The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.The Middle East is often said to be caught in a never-ending spiral of dissent and repression influencing almost all aspects of existence. This “dissent/repression nexus” is critical because the Middle East sits at the crossroads of three continents, contains vast reserves of natural resources, and its conflicts have spilled into other parts of the globe.University of KansasTrinity University (San Antonio, Tex.)University of MarylandResearch project for Fiscal Year 2005-0

Jenkins, J. Craig

Meyer, Katherine

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.The Middle East is often seen as caught in a cycle of dissent and repression, influencing almost all aspects of existence.  This “dissent/repression nexus” is crucial because the Middle East lies at the crossroads of three continents, contains vast natural resource reserves, and has spread conflicts to other parts of the world.Mershon Center for International Security StudiesUniversity of MarylandTrinity University (San Antonio, Tex.)University of KansasResearch project for Fiscal Year 2006-0

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Dissent/Repression Nexus in the Middle East | Mershon Center for International Security Studies | The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University www.osu.edu Help Campus map Find people Webmail   home >areas of expertise > institutions that manage violent conflict > dissent/repression nexus Use of Force and DiplomacyIdeas, Identities and Decisional Processes that Affect SecurityInstitutions that Manage Violent ConflictDissent/Repression Nexus in the Middle East Principal Investigators: Katherine Meyer, Department of Sociology J. Craig Jenkins, Department of Sociology Phil Schrodt, University of Kansas Mary Ann Tétreault, Trinity University Jillian Schwedler, University of Maryland Christian Davenport, University of Maryland Deborah Gerner, University of Kansas (deceased)Consultants:  Helen Rizzo, American University, Cairo Nazek Nosseir, American University, CairoThe Middle East is often seen as caught in a cycle of dissent and repression, influencing almost all aspects of existence.  This “dissent/repression nexus” is crucial because the Middle East lies at the crossroads of three continents, contains vast natural resource reserves, and has spread conflicts to other parts of the world.Despite the importance of understanding contention in the Middle East, there has been little systematic study of conflict dynamics in the region.  Most research has used one of a handful of methodologies -- event analysis, field research, or social surveys.  Each of these studies leaves out important aspects of the dissent/repression nexus.  To address these gaps, an interdisciplinary, multi-university team has set out to study the dissent/repression nexus in the Middle East.  Some of their questions include:l     How do dissent and repression influence one another?l     What kinds of repression produce what kinds of dissent, and vice versa?l     How are conflicts influenced by economic and political globalization? Katherine Meyer  Professor of Sociology  The Ohio State University J. Craig Jenkins  Professor and Chair  of Sociology  The Ohio State Universityhttp://mershoncenter.osu.edu/expertise/institutions/drnexus.htm (1 of 3)11/30/2007 10:27:25 PMDissent/Repression Nexus in the Middle East | Mershon Center for International Security Studies | The Ohio State UniversityThe project focuses on several important Middle East countries — Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, and Turkey — from 1990 to the present.  It examines the process of transformational change, the relationship between individual and social action, and the implications of cultural variation for conflict in these locations.  The team has just completed the second year of the project.  This has included in-depth surveys in each country with multiple sources of data, event data analysis, and content analysis of newspapers using Lexis-Nexis.  A conference at Mershon Center highlighting the team’s work was held on July 31, following a five-week workshop of intensive study.  Essential to the project has been the work of graduate and undergraduate students who each examined one country in depth, focusing on the mechanisms and explanatory theories of repression and dissent in the 1990s.  From these case studies, four overarching themes have emerged that are critical in understanding patterns of repression and dissent:l     The importance of rentier states, or states that receive substantial income from oil, foreign aid, or tourism.l     The size and outmigration of Palestinian and Kurdish populations, creating highly mobilized diaspora communities.l     The significance of the 1990-91 Gulf War, which transformed political opportunities and transnational networks among activists.l     The central role of technological and social networks that accompany globalization.The project is supported by a three-year $585,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Human Social Dynamics program on Agents of Change, as well as grants from Ohio State’s College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Mershon Center.Several articles that discuss results of the study are under review for publication.  For more information, see the project website at http://drnexus.osu.edu.  Besides the principal investigators, this project involves the work of 17 graduate and undergraduate students at Ohio State, University of Maryland, University of Kansas, and Trinity University.  © 2006-07 Mershon Center for International Security Studies 1501 Neil Ave.  Columbus, OH 43201  Phone: 614.292.1681  Fax: 614.292.2407 Email: mershoncenter@osu.edu http://mershoncenter.osu.edu/expertise/institutions/drnexus.htm (2 of 3)11/30/2007 10:27:25 PMDissent/Repression Nexus in the Middle East | Mershon Center for International Security Studies | The Ohio State Universityhttp://mershoncenter.osu.edu/expertise/institutions/drnexus.htm (3 of 3)11/30/2007 10:27:25 PM

