Near and Middle Eastern Studies Commons^™

Lens On Conflict: A Content Analysis Study On The Role Of Hollywood In U.S. – Iran Relations, Farshad Farahat

Department of Conflict Resolution Studies Theses and Dissertations

The main purpose of this dissertation was to identify whether development of impartial, equitable and resolution based films and television shows covering the U.S. – Iran conflict could have a greater ethical, educational, entertainment and economic value for Hollywood studios and their world audience in comparison to the present contentious and stereotypical narrative portrayals. The qualitative research methodology of content analysis was thus utilized to conduct the research. Upon the step-by-step application of the methodology, the key finding of the dissertation established that diplomatic based narrative Hollywood themes of conflict resolution have a greater social, critical review and box-office value …

Unscr 1325 Did Not Help Women, Peace, Or Security In Afghanistan: The Role Of Militarism And Hegemonic Masculinity In International Security, Sawyer Bannister

CMC Senior Theses

This paper argues that UNSCR 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security exemplifies how the international security system is constructed in a way that not only preserves militarism and hegemonic masculinity, but further perpetuates gendered power disparities and exacerbates human insecurity. In this pursuit, this paper develops a theoretical framework of radical feminism to illustrate how the international arena embodies militarized hegemonic masculinity and how this power paradigm fundamentally inhibits international security organizations from successfully addressing gender issues. Additionally, this paper utilizes a case study of UNSCR 1325 and WPS implementation in Afghanistan to reveal how when international security organizations attempt …

United States Policy To Undermine Iran’S Regional And Global Strategy, William Stewart

CMC Senior Theses

This paper aims to understand the way in which Iran uses proxy groups to implement its regional foreign policy strategy while increasing relationships with foreign actors to implement its global foreign policy strategy. I will dive into the intricacies of Iran’s strategy on a country-by-country basis while outlining the goals of the regime. I will analyze the way in which the United States has dealt with Iran and its proxy groups in the past as well as provide suggestions on the steps the Biden administration and the United States as a whole must implement in order to contain Iran’s influence …

Hagia Sophia, Religious Freedom, And The Destruction Of The Christian Cultural Heritage In Turkey, Ina Merdjanova

Occasional Papers on Religion in Eastern Europe

A lot has happened in the last 10 years in Turkey. The Gezi Park protests in the summer of 2013 started as a peaceful citizens’ demonstration against the government’s plans to demolish a park in Istanbul city center in order to open space for the building of an Ottoman-themed mall and a new mosque, and after disproportionate police violence, turned into a mass movement against an increasingly authoritarian rule. The 2015 break-up of the Kurdish-Turkish peace process botched hopes for ending the 40-year conflict in the country’s Southeast. The failed coup in 2016 lead to ferocious crackdown on oppositional politicians, …

More Muslim, Salman Ahad Khan

Capstones

More Muslim is a show that explores the Muslim experience, with all its messiness.

Each episode is a narrative, transhistorical journey into one aspect of the Muslim experience that defined or is being defined by the modern world. This capstone forms the first two episodes of the series. Episode 1, "When Memes Meet Sufis," explores the question of how Rumi, a Muslim scholar from the 13th century, became the best-selling poet in the US. Episode 2, "The Halal Meat Conundrum," is a firsthand journey into the American halal meat industry and attempts to understand how halal became a $20 billion …

Countering Dispossession: For Palestinians In The Diaspora, Maintaining Cultural Identity Is A Means Of Resistance, Reem Farhat

Capstones

For decades, Palestinians have pushed back against Israeli appropriation of Palestinian culture, by calling it out online and making efforts to protect it through international organizations. On social media, Palestinians in the diaspora have resisted against erasure and appropriation of their heritage by learning, sharing, and teaching others about their culture online. Chef Nadia Gilbert, embroidery artist Asma Barakat, and TikToker Serena Rasoul have all maintained online presences dedicated to educating their followers on Palestinian culture. To them, practicing these aspects of their heritage in the diaspora is a means of resistance.

https://medium.com/@rfarhat1/countering-dispossession-for-palestinians-in-the-diaspora-maintaining-cultural-identity-is-a-e860d54bb8a9

