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Jordan’s Stubborn Insistence on “Business As Usual”
COVID-19GovernancePolitical InstitutionsPolitical ParticipationPolitical Systems Blog Posts

Jordan’s Stubborn Insistence on “Business As Usual”

Jordan, like much of the rest of the world, has struggled to manage the challenges and difficulties 2020 delivered. The country’s reeling economy was dealt a crippling blow by the closures and restrictions related to the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic. The tradeoff between economic prosperity and public health seemed to have initially been worthwhile, as Jordan’s performance in combatting…

November 16, 2020
Arabs Do Not Support A Second Trump Victory
International Relations Blog Posts

Arabs Do Not Support A Second Trump Victory

We asked Arab citizens across MENA about their preferred US presidential candidate and their opinion of the US. And the results reveal clear preferences within the election. Overall, Arab citizens think Biden’s foreign policies would be better for the region. And, the U.S.’s image suffers, in part as majorities in the Arab world express unfavorable views of Trump’s approach. That is based…

November 1, 2020
The Palestinian-Israeli Pulse
GovernanceInternational RelationsSecurity Blog Posts

The Palestinian-Israeli Pulse

Despite stable levels of support for a two-state solution, the two publics display substantial hardening of attitudes regarding a permanent peace package that implements that solution. Nonetheless both publics still prefer two states to any other framework for resolving the conflict. Pairs of zero-sum incentives can raise support somewhat on both sides, showing some flexibility. But trust is declining, and…

October 26, 2020
The Arab World’s Digital Divide
EconomyEducationGender IssuesMediaSocial JusticeYouth Blog Posts

The Arab World’s Digital Divide

The internet has been touted as an engine for equality because of its potential to expand opportunities across all segments of society, accelerate upward social mobility, and lend voice and platforms to marginalized groups. Yet, despite decades of increasing internet penetration, the proliferation of smartphones, and an expanding internet culture, inequalities in the Arab World remain pronounced, and by some…

September 25, 2020
Why is it so hard to eliminate corruption in Lebanon?
Corruption Blog Posts

Why is it so hard to eliminate corruption in Lebanon?

Although Lebanon is an upper-middle-income country, the Lebanese state has been unable to deliver satisfactory levels of social welfare and public services. Electricity provision, for example, is the fourth worst in the world. In the same vein, a report from the World Bank concludes that the country’s water supply services are below the levels expected in a middle-income country. The…

September 24, 2020
Majority of the Palestinians views the decision of the UAE to normalize relations with Israel as a betrayal
GovernanceInternational Relations Blog Posts

Majority of the Palestinians views the decision of the UAE to normalize relations with Israel as a betrayal

The overwhelming majority of the Palestinians views the decision of the UAE to normalize relations with Israel as a betrayal or abandonment of the Palestinian cause, one that serves only the interests of Israel. A similar majority thinks that Saudi Arabia and Egypt, by endorsing that normalization, have in effect abandoned the Palestinian leadership. But most Palestinians also place the…

September 15, 2020
Public Misgivings of Private Affairs: Trust in Private Institutions of the Arab World
EconomyEducationHealth Blog Posts

Public Misgivings of Private Affairs: Trust in Private Institutions of the Arab World

Many entities have long suggested that the private sector is the key to economic transformation in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – including foreign governments, international agencies, and economic scholars. Even before the uprisings of 2011, they argued that the private sector has a crucial role to play in reconstructing the strained (if not broken) social contracts of…

September 10, 2020
Does socioeconomic development lead to greater gender equality?
EconomyGender IssuesReligion Blog Posts

Does socioeconomic development lead to greater gender equality?

The Arab region is frequently associated with a precarious situation in gender equality. Data from Arab Barometer’s public opinion survey suggest that there is far from universal agreement that women should have equal rights in all public and private spheres. One critical aspect of gender equality is the right to divorce, as divorce laws and their evolution mirrors the changing…

August 25, 2020
Are Islamists in the MENA more Pro-Democracy than Seculars?
Political SystemsReligion Blog Posts

Are Islamists in the MENA more Pro-Democracy than Seculars?

The recent decades have witnessed an increase in the visibility of political parties with conservative backgrounds in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. These parties have had varied experiences in government, ranging from subordination (E.g the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt) to power-sharing (e.g Ennahda in Tunisia) to dominance (the AKP in Turkey). These varied experiences were shaped by…

August 21, 2020
Thirteen Years After the West Bank-Gaza Strip Split: Phased Policy Alternatives Between Reunification and Separation
GovernancePolitical InstitutionsPolitical Systems Blog Posts

Thirteen Years After the West Bank-Gaza Strip Split: Phased Policy Alternatives Between Reunification and Separation

The solutions proposed since the 2011 Cairo Agreement to restore unity between Fatah and Hamas have failed to reach the intended goal, in part because of their ambitious goal of restoring full reunification. This failure reflects the inability to overcome existing obstacles as both sides refuse to abandon their goal of dominating and controlling the other while strengthening their own…

August 3, 2020