When reflecting on the past 10 years, it’s clear to see that the Arab Spring is far from over. The popular uprisings in Sudan, Algeria, Iraq and Lebanon over the last couple of years, coupled with ongoing political and socio-economic tensions across the region, show that no political equilibrium has been found. However, waiting for another 2011 moment, as if nothing has…
The Pandemic in the MENA Region, a Hardship But Also an Opportunity for Women
Covid-19 changed the life of almost everyone on the planet in a matter of months, and affected vulnerable people the most through economic hardship. For women, it has been doubled with a rise of domestic violence. And for women living in countries where gender inequalities are very present, like in the MENA region, the situation has significantly worsened, despite new…
Inside Israel’s social media campaign to woo the Middle East
(Reuters) – Working in close quarters, surrounded by maps of the Middle East, a small team based in Israel’s foreign ministry are focusing their sights on the Arab world. Their mission: using social media to convince Arabs to embrace the Jewish state. The team is spearheading an Arabic-language campaign via platforms such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as part of…
Why the Middle East cannot ignore the ‘shadow pandemic’ of violence against women
This year, campaigners who took part in the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence (GBV), which started on 25 November, took on an immense challenge. Six women are murdered every hour across the world because of GBV, often carried out by partners and family members, in what international rights organisations are now calling the ‘shadow pandemic’. With lockdown measures forcing people…
Majority of Lebanese believe in a secular state: survey
BEIRUT: Over half of Lebanese believe that a civil/secular system of governance is best for the country, the latest survey by Arab Barometer has revealed. A thousand citizens were questioned over the phone between July and October on their opinions regarding the country’s political system and the Beirut Port explosion. The survey was conducted by Statistics Lebanon, a polling and…
Back to the Future: Iran’s Normalization and Biden’s Middle East
Introduction The exit of Donald Trump from the White House is being welcomed by many as a return to normalcy in US politics. However, what exactly that normalcy is, and how useful it is, depends on whether you look inside or outside the US. Trump, in many ways, has exemplified many long-term modes of seeing the world that have characterised…
What Happens Next in the Middle East?
A survey conducted by Arab Barometer suggests that people across the Middle East and North Africa doubt whether a Donald Trump or Joe Biden presidency will have any positive effect on the region. Conducted before the election on 3 November, the survey found that more people responded that they didn’t know or that a new US president would make no…
Some Middle East leaders have a big stake in US election
While the majority of people in the Middle East favour a Biden victory, strongmen across the region are hoping for a Trump re-election While the world is closely watching the US election, the leaders of some Middle East countries have a lot riding on who wins the race for the White House. Across the region, surveys have shown that the majority…
Political experts share views on effect of US election result on foreign policies in MENA
As the world watches the 2020 US presidential election, political experts weighed in on how the result of the race between President Donald Trump and former Vice-President Joe Biden will affect US policies in the MENA region and vice versa in a joint webinar hosted by the Brookings Doha Center and Arab Barometer on Monday. Titled ‘How Will the 2020…
Gender, income and education widen digital divide rates in Morocco, survey finds
A study conducted by the Arab Barometer confirmed that digital inequalities in Morocco and in many Arab countries remain «persistent». This week, the Arab Barometer published a study on the digital divide and disparity when accessing internet in 12 Arab countries, stressing that inequalities in this region remain «persistent». The independent, non-partisan research network, which has been conducting opinion polls…