MER Article Controlling Capital, Disciplining States Asia’s developing economies pose challenging questions for the left’s conception of the relationship between the state and development in this era of global capitalism. Neoliberals often cite East Asian economies as proof of the validity of their laissez faire development theories because they achie Marsha Pripstein Posusney • 2 min read
MER Article Reform or Reaction? This issue of Middle East Report presents critical -- and timely -- analysis of the impact of neoliberal economic policies in the Middle East and North Africa. Authors representing a variety of disciplines and viewpoints explore the dilemmas confronting progressive forces searching for alternative p Djavad Salehi-Isfahani, Marsha Pripstein Posusney, Karen Pfeifer, Steve Niva • 4 min read
MER Article Burj al-Barajna Dispatch After making my way through the rubble and squalor of the overcrowded refugee camp near Beirut’s International Airport, I arrived half an hour late for my appointment with Umm Muhammad, a local living repository of Palestinian folk song traditions. Reem Kelani • 3 min read
MER Article Understanding Ghada: The Multiple Meanings of an Attempted Stabbing I came to know Ghada, a young Palestinian village woman, during my 14 months of fieldwork in her village in the West Bank. Ghada’s village, located south of Bethlehem, is home to approximately 3,000 residents, all of whom are Muslims. Ghada gained notoriety in the village and the surrounding communi Celia Rothenberg • 6 min read
MER Article Satellite Television and Development in the Middle East Upon hearing a Dutch diplomat recite a dismal litany of statistics indicating the current social and economic plight of most Middle Eastern states, a Jordanian academic heaved a sigh. “This is a triple tragedy,” she said. “Not only are the figures bad, but they have to be collated by foreign agencie Naomi Sakr • 9 min read
MER Article Shootout in the Horn of Africa A second round of fighting between Eritrea and Ethiopia in February found the political positions of the former allies little changed from their opening salvos the previous June, but overwhelming Ethiopian numbers -- troops and arms -- finally forced the Eritreans to accept an American-backed “peace Dan Connell • 6 min read
MER Article "The Bombing Has Started Again" I recently informed an editor of a national news program about a delegation of Nobel laureates who planned to visit Iraq in March. He responded that “Iraq’s not on the screen now that the bombing has stopped.” A puzzling response, since on that very day, the US had bombed seven sites in Iraq. Kathy Kelly • 2 min read
MER Article Letter (Spring 1999) I read the "Chart on National Elections in the Middle East" (MER 209) with keen interest, having worked for some time on the Yemeni electoral and political systems. I noticed a factual error regarding the Yemeni executive and legislative systems, which I would like you to correct. The last line of t Iris Glosemeyer • 1 min read
MER Article Editorial (Spring 1999) People throughout the Middle East have long contended with political systems that neither represent them nor serve their interests. With the advent of neoliberalism as the world’s defining economic trend, however, governments and citizens alike in the Middle East are now subject to a global economic The Editors • 2 min read
