The Arab Spring Never Died: The 2019 Protests in Iraq and Lebanon

The 2011 Arab Spring protests were a series of mobilizations across seven states in the region that led to the ousting of former President Ben Ali in Tunisia and former President Mubarak in Egypt. While these two states were successful in their protest aims, protestors in other states, such as Syria and Bahrain, faced violent repression by their respective regimes. In 2019, both Iraq and Lebanon experienced waves of protest movements that mirrored those of the Arab Spring in both objectives and mobilization tactics. Dubbed the “Second Arab Spring,” these uprisings indicate the resilience of popular mobilization in the region.

The Impact of War on Women’s Healthcare in Gaza

As a result of Israel’s bombardment of the Gaza strip, key healthcare facilities have been destroyed, and critical medicine and supplies have been blocked from reaching the people of Gaza, exacerbating the horrors of war Gazans are facing every day. In particular, the increasing devastation of healthcare can be seen in the horrific effects it is having on women, particularly pre and post natal women and children, as well as menstruating women.

Middle EastBy Caroline DonohueDecember 20, 2024Israel, gaza, Palestine, healthcare, Women's Rights, humanitarian aid

Endemic Polio in Afghanistan: How Taliban Instability is Thwarting Polio Vaccination Efforts

Today, polio has almost been completely eradicated globally — except in Pakistan and Afghanistan. From anti-vaccine rhetoric to bans on door to door vaccination campaigns, the Taliban has directly impacted the healthcare sector’s abilities to effectively carry out polio vaccination efforts in Afghanistan; preventing the eradication of the disease in the country.

Political Deadlock Comes to a Head in Kuwait

Kuwait’s Emir recently issued a decree suspending the state’s popular National Assembly and abrogating parts of the constitution for no more than four years. The move comes as the latest of the Gulf country’s efforts to improve the efficacy of its deadlocked political system which has been marked by excessive parliamentary debates. The move has not drawn widespread protests domestically or regionally, but international experts question whether or not the Emir’s actions will actually move Kuwait closer to a sound democratic process.

Afghanistan Completes Opium Crackdown

For years, Afghanistan served as the world’s leading producer of opium, a key ingredient in the street drug heroin. The country reached this level of production after years of widespread and violent conflict. In April 2022, the Taliban declared a complete ban on the crop and spent the next several months eradicating it from the country. With opium production off the table, Afghanistan’s rural population is struggling to make ends meet, worsening the already poor humanitarian situation in the country.

Middle EastBy Michael HaleblianMay 13, 2024Afghanistan, opium, heroin, Mujahideen, drugs, narcotics

Vision 2030: How Water Scarcity in Saudi Arabia Persists

Water scarcity in Saudi Arabia has become a major threat to human life. In response to this threat, the Crown Prince has developed Vision 2030, which is meant to improve life in Saudi Arabia through three central pillars: economy, vitality, and ambition. However, despite this plan, the country still struggles with water accessibility.

Middle EastBy Sonya HakimiMarch 27, 2024water, water scarcity, Saudi Arabia, environment, vision 2030

Yemeni Citizens Left in the Dark

Internet blackouts have become a modern concern for many nations undergoing warfare and violence. Denying access to the internet has been determined to be a violation of human rights on the international level, yet instances continue to occur around the globe. Yemen, a nation undergoing a lengthy civil war, is an example of where internet blackouts have proven to become frequent and problematic for citizens’ safety and daily lives.

Hunger Strike: The Lingering Effects of the Arab Spring in Bahrain

In 2011, Bahrain witnessed swaths of protesters swarming the streets of the country and demanding social change and reform in the Sunni-led government that had long oppressed Shia Muslims. The government brutally crushed the uprising within weeks, but the desire for more freedom never died in the population. In August 2023, hundreds of inmates in a prison notorious for detaining political prisoners went on a mass hunger strike. After weeks of strike, the government agreed to provide more humane conditions for the prisoners.

Middle EastBy Michael HaleblianFebruary 23, 2024Bahrain, Arab Spring, sectarian conflict, hunger strike

The Prosperous and Political Arts Movement in Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has recently been experiencing an emerging arts and culture boom. The state has become a hub for both national and international artists, particularly for youth. However, some critics speculate that this new funding and celebration of the arts is a strategy to distract from other potentially unpopular legislation.

