Foreign Affairs- In his newest article, Gregory Feifer writes about the aftermath of the downing of the Russian aircraft on November 24,2015 and about Vladimir Putin’s next move. Feifer writes, “His moves toward rapprochement, no less than his hostility, are aimed not at building a genuine anti-terror coalition but at challenging the West to a high-stakes game […]
France Is Fighting Its Own Taboos
Huffington Post – ICWA Trustee Julie Barlow and past Fellow Jean-Benoît Nadeau have co-authored an article about the political challenges that France now faces in the wake of the recent terrorist attacks. Barlow and Nadeau have written extensively about French language and conversation and they posit that the issues that the attacks have brought into the spotlight, […]
Muscat to Mji Mkongwe
Unguja ni njema atakaye aje — Zanzibar is good to those who will come, Swahili proverb I approached the passenger side door with my bag slung over my shoulder, dripping with sweat as I waited for the taxi driver to unlock the car. As I stood there, wondering what might be taking so long, I […]
When It Comes to Vladimir Putin and Islamic State, Trust but Verify
Reuters – In his latest article, Gregory Feifer discusses the possibility of persuading Vladimir Putin to cooperate in Syria, motivated by the common goal of combating Islamic State. Feifer writes, “Although Western governments are right to pursue any avenue that encourages genuine cooperation, they should be very, very wary of compounding the current crisis in Syria […]
Arab Cartoonists Respond to the Tragedy in Paris
PRI – Jonathan Guyer spoke with Marco Werman of PRI’s The World about the response of Arab cartoonists and satirists in the wake of the terror attacks in Paris and Beirut. In the interview, Jonathan describes the unifying messages coming from Arabic cartoons in response to the tragedies. He also discusses the global impact of terror and the […]
Coffee, Tea, and the Cultural Sieve
One of the first things I found myself needing after arriving in Muscat was a strong cup of coffee. Fortunately, coffee is somewhat of an Omani national pastime. Drinking coffee together is an integral part of local culture, so much so that the traditional coffee pot, or dallah, has become an unofficial symbol of the […]
Nothing to Lose: Côte d’Ivoire’s Troubled Campus Politics
As campus events go, it is difficult to imagine anything less controversial than the “Peace Fair” held at Côte d’Ivoire’s largest university one Friday morning last July. Part of a U.S. State Department-backed program intended to temper a politically volatile campus climate, the fair featured Ivoirian artists and singers, a blood-donation stand and booths where […]
‘The Price We Pay’ Maps a Web of Offshore Tax Havens
The New York Times – ICWA Trustee Krishen Mehta is featured in a documentary film about offshore tax havens for international corporations. In his review, Andy Webster writes that “the ideas in this densely packed but enlightening film can be challenging, but must be heard.” Mehta has shared some of his insights on tax evasion […]
Taking the Mickey Out of Terrorism
Sydney Morning Herald – ICWA Fellow Jonathan Guyer is quoted in a recent Australian article on Arab humor. In the piece, Jonathan describes his observations of the cultural scene in Egypt, saying, “the one thing I find really singular in Egypt is this kind of black humour … in any of the myriad of tragedies that occur there […]
No, It’s Not Another Intifada
Politico – In his latest piece past Fellow Neri Zilber discusses the recent violence in Jerusalem from a new angle. In “No, It’s Not Another Intifada,” Zilber explores what is not happening in Jerusalem and delves into some reasons why Palestinians are not rising up in a Third Intifada. Zilber explains that although there has been an increase […]