Endangers culture heritage

2015 ◽  
Vol 36 (6/7) ◽  
pp. 476-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laila Hussein Moustafa
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Disaster Planning ◽  
Disaster Plan ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Culture Heritage ◽  
The Status ◽  
National Libraries ◽  
The Impact

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the results of a survey sent to librarians and archivists in national and academic libraries in the Middle East and North Africa and the results of eight in-person interviews about the status and content of wartime disaster management plans in their institutions. Based on the research and analysis it presents, the paper concludes that the majority of the region’s libraries and archives either lack or have insufficient plans in place and stresses the need to establish and implement protocols for the protection and preservation of their priceless holdings. In addition to analysis the paper offers some recommendations for overcoming the impact of future disasters on the holdings of these libraries. Design/methodology/approach – The research is based on survey and interviews that was done with librarians, archives, managers from the Middle East. Findings – The paper presented the result of trying to find if libraries, and archives has disaster planning or no. Most of the libraries do not have a disaster plan and maybe do not even know what it means. Research limitations/implications – The research is covering some of the libraries in the Middle East and it was meant to be send to every library and archive but at least to the national libraries of each country in the Middle East. Social implications – Disaster planning is very needed to protect any people culture heritage and not having one in spite all the wars and damaged of libraries is something the author’s research addressed. Originality/value – No one has written about this topic, and the author’s first paper was the scan of literature review of all what was written about disaster planning in a time of war. As a result of not finding anyone who wrote about that topic, the author decided to conduct the survey and the interview to find out if there is a plan or no. The author’s work is original and very important to help in preserving the world heritage in the Middle East.

Brought to Ruin

2021 ◽  
pp. 113-161
Author(s):  
Sarah C. Schaefer
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Scientific Investigations ◽  
New Approaches ◽  
The Bible ◽  
Biblical Archaeology ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Biblical Sources ◽  
Archaeological Excavations

Chapter 3 examines the impact of biblical archaeology on the production and reception of the Doré Bible, arguing that the recuperations of historical fragments are consistent with broader societal anxieties. Questions surrounding the Bible’s historical credibility (propelled by Enlightenment rationalism) prompted new, ostensibly scientific investigations of biblical sources and sites. Archaeological excavations in the Middle East and North Africa revealed fragments of ancient pasts that engendered new approaches to the representation of biblical subjects. These fragments, the often problematic manner in which they were appropriated into Doré’s illustrations, and the popular reception of the images reveal a distinct anxiety about the narratives of biblical civilizations and what they presage about the present and future. The illustrations speak to the circumstances of French interests and the status of the nation in an era wrought by repeated revolutions that seemed as potentially catastrophic as the events of the Bible.

An overview of BIM adoption barriers in the Middle East and North Africa developing countries

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Claudette El Hajj ◽  
Germán Martínez Montes ◽  
Dima Jawad
Keyword(s):  
Developing Countries ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Construction Industry ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Research Work ◽  
Information Modeling ◽  
Financial Barriers ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
The Impact

PurposeIn an attempt to attain a better understanding of the research work on building information modeling (BIM) adoption, this study aims to examine the criticality of BIM adoption barriers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) developing countries from the lens of the sociotechnical theory. Further, the study investigates the differences in the perceptions of various constructions players (owners, contractors and designers) to BIM barriers, as well as possible discrepancies in the perception of BIM users and non-BIM users to the significance of the perceived constraints.Design/methodology/approachTo reach this aim, the study starts with a systematic evaluation and a critical review of the literature on BIM barriers. A set of 22 BIM adoption limitations was drawn from the literature which was used to design the survey. To capture a broad perception, a mixed approach was used, and data were collected through an interview study and a survey involving Architecture, Engineering and Construction professionals in the MENA construction sector. The collected data were analyzed using the mean score, standard deviation and nonparametric tests. The further principal component analysis (PCA) grouped the barriers to uncover the latent factors of BIM barriers.FindingsThe actors ranked the barriers as follows: lack of knowledge and BIM awareness, commercial issues and investment cost, lack of skills and BIM specialist, interoperability and lack of client demand. The examination of the PCA resulted in four underlying BIM limitation factors namely: human, technological, structural and financial. The analysis of the ranking indicated that 16 of the 22 barriers are considered critical in the MENA area. The results of the Mann–Whitney test indicated that there is a statistically significant difference in perceptions of BIM users and nonuser for seven barriers, pointing out that users care most about the financial barriers; however, nonusers are mostly concerned with structural and technological barriers. However, the results of the Kruskal–Wallis test indicated that there is no statistically significant difference in the perceptions of the three categories of stakeholders in ranking all BIM barriers.Practical implicationsThe outcomes will back policymakers and construction participants with the knowledge to develop policy propositions that can positively affect BIM adoption in the construction industry. The significance of this study lies in being one of the very first explorative investigations that comparatively and empirically explored BIM adoption barriers across the whole MENA developing countries.Originality/valueWhile several research studies have examined BIM adoption barriers in various countries, none to the best of the authors' knowledge have attempted to study the whole MENA region as one entity, and none highlighted the impact of user's roles on their perception of adoption barriers within their community. The results contribute to the discussion of the relationship among practitioners' level of involvement in BIM projects and their perception of adoption barriers which is underrepresented in extant studies. The above can assist with prioritizing the barriers that are considered to be more significant given the characteristics of the community under study. The result revealed the value of the structural and human attributes in prioritizing BIM adoption barriers within the MENA construction industry.

