Qatar 2022 World Cup A PR Boon, But Little Else
JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar will become the face of an Arab world that projects itself as rich, bold and futuristic – a dramatic contrast with current perceptions of conflict and conservatism.
Love Lost: When Politics and Marriage Collide
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: Politics and marriage might seem worlds apart. But recent cases suggest there are more agendas than we might think.
Soccer: A Potential Flashpoint for Jordanian Society
JAMES M. DORSEY: Mounting tension in Jordan is unlikely to produce the same result as protests in Tunisia, but promises to make soccer an increasing flashpoint…
Tunis: Going, Going Gone, All the President’s Men
ZEINOBIA: Egyptian Chronicles reports on the fate of the “regime men”, Ben Ali’s right arms in the former Tunisian government.
Tunisia is a Wake Up Call, but for the Pundits
HISHAM WYNE: Tunisa’s revolution has little to do with the ideals of democracy. It’s a simple cry for better quality of life.
Will the Fallen Tunisian ‘Domino’ Touch Jordan?
NASEEM TAWRANAH: Events in Tunisia have been followed by the Jordanian people and authorities. It’s unlikely, though, events will follow a similar pattern in the Kingdom.
Qatar Gains Upper Hand in Battle for FIFA
JAMES M. DORSEY: Qatar is flexing its muscle, rejecting calls by Sepp Blatter to move the tournament to winter or co-host it with other Gulf states.
Is Hariri’s Brief Political Career Drawing to a Close?
SYRIA NEWS WIRE: Following Hizbollah’s withdrawal from the unity government, what is next for Prime Minister Hariri?
A New Saudi Arabia: Thoughts For a Better Future
STEVE ROYSTON: King Abdullah, upon his return to Saudi Arabia after successful surgery in the United States, broadcasts to the nation. This is what he could say…
The BMW Slogan – Consume its Corpse, Please…
ALEXANDER MCNABB: There’s a tremendous power to slogans, a way of condensing and simplifying thoughts that can become catchy, even thought-provoking.
Daunting: The Many Challenges Facing Arab Youth
AHMED AL OMRAN: Identity, lack of economic opportunity, freedom of expression – these are just some of the issues facing young people throughout the Arab World.
Qatari Civil Servants Salary Tied to Performance
DAVID ROBERTS: The Qatari Government is to be applauded for linking civil servants’ bonuses to performance. Let the battle with ‘wasta’ begin.
Fear and (Not Enough) Loving in the UAE
DAVID WESTLEY: What should be done about the demographic imbalance in the GCC? Anything, or nothing at all…
Egyptian Novelists Respond to Church Bombing
M. LYNX-QUALEY: Egypt’s three leading contemporary novelists reflect on the origins, significance and consequences of the recent bomb attack on a Coptic church in Alexandria.
‘Sense of violence’ pervades Jordanian society. Why?
NASEEM TARAWNAH: There have been many small, low-level outbreaks of violence in Jordan over the past year. Taken together these point to a troubled society.
President Obama, It’s Time for a Rethink…
SULTAN AL QASSEMI: It’s high time for fresh faces and fresh ideas from the White House to deal with outdated policies that have failed in effecting genuine change.
Qatar World Cup in Jan? No Surprise There…
DAVID ROBERTS: So Sepp Blatter has begun the softening up for the first ever Winter World Cup. It makes sense, you know….
Could the U.S. be Considered an ‘Islamic’ Country?
SHELINA ZAHRA JANMOHAMED: What does it mean to be an Islamic country? Today’s world is not so black and white, and glib categorisations make less sense than ever.
1001 Inventions Challenge Western Sterotypes
MARIUM SATTAR: An exhibition showcasing the discoveries of Islam’s ‘Golden Age’ has attracted visitors in the hundreds of thousands, and helped overturn some pervasive prejudices.
Rising Wave of Saudi Spinsters, the Shame of Divorce
CROSSROADS ARABIA: An increasing number of Saudi women are choosing not to get married, while divorcees are facing growing discrimination.
