The Matter of Sectarianism

2017 ◽  
pp. 143-161
Author(s):  
Max Weiss
Keyword(s):  
Nineteenth Century ◽  
Middle East ◽  
South Asia ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Southeastern Europe ◽  
Religious Difference ◽  
Dialectical Relationship ◽  
Research Questions ◽  
Other World

This chapter provides an introduction to the problem of sectarianism in the modern Middle East. Although the focus is on the Eastern Mediterranean from the mid-nineteenth century through the present, scholars of North Africa, southeastern Europe, South Asia, and many other world-historical contexts face similar conceptual challenges in accounting for manifestations of not only sectarian but also ethnic and religious difference. Rather than accepting primordialist conceptions of sectarian phenomena, and without reducing the sectarian to instances of violence, this chapter argues that that there is a dialectical relationship between the matter of sectarianism in the modern Middle East and the scholarly research questions and journalistic lines of inquiry that contribute to its definition and, in many instances, its spread.

scholarly journals Barrier or Opportunity? Political Islam and Support for Women’s Political Participation in Morocco

1970 ◽  
pp. 17-30
Author(s):  
Lindsay J. Benstead
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Political Participation ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Gender Gap ◽  
Arab World ◽  
Negative Stereotypes ◽  
World Region ◽  
Other World ◽  
Elected Office ◽  
Women's Political Participation

Women face a myriad of barriers to labor force participation in the Arab world, including discriminatory social attitudes which hinder their access to elected office (Norris & Inglehart, 2001). Scholars differ about why women’s empowerment lags behind in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Inglehart and Norris (2003a)argue that the gender gap in women’s political participation is explained by a dearth of democratic values, including support for women’s rights, which they show is lower in the Middle East and North Africa than in any other world region (Inglehart & Norris, 2003a; 2003b, p. 33). This belief is reinforced by data from the World Values Survey (1995-2007), in which respondents in 20 Muslim nations expressed negative stereotypes about women as political leaders.

scholarly journals Military Budget and Economic Growth: Case of Middle East, North Africa and South Asia Countries

TRIKONOMIKA ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 16 (2) ◽  
pp. 75
Author(s):  
Ratni Heliati ◽  
Intan Putri Wandiva
Keyword(s):  
Human Capital ◽  
Middle East ◽  
South Asia ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Panel Data Analysis ◽  
Fixed Effect Model ◽  
Capital Formation ◽  
Consumption Expenditure ◽  
Final Consumption ◽  
Military Budget

Conflict became one of the biggest problems in the Middle East region. This situation will deteriorated the country and will impact on economic perfomance, so defense budget is important to resolve these problems. This study aims to determine the effect of military budget on economic perfomance in 22 countries of the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia 2000-2014 period. This study uses 5 variables namely GDP per capita, military budget, gross capital formation, human capital and final consumption expenditure. This study uses panel data analysis with fixed effect model. The results of model estimation suggest that military budget has a significant negative effect on economic perfomance, while gross capital formation, final consumption expenditure have significant positive effect on economic perfomance. Meanwhile, human capital  does not have significant effect on economic perfomance in 22 countries. 

scholarly journals Impacts of Climate Change on the Eastern Mediterranean and the Middle East and North Africa Region and the Water–Energy Nexus

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (8) ◽  
pp. 455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manfred A. Lange
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Heat Waves ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Large Variability ◽  
Mitigation And Adaptation ◽  
Water Energy Nexus ◽  
Impacts Of Climate Change

The present paper aims to elucidate impacts of climate change on the availability and security of water and energy in the Middle East and North Africa region (MENA region; including the Eastern Mediterranean) in the context of the water–energy nexus. It largely builds on existing knowledge and understanding and aims to present a review of existing information on this topic. The region is particularly challenged by a number of factors, including the large variability of bio-geographical characteristics, extreme population growth over the last few decades, and substantial societal and economical transitions, as well as armed conflicts in some of the countries in the region. Anticipated changes in climate conditions will exacerbate the challenges regarding water and energy security in the region. Major impacts of climate change include a significant increase in summer temperatures, which will lead to a growing number of heat waves, primarily in urban structures. A general decrease in precipitation in many of the MENA countries is foreseen, resulting in enhanced droughts and a growing number of dry spells. In addressing energy and water scarcities and their mutual interrelationships, an integrated water–energy nexus concept offers promising prospects to improve environmental, climate, human, and political security. However, only very few countries in the MENA region have presently implemented such a concept. Mitigation and adaptation strategies addressing water and energy scarcity include enhanced efficiency of resource use, integrated technology assessments regarding electricity generation, and a stronger reliance on renewable/solar technologies. While looking at the MENA region as a whole, some emphasis will be given to Cyprus and the Eastern Mediterranean.

scholarly journals Planning and Simulation of Intermodal Freight Transport on International Networks. Hub and Spoke System in Euro-Mediterranean Area

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Domenico Gattuso ◽  
Margherita Malara ◽  
Gian Carla Cassone
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Mediterranean Area ◽  
Road Transport ◽  
Air Transport ◽  
Hub And Spoke ◽  
Mediterranean Regions ◽  
Safety And Reliability ◽  
The Mediterranean Basin

The remarkable demographic growth and economic development of the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean regions stimulate an ever increasing need for trade between the shores, especially from regions of North Africa and the Middle East towards Western European countries. Today, these exchanges take place mainly by sea and by roll on-roll off (Ro-Ro) ships; but the connections by container ships and by road transport are important too. Ro-Ro services are particularly crammed in some North-South directions, with relationships among few ports and with rather limited frequencies. Road transport, especially between the Middle East and Europe, has different limits in terms of cost, safety, and reliability. The paper proposes a hypothesis of a logistic organization on a Euro-Mediterranean scale, through the transition from a network of direct links to a hub and spoke (H&S) network, according to the scheme envisaged for air transport. The research aims to explore, within a framework of the socio-economic system and the mobility demand system, the feasibility of a H&S network for Ro-Ro freight in the Mediterranean basin, based on a hub with high logistical performances, limiting the planning to supply and process consequent impact assessments.

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