La Siria de Ali Farzat: la caricatura en el mundo árabe.

The aim of this research is an analysis and commentary on cartoons as a form of socio-political communication in the Middle East and the Arab world, in particular. Drawing on ʿAlī Farzāt‘s work, who is regarded as one of the most important cartoonists in the region, it examines the power of cartoons to incite political revolt. The main objectives of this research are: (1) to discuss political humor and political cartoons in the Middle East and the Arab world; (2) to study the new tools of communication; (3) to analyze art as a tool to fight the repression of regimes; (4) to contextualize the work of ʿAlī Farzāt, taking into consideration his life and the different historical events that shaped it; and (5) to analyze and study his cartoons, taking into account their symbols and how they evolved. In order to research this subject, I have used theoretical material dealing with humor and political cartoons in the Middle East and in the Arab world. Furthermore, I have drawn on a visual ethnography collecting a wide variety of data about media and political cartoons and ʿAlī Farzāt, in particular, to develop a grounded theory in relation to this topic. Thus, taking into account ʿAlī Farzāt‘s cartoons and Syria for reference, the results of this research will show the emergence of a specific kind of political cartoon that has become a reference for the Middle East and the Arab world, in particular. The main conclusions for this research are: (1) political cartoons in the Middle East and the Arab world are influenced by those from Europe, even though genres have been developed by Middle Eastern and Arab cartoonists as they are a product of every culture; (2) for this reason, they are a form of pan-Arabism since they reveal the needs of Arab societies, in general; (3) in a sense, political cartoons are an important form of communication because they are capable of circumventing ensorship by using symbols; (4) political cartoons are historical references because they deal with events that do not appear in other media or history books. In addition, there are specific conclusions regarding ʿAlī Farzāt‘s cartoons: (1) they have become a non-verbal language that is understood by everyone; (2) the evolution of his cartoons has firmly established this genre; (3) ʿAlī Farzāt‘s cartoons have become a form of artistic resistance; (4) his cartoons have developed a feeling of identity and unity which would scarcely have been known before the advent of new social media

Arab Muslim nurses experiences of the meaning of caring

Abstract The aim of this study was to understand the meaning of caring as experienced by Arab Muslim nurses within the context of Arab culture. A qualitative approach using ethnographic methodology based on the approaches of Geertz (1973), Fitzgerald (1997) and Davies (1999) was used to develop a description that embeds the phenomena of the nurses’ meaning of caring within the cultural context. Good and Good’s (1981) meaning–centred approach was used to interpret the nurse’s explanatory models of health, illness and healing that inform the caring experience. This study conveys the cultural worlds of Arab Muslim nurses from Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Jordan and Egypt while caring for Arab Muslim patients in Saudi Arabia. Data were collected over a four year period (2004-2007). Arab Muslim nurses have a religiously informed explanatory model where health is spiritual, physical and psycho-social well-being. Spirituality is central to the belief system where spiritual needs take priority over physical needs as a distinctive care pattern. The professional health belief system blends into the nurses’ cultural and religious belief system, forming a culturally distinct explanatory health beliefs system. This finding suggests that in non-Western health contexts, professional models are not dominant but incorporated into nurses’ indigenous worldviews in a way that makes sense within the culture. Caring is based on shared meanings between nurse and patient. Caring is an act of spiritualty and an action by the nurse to facilitate his or her own spirituality and that of the patient. In turn, the nurse receives reward from Allah for caring actions. A distinct ethical framework based on principles of Islamic bio-ethics guides the nurses in their caring. This research provides the missing link between Western professional nursing systems and Arab Muslim nurses’ caring models and contributes to the development of a caring model that is relevant to, and reflective of, Arab cultural and Islamic religious values. This caring model can provide direction for nurse education and the provision of care to Muslim patients, whether in Arab cultures, Islamic societies or with immigrant Muslim populations. In addition, it provides the basis for an Islamic nursing identity and a beginning point for improving the moral status and image of nursing in the Middle East

