Counterbalance: the Grudge Goes Global
Following November’s midterm elections, it was quite clear that with a shift in the balance of power, current policies were going to be modified . What may have been less obvious before Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s US visit and Senator Tom Cotton’s Iran Letter, is that the new conservative majority would overhaul basic democratic […]
With Nationalism Comes Responsibility
Alexander Carlin is a participant in the Qatar Fellowship sponsored by the National Council on US Arab Relations, and recently completed a study visit to Qatar in conjunction with their US Embassy, in order to meet civil society leaders and members of the Qatari government. From King Louis XIV of France’s bid to solidify power, […]
Seasons of the Arab Spring: A Review
On Thursday, January 22, the International Affairs Department hosted a panel discussion, “Seasons of the Arab Spring.” Contributors included Northeastern professors, Denis Sullivan, Valentine Moghadam, and Berna Turam. Visiting scholars Dr. Emily Curry and Shamiran Mako also participated in the panel. The discussion focused on five countries and their involvement in the Arab Spring: Egypt, […]
US Policy in the Middle East
On Tuesday September 16, 2014, Professor Joel Migdal gave a guest lecture at Northeastern University about his new book Shifting Sands-The United States in the Middle East. His presentation focused on the four main ideas throughout the book: the United States’ global role post World War II, the transition of main powers in the Middle […]
Gaza From Afar
On Tuesday September 9, Dov Waxman made his professorial debut to the Northeastern community with his lecture on the Gaza-Israel War. The lecture and Q&A session, Judging the Gaza War (From Afar), were part of the university’s series on Controversial Issues in Security Studies. Admittedly reluctant to address the topic, Professor Waxman opened his lecture […]
Safety at a Price: The Effect of Israel’s Security Culture on Palestinians in the West Bank
From the 25-foot tall concrete barrier wall to the hundreds of military checkpoints, Israel employs a pervasive security culture in the West Bank. Since Israel’s controversial creation, it has faced numerous security risks, from terrorist attacks to foreign invasions, all of which potentially pose a threat to Israel’s sustained national security. These external risk factors […]
Military Politicization in the Arab Spring
The Arab Spring in Northern Africa and the Middle East is arguably the first widespread liberal democratic uprising in the history of the region. While nearly every country in this area of the world experienced backlash against the government in one form or another, the North African Arabian belt, specifically Egypt, Tunisia, Libya, and Algeria, […]
When the Audience Disagrees: A Conversation with the Iraqi Ambassador to the United Nations
The environment of the Boston University Trustee Room was too inorganic for the event at hand; with crystal chandeliers, damask wallpaper, and heavy drapes obscuring the ninth-floor view of greater Boston, it seemed more appropriate for weddings and luncheons than an academic discussion over the future of a country. However, when Mohammad al-Hakim, the […]