Painter and printmaker Munira Al Kazi stands out as a prominent figure within the realm of Arab Gulf artists; the first female artist to grace a gallery in Kuwait with an exhibition. Despite enjoying international acclaim, it was through the interconnected relationships within her intimate circle that Munira’s work found its homecoming.

Characterizing herself with the sobriquet Bint Al Shati’, Aisha Abd Al Rahman is part and parcel of the intellectual Egyptian tapestry of history. Her life encompassed a series of hard-won battles for a young Arab woman seeking an education; a story much neglected in the scholarship on the years of Al-Nahda.

Ousha Bint Khalifa was an extraordinary Emirati poet, and one of the greatest Nabati poets of the 20th century. Widely known as Fatat al Arab, she was a trailblazer for female poets in the Gulf, and the impact of her work lives on to this day. Her renown was all the more remarkable for an era when women seldom recited their poetry in public.

The École de Tunis is a movement that dominated art production in Tunisia between 1956 and the late 1980s and has been recognized as the ‘Golden Age’ of Tunisian art. This Essay explores the institutional context that paved the way for the École’s rise, situating it in a broader post-colonial economic development agenda & changing government priorities.

Regional literature traces the seeds of Arab nationalism to the intellectual scene of the 19th century, when thinkers sought to infuse Arabist sentiment throughout society. This essay contextualizes Arab nationalism as a historically situated phenomenon, chronologically retracing the paradigms introduced by the Arab World’s earliest nationalist philosophers.

Abdulhussain Abdulredha’s Bye Bye London powerfully presents an awareness of the regional impact of British imperialism, and a desire to reclaim the narrative in theater and politics. The sociopolitical comedy acts as an extension of Kuwait’s intellectual and theatrical history, and also a political response to global, neocolonial realities.

Nadia Saikali’s distinct style is a testament to the innate talent of a true creator. Pioneering the field of kinetics in the Arab World, her artistic gestures fused spirituality, aesthetics, and science, driven by an unsatiating impulse to examine truth through art, and art through truth. She introduced the concept of collaborative art in Lebanon’s art consciousness.

Samia Osseiran, Lebanese artist and poet, works from intuition, intellect, and an almost existential pursuit of meaning. One of the great female artists of her generation, her oeuvre encompasses a large body of work that is vibrant and diverse; a testimony of perseverance in times of personal as well as regional crises.

Helen Khal’s influence on the art world extended beyond her artistic endeavors. Her extensive research documented the overlooked contributions of female artists in Lebanon, paving the way for their participation in the burgeoning art scene in Beirut. Her contributions carry substantial weight, and her legacy continues to inspire artists today.

Painter and printmaker Munira Al Kazi stands out as a prominent figure within the realm of Arab Gulf artists; the first female artist to grace a gallery in Kuwait with an exhibition. Despite enjoying international acclaim, it was through the interconnected relationships within her intimate circle that Munira’s work found its homecoming.

Characterizing herself with the sobriquet Bint Al Shati’, Aisha Abd Al Rahman is part and parcel of the intellectual Egyptian tapestry of history. Her life encompassed a series of hard-won battles for a young Arab woman seeking an education; a story much neglected in the scholarship on the years of Al-Nahda.

Ousha Bint Khalifa was an extraordinary Emirati poet, and one of the greatest Nabati poets of the 20th century. Widely known as Fatat al Arab, she was a trailblazer for female poets in the Gulf, and the impact of her work lives on to this day. Her renown was all the more remarkable for an era when women seldom recited their poetry in public.

International debates regarding the management of, and jurisdiction over, oceans and seas have heightened as geopolitical tensions continue to rise. This Explainer discusses the limitations of the current global legal framework and evaluates the proposals to better address existing ambiguities.

The American president is elected by a group of electors, formed every four years, through a constitutional process referred to as the Electoral College. This has raised questions regarding whether or not the American electoral system truly reflects the democratic ideals embedded in the country.

