Centre for Meditteranean, Middle East and Islamic Studies

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Demonstrations in Lebanon

The economic recession, the dysfunctional politica...Readmore
Transcending sectarianism and pursuing change: an “Iraqi Autumn”?

The October 2019 protests that took place in Iraq ...Readmore
Archaeological reconstruction attempts in Syria

Since the beginning of the war in Syria in 2011, t...Readmore
Quagmire and fragile alliances in Northern Syria: from Kurdish-held Rojava to the Idlib rebels’ bastion

The ongoing process of the “safe zone” establi...Readmore
Research Internship Positions (2019-2020)

The Centre for Mediterranean, Middle East and Isla...Readmore

Demonstrations in Lebanon
Transcending sectarianism and pursuing change: an “Iraqi Autumn”?
Archaeological reconstruction attempts in Syria
Quagmire and fragile alliances in Northern Syria: from Kurdish-held Rojava to the Idlib rebels’ bastion
Research Internship Positions (2019-2020)

Middle East Flashpoints

Demonstrations in Lebanon

Sunday, 08 December 2019 13:07

Demonstrations in Lebanon

The economic recession, the dysfunctional political system and the refugee crisis have made Lebanon a vulnerable player in the Middle East region. The economic reforms that the former Prime Minister of Lebanon, Saad Hariri, tried to introduce, caused a massive cross-sectarian wave of demonstrations which lead Lebanon to political instability…

Transcending sectarianism and pursuing change: an “Iraqi Autumn”?

Saturday, 16 November 2019 11:01

Transcending sectarianism and pursuing change: an “Iraqi Autumn”?

The October 2019 protests that took place in Iraq resulted in hundreds of casualties and thousands of injuries reported. The protesters mainly reclaim dignified life conditions, higher employment rates and a political system liberated from corruption and external interference. The identity of the protests is not the usual one and…

Middle East Bulletin

Religious Pluralism in the Middle East: the Canary in the Coal Mine | Middle East Bulletin 36

Saturday, 15 June 2019 14:00

Religious Pluralism in the Middle East: the Canary in the Coal Mine | Middle East Bulletin 36

Russia in the Middle East: The Russian Bear in Mind | Middle East Bulletin 35

Monday, 14 January 2019 12:17

Russia in the Middle East: The Russian Bear in Mind | Middle East Bulletin 35

Policy Papers

Recognizing Somaliland’s Independence

Wednesday, 03 August 2016 23:42

Recognizing Somaliland’s Independence

Although no state has officially recognized its independence, Somaliland operates as a democratic, de facto state since the 18th of May 1991, when it unilaterally declared its independence from the Republic of Somalia. The purpose of this article is to attempt to construct a critical debate on Somaliland’s independence and…

“Islamic democracy” with reference to the political thought of Abdolkarim Soroush and Rachid al-Ghannouchi

Monday, 08 October 2012 03:00

“Islamic democracy” with reference to the political thought of Abdolkarim Soroush and Rachid al-Ghannouchi

Religion and politics constitute a relationship around which human affairs clustered since time immemorial. Faith in one or more superior beings already existed before the very first moment that people started perceiving themselves as members of an entity, irrespectively of its level of institutionalisation of power and formality of interpersonal…

Points of view

2018: New Saplings across the Hindu-Kush!

Friday, 12 January 2018 01:18

2018: New Saplings across the Hindu-Kush!

Where a rather detailed visit to the adjoining regions of Southwest Asia and the Gulf allows one to reconnect with the friends, fellow thinkers and civil society activists, it also affords a sought-after opportunity to observe first-hand all the vital developments. Dubai’s unending sky rises, its boulevards infested with endless…

Sinai to Sindh: The Battle for Muslim Soul

Thursday, 07 December 2017 11:10

Sinai to Sindh: The Battle for Muslim Soul

Egypt’s biggest mass slayings, committed in a mosque in northern Sinai on 24 November during the Friday congregational prayers, have once again underlined the urgency to locate the causes of this by now rather familiar self-immolation across several Muslim regions. With 305 worshippers including 27 children dead and 135 seriously…

