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Freedoms and Retrenchment in MENA
FreedomsGovernance Blog Posts

Freedoms and Retrenchment in MENA

Over the last year a number of peaceful protests have been met with violence by authorities across the Middle East and North Africa. However, even before the most recent protests, evidence suggests that citizens across MENA enjoyed far fewer basic rights than in the years following the Arab uprisings of 2011.  Results from Arab Barometer make clear that the degree…

March 20, 2020
Water Pollution Worries in MENA
Environment Blog Posts

Water Pollution Worries in MENA

While seemingly endless conflicts in the Middle East and North Africa are at the fore of Western media coverage, a less conspicuous but arguably as influential factor has played a pivotal role in stoking existing tensions, fomenting unrest, and destabilizing daily life. Water, and more specifically access to clean sources of water, shapes conflicts throughout the region. From Saudi-led blockades…

March 17, 2020
Egyptian Youth are Dissatisfied with Their Education System
EducationYouth Blog Posts

Egyptian Youth are Dissatisfied with Their Education System

Around the world, students graduating from university worry about finding good jobs. Graduates from Egypt have a little more cause for concern than many of their peers: investing their time and money in higher education has statistically lowered their chances of finding employment. According to the European Training Foundation, in 2016, unemployment for youth in Egypt aged 15-24 was 11.3…

March 2, 2020
Unlike assumed, the unemployed were relatively passive protesters in the Arab Spring uprisings
Labor Market Blog Posts

Unlike assumed, the unemployed were relatively passive protesters in the Arab Spring uprisings

According to the narrative echoed among journalists, analysts, and academics, the frustrated unemployed were an important driving force behind the so-called Arab Spring uprisings. Based on my recent research article , the role of unemployment behind the Arab Spring, however, does not seem that crucial. The graph above shows the share of those who participated in the Arab Spring protests…

February 14, 2020
Fact Sheet: Are Arab Citizens Satisfied With The Education System?
Education Blog Posts

Fact Sheet: Are Arab Citizens Satisfied With The Education System?

Background In the fifth and latest wave of the Arab Barometer, we asked over 25,000 citizens throughout the Middle East and North Africa to evaluate their satisfaction level with the education system in their country, and to report on their perception of corruption — in particular, the perceived need to pay a bribe to access better educational services. The following…

January 13, 2020
Does Iran pose greater threat to the region than Israel? Here is what Arab citizens think
International Relations Blog Posts

Does Iran pose greater threat to the region than Israel? Here is what Arab citizens think

In the largest survey of its kind ever conducted in the region, the Arab Barometer asked ordinary citizens about their views toward both Iran and Israel. The results reveal that Israel is significantly more widely feared than Iran across the region and that few Arab citizens prefer closer relations between Arab countries and Israel. Overall, in three-quarters of countries surveyed,…

January 3, 2020
Who Desires to Migrate from MENA?
EconomyMigrationYouth Blog Posts

Who Desires to Migrate from MENA?

Desire to Migrate Increasing Among MENA Citizens. MENA Citizens have an increased desire to migrate, which can be attributed to increasing political and economic instability throughout the MENA region following the Arab Spring. The Syrian Civil War, the Libyan Revolution, the emergence of ISIS, the civil war in Yemen, lack of economic opportunities for youth have all created increased stability…

December 17, 2019
Teachers’ protest challenges Jordanian status quo
CorruptionEconomyGovernance Blog Posts

Teachers’ protest challenges Jordanian status quo

Teachers in Jordan are starting the third week of one of the longest strikes by educators in the region’s history. The teachers are demanding a 50 percent salary increase, which they claim was promised to them by the government in 2014. However, negotiations with the government have stalled, and there is no end in sight. The grievances raised by the…

October 14, 2019
Tunisia’s Upcoming Challenge: Fixing the Economy Before It’s Too Late
CorruptionEconomySocial Justice Blog Posts

Tunisia’s Upcoming Challenge: Fixing the Economy Before It’s Too Late

Photo by Gwenaël Piaser under a creative commons license available here . Tunisia’s economy is not in good shape and has a set of key challenges it needs to confront. High unemployment, unfulfilled demands for social justice, rise in corruption, and an unsustainable macroeconomic trajectory, all threaten recent political gains. This paper explores the reasons why Tunisia’s budding democratic order…

September 23, 2019
Overwhelming majority of Palestinians view “honor killing” as a heinous crime, and more than 60% demand the resignation of president Abbas
CorruptionEconomyGender IssuesGovernanceInternational RelationsPolitical Institutions Blog Posts

Overwhelming majority of Palestinians view “honor killing” as a heinous crime, and more than 60% demand the resignation of president Abbas

Image credit: Alisdare Hickson. While a majority is dissatisfied with the behavior of the PA and Palestinian factions in response to the Israeli demolition of homes in Wadi al Hommos, a greater majority believes that Abbas’ response, to stop implementation of agreements with Israel, is merely a media stunt and will not be implemented; and while support for two-state solution…

September 16, 2019