Magiran | نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه، سال شانزدهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 56، بهار 1388)

انتخاب همه

Elections in Iraq: From Insurgence to Politicking and from Politicking to Governance

Hossein Daheshiar Page 13

Provincial Councils Elections on January 31, 2009 heralded an important stage in Iraq's political life after Saddam Hussein. The elections although were held freely and democratically, votes were cast according to traditional patterns and ethnic-tribal and religious considerations. This very fact reveals the paradox of democracy in today's Iraq, because most of violent actions in recent years were undertaken based on such traditional patterns and ethnic-tribal and religious factors. According to the author, from the time when the issue of tribe's shares in power came up, the phase of politicking has replaced the phase of insurgence, which should be regarded as a positive development.
Keywords: Iraqi Society, Elections, Political Culture, Tribalism, Value Fossilization, Democratic Paradox

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
Re-Reading the Case of Media Warfare in Iraq: The United States and Media Rapid Reaction Team

Masoud Kousari Page 33

This paper seeks to briefly study the importance of mass media in Middle Eastern countries, particularly in Iraq, during occupation and the U.S. Department of Defense's project called 'Media Rapid Reaction Team'. The team was intended to adopt pre-decided actions for further controlling the situation and disseminating the idea of 'weak democracy' in the occupied countries. The idea of weak democracy, which is promoted through seemingly independent media in U.S. dominated countries, is aimed at forging a kind of polyarchy in their political systems, more consistent with the interests and objectives of transnational capitalists. Finally, Alhurra television network and Sowt radio are examined as examples of independent media in Iraq
Keywords: Media Rapid Reaction Team, Weak Democracy, Polyarchy, Independent Media, Media Warfare

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
U.S. Foreign Policy toward Syria after September 11th

Majid Ruhi Page 55

The September 11th 2001 terrorist events gave rise to a fundamental change in international politics particularly in U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. In this way, the discourse governing U.S. foreign policy under the Bush Administration was directed at changing regime and behavior of the so-called rogue states. In this relation, Iran along with Iraq and North Korea were introduced as axis of evil and other states like Syria and Saudi Arabia became subject to U.S. regime change policy. Because of such important factors as sponsorship of terrorism, involvement in Iraqi unrest, efforts at destabilizing Lebanon and so on, Syria was targeted by American neo-cons. This paper seeks to answer the question what are critical and tension-mongering factors between the United States and Syria, and given those factors what has been U.S. foreign policy towards Syria after September 11th 2001? The article tests the hypothesis that U.S. foreign policy after September 11th can be evaluated as limited cooperation, hostility and confrontation (regime change) and finally change in Syrian behavior.
Keywords: September 11th, U.S. Foreign Policy, Neo, Cons, Regime Change, Change in Behavior

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
German Foreign Policy in Two Iraqi and Afghan Crises

Hossein Harsij, Maryam Seyedi Page 89

This research seeks to analytically study German foreign policy in two Iraqi and Afghan crises using comparative method. After the September 11th events, Germany showed its full-fledged solidarity with the United States and participated actively in the war on the Taliban forces. However, it adopted an opposite position towards U.S. policies in the war on Iraq and avoided sending military troops to the country, thus adversely affecting bilateral relations. The findings of this research demonstrate that in the Afghan crisis, because of the support of the global public opinion, various German political parties and public opinion provided support for and sympathy with the United States. But in the Iraqi crisis, due to a variety of reasons including German economic interests and distrust of German public opinion of U.S. declared objectives such as attainment of freedom, democracy and human rights and due to suspicion of U.S. search for hegemony, Germany opposed U.S. policies.
Keywords: Germany, Foreign Policy, United States, Afghan Crisis, Iraqi Crisis

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
Middle East Exceptionalism: Myth or Reality?

Simon Bromley, Trans. Araz Amin Naseri Page 111

Considering diversity and differences found among the Middle Eastern nations, this paper seeks to apply three criteria including social structures, international constraints and opportunities at the hands of the countries, and the type of resources at the disposal of governments in order to examine the obstacles to and problems of transition to democracy. Dealing with such criteria in detail, the author notes that various patterns of political development can be seen in the region. Hence, although transition to democracy in the Middle East proves difficult, democratization process in the region has been just slower and more erratic than other regions of the world. One of the conclusions of this argument is that the emphasis some theories put on the Middle East exceptionalism and its inconsistency with the general patterns of transition to democracy is untrue.
Keywords: Middle East Region, Transition to Democracy, Political Development, Political Culture, Structuralist Theories

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian
Egyptian Women's Movement and the Right to Political Participation: 1945-1980

Hossein Pour, Ahmadi, Yasaman Yaari Page 143

In order to describe Egyptian women's efforts at gaining political rights equal to men, the authors examine women's associations, publications and books and their place in the society, as well as their successes and achievements from various groups. By examining the movements that were contemporary to women's movement in this period, i.e. national and Islamic movements, the authors try to explore their relationships with the women's movement. Indeed, national movement became a suitable ground for the rise of Egyptian women's movement, though it yielded few results for them. The more successful groups of this movement in the early 20th century were secular and neutral groups, but the Islamists became more dominant in the 1970s. The reason for the success of various groups in this period included getting along with the dominant currents in the society such as battle with colonialism and confrontation with Israel on the Palestine question.
Keywords: Feminism, Women's Movement, Women's Associations, Islamism, Nationalism

Abstract View Paper Original: Persian

به جمع مشترکان مگیران بپیوندید!

فهرست مطالب

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه
سال شانزدهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 56، بهار 1388)

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه

Middle East Studies Quarterly

به جمع مشترکان مگیران بپیوندید!

فهرست مطالب

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه سال شانزدهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 56، بهار 1388)

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه

Middle East Studies Quarterly

نشریه مطالعات خاورمیانه
سال شانزدهم شماره 1 (پیاپی 56، بهار 1388)