Middle EastBy Hannah MartinFebruary 13, 2024arts, culture, community, human rights, youth

Archaeologists in Iraq Unearth an Ancient Protective Deity Statue

The first time the ancient protective Lamassu statue in Khorsabad was uncovered, its head was chopped into pieces and stolen by looters. Then it was reburied for its safety and preservation during an ISIS rampage. Archaeologists now unearth it for the second time and finally reveal it to the world.

Middle EastBy Maeve SmillieJanuary 15, 2024archaeology, exploration, iraq, history, museum, artifact

The Politics of Recovery: International Discourse Around Morocco’s Earthquake Relief Efforts

Following the deadly earthquake in Morocco on September 8th, the international community offered a flood of support to the Moroccan government. Controversy arose when Morocco did not accept the help and condolences of all states, specifically states in which Morocco has a tumultuous history. It is idealistic that aid remains unaffected by politics, however that is not the case in many relief efforts; as seen in Morocco.

Middle EastBy Caroline DonohueNovember 27, 2023Foreign relations, relief efforts, earthquake response, Morocco

The Uncertain Future of the Lebanese Pound

Since 2019, Lebanon has been facing one of the worst economic crises in modern history. Unemployment rates are growing, the national currency, the Lebanese Pound, is decreasing in value, and protests have risen against political corruption and inability to manage the plummeting economy. As working-class families struggle to make ends meet, the nation remains leaderless in the depths of an economic crisis.

The IRGC Launches its Third Reconnaissance Satellite Into Orbit, the World Reacts

On September 27, 2023, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps sent its third spy satellite into orbit. Nations around the world are beginning to feel threatened by the reconnaissance abilities this terrorist organization now holds.

Middle EastBy Maeve SmillieNovember 27, 2023technology, space, iran, terrorism, intelligence, reconnaissance, satellite, military, weapons

Captagon: The Stimulant of Syria

A well-known drug in the Middle East, captagon, has transformed Syria into a narcostate. The extensive production of this drug has affected militia, rebel groups, and surrounding countries. Now, as Syria is approaching readmission into the Arab League, President al-Assad is using his opportunity to crackdown on the illicit as a political bargaining chip.

It’s Been One Year Since the Death of Mahsa Amini – Here’s What’s Changed

Mahsa Amini’s death at the hands of the Iranian morality police sparked various women’s rights movements. Since her passing on September 16, 2022, decades of bottled-up rage and unrest were unleashed into a global fight for freedom.

Middle EastBy Maeve SmillieOctober 11, 2023women's rights, protests, oppression, crime, internet censorship, Iran, Islam

SkatePal: How Skate Culture is Impacting the Lives of Young Palestinians

This article discusses the importance of community spaces and engagement among Palestinian youth in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, especially when these communities have a higher exposure to conflict. The article specifically highlights the growing skateboarding culture facilitated by a non-profit called SkatePal.

Middle EastBy Caroline DonohueOctober 6, 2023SkatePal, Palestine, youth programs, Conflict, local partnerships

Displaced Afghans Face Long Standing Entrance Barriers in U.S. Humanitarian Parole

The struggles of displaced Afghans reveal backlog, unfair application adjudication, and other decades old problems in a key U.S. immigration program.

Earthquakes, Economics, and Elections: Turkey’s Syrian Refugee Population Faces Heightened Uncertainty

Exacerbated by the aftermath of a once in a generation earthquake, refugees in Turkey face increasing public backlash amidst political and economic tensions in Turkey.

Middle EastBy Nathan DuongJune 26, 2023Turkey, Syria, earthquake, Economy

The Line: Luxurious Environmentally Sustainable Infrastructure with a Cost

Neom: the future. Saudi Arabia envisioned Neom or also considered the Line as a stable microclimatic environment that prioritizes walkability, clean energy, and technology to move away from traffic, pollution, and other infrastructure challenges that plague urban life. The Line symbolizes the beginning of environmentally sustainable infrastructure that can enrich the lives of humans.

Embroidering Resistance: Palestinian Tatreez

Embroidered pieces such as dresses, decors, and handbags can be found in many Palestinian households in the diaspora and beyond. In displacement and under occupation, generations of Palestinian women embroider their stories to resist erasure with the art of tatreez, making statements that openly say they are proud to be Palestinian.

Middle EastBy Ruofei ShangMay 25, 2023Palestine, tatreez, art, culture, clothing