. Many observers were skeptical of the stated reasons for this sudden interest in human rights issues given that the Gulf States are in fact models of repressive governance. As the reaction to the Egyptian crisis revealed, the opposition to the Syrian regime was not motivated by its stated goals (support for democracy and condemnation for authoritarianism). It was dictated by narrow political, ideological, and sectarian interests.
Narratives Of War In Islamic Societies, Whose Side Is God On?, Ahmed Souaiaia
Narratives Of War In Islamic Societies, Whose Side Is God On?, Ahmed Souaiaia
Ahmed E SOUAIAIA
The so-called Arab Spring ushered in a new era of conflict that is transforming Islamic societies in unprecedented ways. In the past two years, peaceful protests ousted some of the most ruthless dictators of the Arab world. Then, violent rebellions destroyed communities in Libya and Syria, stifled the non-violent movement, and amplified sectarian tensions by interjecting God into some of the most gruesome conflicts. By looking at the Syrian crisis as a case study, in this article I explore the function of narratives in managing war and the nature and evolution of Islamism in Islamic societies.
A Turkish Spring Even If Different From The Arab Spring, Ahmed Souaiaia
A Turkish Spring Even If Different From The Arab Spring, Ahmed Souaiaia
Ahmed E SOUAIAIA
The wide-spreading protest movement in Turkey is bringing up the irresistible analogy: Taksim Square is for Turkey what Tahrir Square is for Egypt. Considering that Tahrir Square events were the extension of the protest movement that started it all from Tunisia, it follows that the turmoil in Turkey is similar to the so-called Arab Spring. But most observers and media analysts are dismissing Taksim Square movement arguing that Turkey’s uprising is not similar to the Arab Spring because Erdoğan and his party are democratically elected and that Erdoğan has governed over a period of unprecedented economic prosperity.
Revolutions And Rebellions And Syria's Paths To War And Peace, Ahmed Souaiaia
Revolutions And Rebellions And Syria's Paths To War And Peace, Ahmed Souaiaia
Ahmed E SOUAIAIA
In less than a month, peaceful Tunisian and Egyptian protesters ousted two of the most authoritarian rulers of the Arab world. The human and economic costs: a total of about 1100 people dead (300 in Tunisia and 800 in Egypt) and some decline in economic growth. These were the dignity revolutions. In contrast, the Syrian peaceful uprising quickly turning into armed rebellion is now 22 months old with over 60,000 people (civilians, rebels, security and military officers, women and children) dead, more than 4,000,000 persons displaced from their homes, and destruction estimated at $70 billion. This is now, without doubt, …