Dream Border, Pardis Ahmadpour Mobarake

Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Dream Border is the result of my lived experience of relocation. The exhibition addresses the duality of being on the border between reality and imagination. In this place, the present, past, and future exist simultaneously. By engaging with personal narratives, childhood memories, as well as Iranian cultural and literary visual elements, I search for universal concepts in relocation. These works evoke the imposition of power and the many phenomena that the contemporary world endures despite globalization, such as anxiety, fear, and oppression on a small or large scale, which compel people to relocate. Uncertainty in the process of migration and …

Realizing Sdgs In Indonesia Through Productive Waqf, Faizatu Almas Hadyantari

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

Waqf is a form of Islamic social financial instrument that has sustainability benefits. Efforts to produce waqf assets aim to increase their use to create an even distribution in all aspects. This is in line with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), namely maintaining sustainable improvement in the economic welfare of the community, maintaining the sustainability of community social life, and maintaining environmental quality. the pillars of development are the pillars of social development, the pillars of economic development, the pillars of environmental development, and the pillars of governance and law. The research method used is a qualitative study of literature …

Moderation Of The Islamic Movement In Peace Implementation Between The Government Of The Republic Of The Philippines And The Moro Nation In The South Philippines, Fahrudin Alwi, Yon Machmudi

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

This study discusses the moderation of the Islamic movement in efforts to implement peace between the Government of the Republic of the Philippines and the Moro Nations in the southern Philippines. In this study, the authors use the Moderation Inclusion theory from Schwedler, the Social Movement theory from Sidney Tarrow, and the Wasathiyah Islamic theory. The authors will raise the actors who play a role in the Islamic movement and the factors that cause changes in the pattern of the movement. This research begins with an overview of the prolonged conflict that began with the arrival of the Spanish and …

Reaching Syrians In Need: An Analysis Of Humanitarian Aid In The 21st Century., James Clark

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The objective of this dissertation is two-fold. One is to critically consider humanitarian aid delivery to and through Syria via a lens that combines the humanities and social sciences. The fields of anthropology, political science and postcolonialism are employed to accomplish this. The second is to investigate the process involved in this delivery amid the country’s ongoing conflict. Combining these two facets provides a view of humanitarian aid as it relates to the conflict in Syria while applying a liberal arts-humanities approach. The introduction establishes the basis to discuss the existence of aid providers and those in need of aid …

Qatar Foreign Policy In Middle East Conflict Mediation, Kresna Kusumawijaya, Yon Machmudi

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

Qatar's role as a regional mediator allowed it to emerge even further into global politics and it’s a step toward creating its own evolving independent political persona. As a mediator, Qatar has left its choices open to develop diplomatic relations with non-state actors and countries that have controversies in the Middle East. This research uses a case study approach to explore information about several foreign policies carried out by Qatar against countries and non-state actors in the Middle East. The results of this study show that Qatar, with its rationality, weighs the benefits for the personal interests of the state. …

Relasi Sunni-Syi’Ah Dalam Budaya Politik Sektarian Dan Pengaruhnya Terhadap Pemerintahan Lebanon, Nasrul Mukhsinin, Muhammad Syaroni Rofii, Khairil Zaki Al-Asyurra

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

In a national pact, the Maronite Christians share power with Sunni Muslims. The agreement changed to the Ta'if agreement by adding Shia Muslims in the government. The growing influence of Shia politics along with the weakening of Maronite Christian influence made the axis of sect competition focused on Sunni and Shia groups. After the assassination of Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri, both of them played a political role in dividing political factions in the state government. Sunni-Shi'a political relations are very influential on the course of the Lebanese confessional government. This is a challenge for Hassan Diab as the new Prime …

Pemilihan Umum Lebanon 2022: Akhir Taif Accord Dan Selebrasi Demokrasi?, Cahyani Gadubun, Muhammad Hamdan Basyar

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

Lebanon has experienced a long political stalemate due to sectarian tensions. The negative effect of confessionalism theory makes sectarian identity stronger and ultimately results in instability and fragility of the Lebanese political system. The opposition demands political and economic reforms. The Lebanese general election, 15 May 2022, is expected to bring goodness to the Lebanese people. This paper wants to analyze the possibility of these changes. The results of the research show that the transformation of Lebanon towards a democratic government is always hindered by sectarian conflicts within the government. But through the results of the 2022 elections, there is …

Measurement Of Islamic Bank Capital Capacity As An Assumption Bank In The Resolution Process Of Purchasing And Assumption Methods, Ahmad Aziz, Nur Fatwa

