Narratives of streets that do not betray
Ameena Alrasheed Nayel reflects on the protests in Egypt, particularly in light of Egypt’s historical relationship to the Sudan.
Occupy Jewish
Professor Mark Ellis discusses the potential of the occupy movement to explicitly raise issues of culture and identity — in effect, to occupy the religious establishment as well as the financial and political.
Saudi-Islamic Feminist Movement: A Struggle for Male Allies and the Right Female Voice
In this report, journalist Rob Wagner analyzes the nuances of the contemporary Saudi feminist movement and its innovative methods of advocacy to garner support for women’s rights and gender-neutral Sharia in Saudi Arabia. He highlights the challenges associated with the Saudi feminist movement in the face of anti-Western activism rejecting their calls for rights to education, travel and other freedoms currently denied by Saudi Sharia.
Saudi Women’s Empowerment: Deep pockets, Not Political Activism, is Leading to Independence
Journalist Rob L. Wagner examines the growing wealth of Saudi Arabian women, who under Sharia have complete control of their finances. Changes in commercial and real estate laws have given women more flexibility in investing their money in business opportunities. However, Saudi society is slow to embrace such changes, creating roadblocks for women seeking to develop profitable businesses. Yet changes in Saudi society are coming from young Saudi women who came of age in the post-9/11 era. They are returning from Western universities armed with degrees and expectations that jobs and investment opportunities are available.
Remarks to the General Assembly on Libya
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon addresses the United Nations General Assembly regarding the repression of protests in Libya, 01 March 2011.
The Arab Spring and the revelation that corruption is a crime against humanity
Kichere Mwita discusses the scale of corruption characterizing the ousted regimes in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya, connects the corruption of political elites with the dissatisfaction and frustration of citizens, and argues that corruption itself should be considered a crime against humanity and prosecuted by the international community.
Testing Veto Power before the UN General Assembly: Mahmoud Abbas and International Law Perspectives on Palestinian Statehood
Kichere Mwita draws on theories of statehood in international law to analyze the recent bid presented by Mahmoud Abbas, President of the Palestine Liberation Organization, for full membership of the State of Palestine before the United Nations General Assembly.
Terrorism and Moral Response
This week marks the 10 year anniversary of the US-led invasion of Afghanistan in retribution for the terrorist attacks of 9/11. In this essay, Hye Young Kim considers alternative responses to the moral outrage of terrorism, and proposes an intercultural dialogue rejecting violence and focusing on justice, humanity, and diversity.
The Palestinian Question
The decision of the Palestinain Authority to seek recognition as a state throught the United Nations system is forcing the international community to reconsider the longstanding issue of Palestinaian statehood, and reveal their alliances. Gustavo J. Fuchs reports.
The Jewish Crisis: Notes from a Jewish Theology of Liberation During the Uprising in Egypt
Professor Marc Ellis discusses the recent unrest in Egypt (and across the Arab world) in light of Jewish history, the creation of Israel, and the Jewish Theology of Liberation.