Case-Based Insights: Arab Muslim Mothers’ Experiences of Managing a Child Newly Diagnosed With Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Mothers frequently fulfill the role of primary caregiver for children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM). A T1DM diagnosis has a significant impact on the child and the wider family unit. The objective is to develop understanding of mothers’ experiences caring for children diagnosed with T1DM in the cultural context of the Middle East to facilitate enhanced health service provision and support. This study used a qualitative design. Data were collected in individual semistructured interviews. Participants were mothers of Arabic descent and Muslim belief who had a child diagnosed with T1DM within the last 12 months. All mothers were registered at the health service where this research was conducted and resident in the United Arab Emirates at the time of this study. COREQ guidelines informed reporting of the research and findings. Participating mothers described initial reactions of shock and disbelief, followed by transition to near ordinary and near normal (85% normal) family functioning. Family, culture, and faith emerged as critical supports in the whirlwind daily challenge of balancing the multiple demands and competing needs of the newly diagnosed child and the broader family. This study is the first of its kind from countries comprising the Gulf Cooperation Council. The findings provide insight into the challenges and support needs of mothers caring for children newly diagnosed with T1DM in an Arab Muslim context. The findings also provide a basis for enhancing health service support and suggest themes to inform further research

Human resource management with Islamic management principles:a dialectic for a reverse diffusion in management

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore the nature and contents of Islamic management practices and their consequent implications for human resource management (HRM) in Arab countries. In addition, it aims to examine the implications for multinational companies (MNCs) operating in Islamic countries and the impact of globalisation before proceeding to an analysis of managerial problems in Arab countries and the need for understanding Islamic management principles by Arab (national) and international managers. Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a qualitative approach based on an extensive review of relevant literature and the employment of examples from selected Arab countries. Findings – The study reveals that a gap exists between the theory of Islamic management and the practice of management in Arab countries. Management in Arab countries is informed and heavily influenced by non-Islamic traditional and national cultural values and norms of different countries and by Western management thinking rather than Islamic principles derived from the Holy Quran (words of God) and the Hadith (words of the Prophet Mohamed). Research limitations/implications – The paper argues that one of the main reasons for the lack of progress in most Arab and Islamic countries is the mismatch between global integration and local responsiveness because of an excess forward diffusion of Western management and business practices with little understanding and, hence, the implementation of Islamic management principles by both local and international managers in Arab countries. It adopts the view that there is a gap between the knowledge possessed by national and international managers in order to manage locally and what is required from the local workforce to be managed effectively. The main limitation of this study is the lack of empirical research evidence to support the points deducted from this review of literature. Practical implications – Understanding Islamic management principles could help to develop a more appropriate type of management best practice in Arab and Islamic countries while still benefiting from the transfer of relevant Western management techniques and Western technology. The paper also argues that a reverse diffusion of management knowledge and skills by managers of MNCs is very important for the effective management of human resources in host countries. National cultural contexts and different views of work values have made a major impact on the ability of firms to address HRM issues in different cultural settings. Originality/value – The paper contributes to the comparatively sparse literature on Islamic management and its applications by identifying key issues for HRM implementation and in developing Western understanding of Islamic management systems

Libya after the civil war: regime change and democratisation

This article examines changes in Libya’s internal security, politics, economy and international relations since the start of the revolution in February 2011. Our main argument is that in order to transition from authoritarianism to democracy significant change in each of these four, mutually reinforcing, areas is needed. Drawing on data collected through media analysis and field work, we offer a discussion of the nature of change in Libya and how far the country has democratised. We claim that significant changes in Libya’s political system and foreign relations have taken place since 2011 that reinforce the process of democratisation. Within the political system these changes include the conduct of free and fair elections, the formation of new political parties, the reinforcement of civil rights and liberties, governmental accountability and the emergence of a participant political culture. Within foreign relations they include deeper cooperation with regional and international actors, reintegration into the Arab League, and rapprochement with Western states. However, we also observe that structural economic changes, in particular raising personal incomes and lowering poverty, and the normalisation of security provision are moving forward more slowly. We conclude that democratisation in Libya is taking place and there is a solid possibility that embedded democracy will emerge in Libya in the medium to long-term

Trafficking in Women, Forced Labour and Domestic Work: in the context of the Middle East and Gulf Region

This document is part of a digital collection provided by the Martin P. Catherwood Library, ILR School, Cornell University, pertaining to the effects of globalization on the workplace worldwide. Special emphasis is placed on labor rights, working conditions, labor market changes, and union organizing.ASI_2006_DWS_Egypt_Trafficking_in_Women.pdf: 43 downloads, before Oct. 1, 2020