Journal Of Middle East and Islamic Studies

As a financial institution, Islamic banking certainly has the possibility of problems occurring which will reduce solvency. The emergence of problems in Islamic banking certainly requires authority from the financial authority. One of the authorities that has this authority is the Indonesia Deposit Insurance Corporation through the implementation of the bank's resolution function. The resolution function is carried out by handling and solving bank solvency problems (problem banks), one of the options is the transfer of assets and liabilities. This option can also be referred to as the purchase and assumption (P&A) method. The resolution option for the P&A method …

Deconstructing Saudi Arabia’S Foreign Aid Motives To Yemen, Ghita Fadhila Andrini, Taufik Hidayat, Dina Yulianti

Global: Jurnal Politik Internasional

This research assesses the motives of Saudi Arabia’s aid to Yemen. Saudi Arabia has been the most significant donor to the country whilst threatening humanitarian conditions in Yemen through its military intervention. Thus, this research aims to unveil the Kingdom’s reasons to provide foreign aid to Yemen whilst doing the military intervention. This research uses the seven foreign aid frames according to Veen (2011) to analyse possible interest implied in the Kingdom’s foreign aid delivery to Yemen. The method used in this research is a literature review by analysing the Kingdom’s official statements published on the government's official websites and …

The Future And Thriving Of Bipoc Communities: A Time To Act Macroconvening, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Portland State University

Global Diversity and Inclusion Publications and Presentations

This is the overview of the "Time to Act Macroconvening," an event bringing together the BIPOC community on November 4, 2022. The macroconvening was shaped by five affinity-based convenings that were held from June to November 2022. Each engagement was unique, but centered around discussions of the future of thriving and joy of BIPOC communities in and around Portland, and what role PSU has in bringing this future to bear.

Main downloadable file:
Affinity Convenings Thematic Overview

Additional files:

• Event graphic
• Overview article by Christina Rojas, "PSU Brings Together BIPOC Community Groups to Envision a Thriving Future."
• Pictorial Summary of …

Football As Soft Power: The Political Use Of Football In Qatar, The United Arab Emirates And The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia, Vitas Rafael Carosella

Abdou Filali-Ansary Occasional Paper Series

In November 2022 Qatar hosts the first Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region FIFA World Cup. This paper seeks to understand the use of football as a soft power political tool in Qatar, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Based on culture, values and policies, soft power is power through attraction as opposed to coercion. The stronger one player’s values, culture and policies are, the more soft power that player has. Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia, traditional fossil fuel-based states, suffer from a lack of attraction. By investing in football, each nation hopes …

Convening For A Prosperous Future: Middle East North African South Asian (Menasa) Convening, Global Diversity & Inclusion, Portland State University, Middle East, North Africa, South Asia (Menasa), Portland State University

Global Diversity and Inclusion Publications and Presentations

PSU is proactively leaning into its future as a majority-BIPOC student institution and is dedicated to coming alongside BIPOC communities, critical partners, actors, and agents to act in the present to ensure a prosperous future.

We recognize that opportunities and challenges for BIPOC communities require collective, rather than singular, action. In that spirit, we invite you to save the date and join Portland State University's Global Diversity and Inclusion Division on Sunday October 23rd between 11am-2pm for a convening luncheon contemplating present challenges and imagining a prosperous future for our Middle East North African South Asian (MENASA) Community.

This social …

"Women, Life, Freedom": Media And Uprisings In Iran, Alexander J. Ham-Kucharski

Student Work

This research analyzes the use of Marjane Satrapi’s graphic novels: Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood (2003) and Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return (2003) and her film Persepolis (2007) in regard to how media can teach history and political unrest and protestation, and how much of what is occurring in present day Iran of protests in regard to the death of Masha Amini and how the use of the hajib, while often a western feminist construct used to establish “orientalism “ of Muslim women, also is a deeply rooted metaphor of the restrictions of women in Iran and …

The Politics Of Water: The Jordanian Water Crisis And The Future Of Refugee Migration In The Middle East, Ruhama Bekele

Independent Study Project (ISP) Collection

The rise of water-related conflicts around the world has challenged the norms of international relations as environmental developments have transboundary effects that threaten the security of sovereign states and have the potential to destabilize regions. Furthermore, water-related conflicts are more dangerous in countries like Jordan that suffer from extreme water scarcity and have high populations of refugees as a consequence of political instability in the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) region. The following research investigates the role of water in relation to geopolitical factors such as refugee migration, Israel’s diversion of the Jordan River, and the construction of Syrian dams on …