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Is this China’s Moment in MENA?
International Relations Blog Posts

Is this China’s Moment in MENA?

China’s influence across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has steadily been increasing. Seventeen countries have signed documents related to its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Many countries, including Lebanon, Tunisia, Egypt, and Iraq have seen dramatic increases in Chinese engagement, leading some to question if they are on the verge of becoming Chinese client states. More recently, China…

July 24, 2020
The Impact of COVID-19 on MENA’s Already Challenged Healthcare Systems
COVID-19GovernanceHealthPolitical Institutions Blog Posts

The Impact of COVID-19 on MENA’s Already Challenged Healthcare Systems

As the world faces COVID-19, public trust is crucial to countries effectively dealing with the pandemic. Already, the swift action of leaders in Taiwan, Singapore, South Korea, and New Zealand has been praised. This swift action was enabled and reinforced by citizens trusting government responses to the disease and buying into the isolation measures necessary to slow its spread. On…

July 9, 2020
Fact Sheet: Prevalence of Mental Health Problems in MENA
Health Blog Posts

Fact Sheet: Prevalence of Mental Health Problems in MENA

Background In the fifth and latest wave of the Arab Barometer, we asked over 25,000 citizens throughout the Middle East and North Africa questions about potential issues regarding mental health. These results suggest additional challenges for governments across the region to tackle. The following factsheet sets out some of the main findings and links to wider information where it is…

July 6, 2020
The Arab World’s Trust in Government and the Perils of Generalization
COVID-19GovernancePolitical InstitutionsPolitical Systems Blog Posts

The Arab World’s Trust in Government and the Perils of Generalization

It is no secret that the Arab World has had a prolonged and sustained crisis in governance. This crisis was the primary driver behind the massive protest wave that swept through Arab countries beginning in 2011, leading to political instability and regime collapse, which is still reverberating today. Thus, the questions of trust in government and evaluation of governance are…

June 23, 2020
Majority of Palestinians expect Israel to annex the Jordan Valley and the settlement areas in the West Bank
COVID-19GovernanceInternational Relations Blog Posts

Majority of Palestinians expect Israel to annex the Jordan Valley and the settlement areas in the West Bank

Two-thirds of the Palestinian public expect Israel to annex the Jordan Valley and the settlement areas in the West Bank, and the majority expresses support for the PA policy of ceasing to implement the Oslo agreement and to sever relations with Israel. But large majorities express worry about the likely consequences of the PA policy on them and on their…

June 23, 2020
Domestic Violence and Arab Women’s False Choice during COVID-19
COVID-19Gender Issues Blog Posts

Domestic Violence and Arab Women’s False Choice during COVID-19

Domestic violence is back on the radar in the public spheres across MENA due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As such, this crisis could serve as an opportunity to transform domestic violence from a private matter to a public concern in Arab countries and a chance to reform unequal gender relations through the elimination of long-standing gender norms. Domestic violence historically…

June 1, 2020
A MENA Paradox in Migration?
Gender IssuesMigration Blog Posts

A MENA Paradox in Migration?

Throughout the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), high female educational attainment is not met with commensurate participation in economic and political life, a phenomenon the World Bank dubs the “MENA paradox.” Is this paradox mirrored in gendered migration trends in the region? According to the fifth wave of the Arab Barometer, men are nearly twice as likely as women…

May 14, 2020
Arab Political Parties and the Dual Challenge of Trust
Political Institutions Blog Posts

Arab Political Parties and the Dual Challenge of Trust

One of the most puzzling facets of contemporary Arab politics is the low level of trust in institutionalized political agents. While the average Arab citizens’ levels of trust in the security apparatus, the military, and the judiciary are relatively high, trust in the government/cabinet and local governments decline, reaching their lowest levels with Islamist movements and parties, parliaments, and political…

May 12, 2020
The Maghreb Integration Report 2020: Economic Partnerships as an alternative for Political Stalemate
EconomyInternational RelationsPolitical Institutions Blog Posts

The Maghreb Integration Report 2020: Economic Partnerships as an alternative for Political Stalemate

The Maghreb is one of the least politically and economically integrated regions in the world. The trade exchanges within the region stands at less than 5% of the overall foreign trade exchanges of the Maghreb countries, which is much lower than all other regional trade blocs around the world. This has major negative impacts. A 2018 report by the International…

May 6, 2020
The Palestinian Health System: Improving its Financing and Enhancing the Quality of its Services
GovernanceHealth Blog Posts

The Palestinian Health System: Improving its Financing and Enhancing the Quality of its Services

The spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19) has revived attention in the Palestinian health apparatus and its structure, capabilities, resilience during disasters, the nature of the health insurance system and joint obligations and responsibilities that underlies it. The quality of health services is the goal of the Palestinian health system. Thus, the government tries to provide various health services in the institutions…

April 22, 2020
Climate Change: a Tertiary Concern for Arab Citizens
Environment Blog Posts

Climate Change: a Tertiary Concern for Arab Citizens

Climate change poses one of the most serious threats to the Middle East and North Africa. A largely water scarce region, environmental deterioration threatens precipitation cycles, food supply, public health, and more. In fact, the results of Arab Barometers’ fifth wave of surveys show that a majority of citizens view climate change as a cause for concern. In Lebanon, nearly…

April 20, 2020