The UN is an indispensable convener of the international community. At the same time, the veto power at the Security Council has led to growing concerns regarding the inability of the UN’s main organs to take effective and decisive action in the face of growing humanitarian and security crises.

The issue of political financing is historically rooted in US presidential elections. Underlying the political struggle toward the presidency is a money race, as contenders fight to gain crucial campaign support and outweigh their opposition ahead of elections in November.

Every five years and for more than four decades, European citizens head to the polls to elect their representatives in the European Parliament. The upcoming 2024 European Parliament elections, set to take place in June, will mark a pivotal moment for the future of the inter-European political landscape.

Countries suffering from economic de-development continuously deteriorate, regardless of increases in economic output, & often face ongoing crises that strip citizens of their political, economic, and social agency. This explainer examines cases of de-development in Gaza, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.

Pan-Africanist ideals came to fruition circa 1860, paving the way for the development of the African Union (AU). This Explainer discusses the Union’s successes, the reasons for its shortcomings, and ways to advance in its future progression.

How has BRICS fared against predictions made in the early 2000s about its far-reaching potential? This Explainer discusses the evolution of BRICS from the late 1990s to this day, and explores its role as an alternative multilateral economic arrangement through its current initiatives.

The decolonization processes in the 20th century introduced a range of governance models between imperial metropoles and their former colonies, which challenge a strict interpretation of political autonomy and independence in international relations.

International debates regarding the management of, and jurisdiction over, oceans and seas have heightened as geopolitical tensions continue to rise. This Explainer discusses the limitations of the current global legal framework and evaluates the proposals to better address existing ambiguities.

The American president is elected by a group of electors, formed every four years, through a constitutional process referred to as the Electoral College. This has raised questions regarding whether or not the American electoral system truly reflects the democratic ideals embedded in the country.

The UN is an indispensable convener of the international community. At the same time, the veto power at the Security Council has led to growing concerns regarding the inability of the UN’s main organs to take effective and decisive action in the face of growing humanitarian and security crises.

After the refugee crisis of 2015-2016 in Europe, the mandate and budget of Frontex, the European Border Control and Coast Guard Agency, was expanded significantly with the purpose of increasing internal security.

German-French cooperation on climate objectives will be a core determinant of the EU’s future environmental efforts. Their diverging positions might allow for more flexibility in meeting climate objectives at the pan-European level.

Americans fall into as many as nine ideological camps on the political spectrum, yet the party system is characterized by a strict Republican and Democratic divide. This issue brief examines the persistence of this phenomenon.

Feminist approaches to foreign policy have advanced new opportunities for women across various sectors. How has this agenda developed, and how can it serve as a better tool for women’s empowerment across geographies and settings?

The absence of violence does not mean long-term stability. This issue brief examines three UN peacekeeping missions that were never able to establish long-lasting peace, & provides policy recommendations for current & future operations.

Water security should be placed at the forefront of the Arab development agenda. This Issue Brief examines possible policy interventions against severe water scarcity in the region, which is set to endanger millions unless effective collective action is taken.

How can state sovereignty and global environmental responsibility be reconciled? This issue brief examines the implications of national decision-making processes on global public goods, whose preservation is, in theory, a worldwide undertaking.

Far-right parties have risen to power in European politics, which has enabled the adoption of their principles across the continent’s political landscape. This publication examines their impact and influence going forward.

This issue brief explores the nuanced implications of holding social media platforms to equal political standing as sovereign states, and urges international actors to closely examine the foreign policy influence of big tech.

After the refugee crisis of 2015-2016 in Europe, the mandate and budget of Frontex, the European Border Control and Coast Guard Agency, was expanded significantly with the purpose of increasing internal security.

German-French cooperation on climate objectives will be a core determinant of the EU’s future environmental efforts. Their diverging positions might allow for more flexibility in meeting climate objectives at the pan-European level.

Americans fall into as many as nine ideological camps on the political spectrum, yet the party system is characterized by a strict Republican and Democratic divide. This issue brief examines the persistence of this phenomenon.