Book Reviews

Guy Burton, Rising Powers and the Arab-Israeli Conflict since 1947, Lexington Books, 2018

Saturday, 10 November 2018 10:06

Guy Burton, Rising Powers and the Arab-Israeli Conflict since 1947, Lexington Books, 2018

Guy Burton’s book is a highly timely and readable account of the rising powers’ policies vis-à-vis the Arab-Israeli conflict. The emergence of regional powers in the post-Cold War global setting has spurred an increasing volume of literature on their Middle Eastern policies. The author situates his work within this trend.…

Régis Le Sommier, Assad, Éditions de La Martinière, 2018

Wednesday, 11 July 2018 12:48

Régis Le Sommier, Assad, Éditions de La Martinière, 2018

Régis Le Sommier’s just published book is a highly idiosyncratic contribution to a growing body of books on Syria’s civil war. The author is deputy editor in chief of the elitist weekly Paris Match. Like David W. Lesch’s 2005 book, this one too is largely based on the author’s intimate…

Interviews

Interview with Regis Le Sommier, author of Assad

Wednesday, 11 July 2018 12:56

Interview with Rutu Modan, author of Exit Wounds and the Property

Sunday, 17 June 2018 13:29

Interview with Rutu Modan, author of Exit Wounds and the Property

Kurdish Report

Kurdish Report 3

Monday, 16 May 2016 03:00

Kurdish Report 3

Authors: Evangelos Diamantopoulos, Costas Faropoulos, Maria Kourpa, Iris Pappa, Charitini Petrodaskalaki, Aliki Sofianou

Kurdish Report 2

Thursday, 14 April 2016 03:00

Kurdish Report 2

Authors: Evangelos Diamantopoulos, Costas Faropoulos, Maria Kourpa, Iris Pappa, Charitini Petrodaskalaki, Aliki Sofianou

Turkey Report

Turkey Report 11

Friday, 25 November 2016 13:24

Turkey Report 11

Turkey Report 10

Friday, 25 November 2016 13:16

Turkey Report 10

Society and Culture Review

Music in the Arab world: performing tarab

Friday, 29 March 2019 00:44

Music in the Arab world: performing tarab

During the historical trajectory of the Middle East, music has been associated with an unexpected spiritual power that can transform the performers and the audience in a numinous way. This power has its locus at the concept of tarab. Tarab underpins the connection that the performer and the audience develop…

Ζār: spirit possession or ritual healing?

Tuesday, 12 February 2019 13:25

Ζār: spirit possession or ritual healing?

The most well-known spirit possession in Islam is performed through Ζār. The term denotes a form of spirit possession that causes illness, when the spirits descend into a person, and at the same time a healing ritual that incorporates one of the most therapeutic practices. For Ζār, the human body…

CRPME Reports

CRPME Report on Religious Pluralism in the Middle East | No.6

Thursday, 27 June 2019 19:27

CRPME Report on Religious Pluralism in the Middle East | No.6

Executive Summary The CRPME report is addressing main features and challenges regarding religious pluralism in the Middle East during the first half of 2018. The region of focus includes the countries of Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Turkey, Egypt, Israel, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Lebanon and the Maghreb region with an added emphasis…

CRPME Special Report | No.5 | 2nd Athens International Conference on Religious and Cultural Pluralism & Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East

Thursday, 27 June 2019 19:24

CRPME Special Report | No.5 | 2nd Athens International Conference on Religious and Cultural Pluralism & Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East

Executive Summary The objective of this report is to highlight the main themes featured in the speeches of the participants of the 2nd Athens International Conference on “Religious and Cultural Pluralism and Peaceful Coexistence in the Middle East”, which took place from 30 to 31 October 2017. The conference aimed…

Occupation with the (scholarly) disciplines on the part of those who have no genuine claim to them is widespread. But the pasture of stupidity is unwholesome for mankind. No one can stand up against the authority of truth, and the evil of falsehood is to be fought with enlightening speculation. The reporter merely dictates and passes on (the material). It takes critical insight to sort out the hidden truth; it takes knowledge to lay truth bare and polish it so that critical insight may be applied to it.

Ibn Khaldūn, The Muqaddimah

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