How reward systems affect team performance in banks: evidence from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region

2021 ◽  
Vol ahead-of-print (ahead-of-print) ◽  
Author(s):  
Carole Serhan ◽  
Wissam Salloum ◽  
Nader Abdo
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Team Performance ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Profit Sharing ◽  
Reward Systems ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Research Stream ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of reward systems on team performance and analyze how satisfaction with rewards can result in better working performance and cohesiveness in the job environment. Design/methodology/approach Data was collected from 32 single members of different teams working in 10 selected banks from the Middle East and North Africa region. Findings The analysis from empirical findings reveals that there is a positive link between reward systems and team performance. More particularly, profit sharing has positive effects on team performance and collective bargaining reward systems affect significantly team cohesiveness. These links create an opportunity for employers to use reward systems as a motivating factor to direct team behavior toward more employee retention. Originality/value This study contributes to the teamwork performance research stream by empirically studying how rewards improve team performance and cohesiveness in Eastern contexts. Studies in such contexts are relatively rare.

Exploring the status and effects of balanced scorecard adoption in the non-western context

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (8) ◽  
pp. 1063-1075 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fauzia Jabeen ◽  
Mohamed Behery
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Performance Management ◽  
Balanced Scorecard ◽  
Corporate Performance ◽  
Good Practice ◽  
Western World ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Status ◽  
The Impact

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explore the status of corporate performance management (PM) in the Middle Eastern context, represented by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA). In addition, the current study investigates the effects of the adoption of the balanced scorecard (BSC) and aims to explore the impact of the BSC on workplace attitudes and behaviors, as shown by accountability, inspiration, and motivation. Design/methodology/approach Due to the limited knowledge about the subject matter and the limited number of companies adopting the BSC in the Middle East, this study has adopted a descriptive approach to verify the significance of the BSC and to explore the causal relationship amongst the performance perspectives and the different dimensions of the BSC. The sample was drawn from five major business sectors in the UAE and KSA. Findings The results indicate that the BSC indicators are effective tools to evaluate and reflect on corporate performance. The concept of the BSC is considered good practice in the UAE and the KSA. Because of the concept’s compatibility with the local culture and business practices, it can be used to balance shareholder and stakeholder demands. Research limitations/implications One of the main limitations of this study is that the sample is drawn from only two countries from the Middle East and, hence, cannot be generalized. Originality/value This study is one of the first attempts to explore the status of the corporate PM systems in a non-western context using a BSC technique created and typically applied in the western world. In addition, this study is considered a valuable attempt at exploring the effects of the adoption of this technique on an organization’s performance.

Prospects for the Middle East to end-2016

2016 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Middle East ◽  
Natural Gas ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Armed Conflicts ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Natural Gas Prices ◽  
Oil And Natural Gas ◽  
Political Turmoil ◽  
The Impact

Subject Prospects for the Middle East and North Africa to end-2016 Significance The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region is beset by multiple armed conflicts and security crises, and faces daunting economic challenges as a result of both the widespread political turmoil and the impact of the sharp fall in oil and natural gas prices.

Corporate governance reforms and bank performance: evidence from the Middle East and North Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 17 (5) ◽  
pp. 822-844 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saibal Ghosh
Keyword(s):  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Operating Efficiency ◽  
Bank Performance ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Mena Countries ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Corporate Governance Reforms ◽  
Governance Reforms

Purpose The purpose of the study is to understand the importance of corporate governance reforms for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) country banks. To address this issue, the author combines the staggered timing of corporate governance reforms for banks across MENA countries with bank-level data for the period 2000-2012 and examine the impact on bank performance. Design/methodology/approach The author employs fixed effects regression within a difference-in-differences specification for the analysis. Findings The analysis suggests that not all governance characteristics are equally effective and some of these characteristics exert a more pronounced effect on bank performance as compared to others. These results also vary across oil-exporting and -importing nations and differ during the crisis. Besides, the authors find that improved operating efficiency and access to finance are the key channels through which governance improves bank performance. Practical implications Corporate governance reforms in the MENA countries need to be carefully tailored, taking into account the inherent economic characteristics of the country for it to exert durable impact. The challenge for policymakers is to find the right balance that can ensure maximum benefits for the banking sector, while minimizing the challenges involved in its implementation. Originality/value To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the earliest studies for MENA country banks to examine the interface between corporate governance reforms and bank performance, while controlling for the possible endogeneity of such reforms on performance.

The Impact Of Financial Sector Development On Economic Growth In The Middle East And North Africa

2019 ◽  
pp. 81
Author(s):  
محمد سعيد محمود بللور ◽  
عامر عبدالفتاح زكريا باكير
Keyword(s):  
Economic Growth ◽  
Middle East ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Financial Sector ◽  
Financial Sector Development ◽  
The Impact

scholarly journals Influence of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors in the Middle East and North Africa Region: a survey of 5896 individuals

2021 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mohamed Abouzid ◽  
◽  
Dina M. El-Sherif ◽  
Nael Kamel Eltewacy ◽  
Nesrine Ben Hadj Dahman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Social Media ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Fast Food ◽  
Online Survey ◽  
Eating Habits ◽  
Lifestyle Behaviors ◽  
Mena Region ◽  
The Impact

Abstract Background Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has affected health and lifestyle behaviors of people globally. This project aims to identify the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behavior of individuals in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region during confinement. Methods We conducted an online survey in 17 countries (Egypt, Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Yemen, Syria, Palestine, Algeria, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia, Iraq, and Sudan) from the MENA region on August and September 2020. The questionnaire included self-reported information on lifestyle behaviors, including physical activity, eating habits, smoking, watching television, social media use and sleep before and during the pandemic. Logistic regression was performed to analyze the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle behaviors. Results A total of 5896 participants were included in the final analysis and 62.8% were females. The BMI of the participants was 25.4 ± 5.8 kg/m2. Around 38.4% of the participants stopped practicing any physical activities during the confinement (P < 0.001), and 57.1% reported spending more than 2 h on social media (P < 0.001). There were no significant changes in smoking habits. Also, 30.9% reported an improvement in their eating habits compared with 24.8% reported worsening of their eating habits. Fast-food consumption decreased significantly in 48.8% of the study population. This direct/indirect exposure to COVID-19 was associated with an increased consumption of carbohydrates (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.17; P = 0.01), egg (OR = 1.08; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.01), sugar (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.02–1.16; P = 0.02), meat, and poultry (OR = 1.13; 95% CI = 1.06–1.20; P < 0.01). There was also associated increase in hours spent on watching television (OR = 1.07; 95% CI = 1.02–1.12; P < 0.01) and social media (OR = 1.09; 95% CI = 1.01–1.18; P = 0.03). However, our results showed a reduction in sleeping hours among those exposed to COVID-19 infection (OR = 0.85; 95% CI = 0.77–0.94; P < 0.01). Conclusions The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with an increase in food consumption and sedentary life. Being exposed to COVID-19 by direct infection or through an infected household is a significant predictor of amplifying these changes. Public health interventions are needed to address healthy lifestyle behaviors during and after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Whose risk? Bank de-risking and the politics of interpretation and vulnerability in the Middle East and North Africa

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-16
Author(s):  
Sherine El Taraboulsi-McCarthy
Keyword(s):  
Political Economy ◽  
High Risk ◽  
Middle East ◽  
Money Laundering ◽  
North Africa ◽  
Civil Society Organizations ◽  
Negative Consequences ◽  
Local Authorities ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Politics Of Interpretation

Abstract Following the events of 11 September 2001, measures aimed at countering the financing of terrorism (CFT) were intensified by States. Many countries around the world adopted strict anti-money laundering and CFT regulations for the transfer of funds globally. This process increased the costs of complying with regulatory requirements and imposed high penalties on banks for non-compliance. As a result, preventive measures – often known as “de-risking” – were taken up by banks, including terminating the accounts of clients perceived as “high-risk” for money laundering or terrorist financing, and delaying transfers. These measures, however, have had negative consequences, reducing financial access for local civil society organizations in conflict-affected contexts that are deemed high-risk for terrorist activities. Drawing on five years of research to understand the impact of de-risking on conflict-affected contexts from a local perspective, this paper reflects on the local political economy of CFT, with a focus on the Middle East and North Africa. It explores two key areas of inquiry. The first of these is the politics of interpretation – how counterterrorism as a discourse and a set of practices, of which CFT is one, gets interpreted by local authorities and banks, and subsequently gets reinterpreted to the population. This also has implications for which local actors are better positioned to access funds than others, and why. The second area of inquiry is the politics of vulnerability – how the local political economy impact of CFT can increase the social and economic vulnerabilities of some groups more than others. This paper demonstrates that under the guise of “counterterrorism”, local authorities in conflict-affected contexts have used CFT to restrict the non-profit and philanthropic space and are using banking regulations to shape that space in ways that are bound to have negative medium- and long-term implications for it.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document