Dissent Repression Nexus in the Middle East 2007

Mershon Center for International Security Studies 2005-06 Annual Report Research on the Institutions that Manage Violent Conflict  Project: The Dissent/Repression Nexus in the Middle East Lead Institution:  The Ohio State University Principal Investigator: Katherine Meyer, Department of Sociology J. Craig Jenkins, Department of Sociology Deborah Gerner, University of Kansas (deceased) Phil Schrodt, University of Kansas Mary Ann Tétreault, Trinity University Jillian Schwedler, University of Maryland Christian Davenport, University of Maryland  The Middle East is often said to be caught in a never-ending spiral of dissent and repression influencing almost all aspects of existence. This “dissent/repression nexus” is critical because the Middle East sits at the crossroads of three continents, contains vast reserves of natural resources, and its conflicts have spilled into other parts of the globe.  Despite the importance of the dissent/repression nexus as well as the significance of the Middle East, there has been little systematic study of conflict dynamics in the region. Much research has drawn on a single methodology -- event analysis, field research, or social surveys.  Each study omits important aspects of the dissent/repression nexus.   To address these gaps, an interdisciplinary, multi-university team has set out to study the dissent/repression nexus in the Middle East. Some of their questions include:  • How do dissent and repression influence each another? • What kinds of repression produce what kinds of dissent and vice versa? • How are contentious activities influenced by the dominant forces of economic and political globalization?  The project focuses on several important Middle East countries -- Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey -- from 1990 to the present. These locations make it possible to examine the process of transformational change, the relationship between individuals and social action, and the implications of cultural variation for conflict.  This project is supported by a three-year $585,000 grant from the National Science Foundation’s Human Social Dynamics program on Agents of Change, as well as grants from the OSU College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and the Mershon Center.    Some results will be published in a special issue of International Journal of Middle East Studies. For more information, see the project website at http://drnexus.osu.edu.    Besides the principal investigators, this project involves the work of nine undergraduate and graduate students at Ohio State, University of Maryland, and Trinity University.    

Dissent Repression Nexus in the Middle East 2006

The University Archives has determined that this item is of continuing value to OSU's history.The Middle East is often seen as caught in a cycle of dissent and repression, influencing almost all aspects of existence. This “dissent/repression nexus” is crucial because the Middle East lies at the
crossroads of three continents and contains vast reserves of natural resources. Its conflicts have also spilled into other parts of the world.
Despite the importance of understanding contention in the Middle East, there has been little systematic study of conflict dynamics in the region. To address these gaps, an interdisciplinary, multi-university
team has set out to study the dissent/repression nexus in the Middle
East. The project focuses on Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, and Turkey from 1990 to the present.National Science FoundationOhio State University. College of Social and Behavioral SciencesMershon Center for International Security StudiesResearch project for Fiscal Year 2007-0

Dissent/Repression Nexus in the Middle East | Mershon Center for International Security Studies | The Ohio State UniversityThe Ohio State University www.osu.edu Help Campus map Find people Webmail   home >areas of expertise > institutions that manage violent conflict > dissent/repression nexus Faculty SpotlightUse of Force and DiplomacyIdeas, Identities and Decisional Processes that Affect SecurityInstitutions that Manage Violent ConflictGraduate Student ResearchDissent/Repression Nexus in the Middle East Principal Investigators: Katherine Meyer, Department of Sociology J. Craig Jenkins, Department of Sociology Phil Schrodt, University of Kansas Mary Ann Tétreault, Trinity University Jillian Schwedler, University of Maryland Christian Davenport, University of Maryland Deborah Gerner, University of Kansas (deceased)Consultants:  Helen Rizzo, American University, Cairo The Middle East is often seen as caught in a cycle of dissent and repression, influencing almost all aspects of existence.  This “dissent/repression nexus” is crucial because the Middle East lies at the crossroads of three continents and contains vast reserves of natural resources.  Its conflicts have also spilled into other parts of the world.Despite the importance of understanding contention in the Middle East, there has been little systematic study of conflict dynamics in the region.  To address these gaps, an interdisciplinary, multi-university team has set out to study the dissent/repression nexus in the Middle East.  The project focuses on Egypt, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, and Turkey from 1990 to the present.Their questions include:●     How do dissent and repression influence one another? ●     What kinds of repression produce what kinds of dissent and vice versa? ●     How are contentious activities influenced by the dominant forces of economic and political globalization? The team has just completed the third year of the project.  This has  Katherine Meyer  Professor of Sociology  The Ohio State University J. Craig Jenkins  Professor and Chair  of Sociology  The Ohio State Universityhttp://mershoncenter.osu.edu/expertise/institutions/drnexus.htm (1 of 2) [12/11/2008 8:26:30 AM]Dissent/Repression Nexus in the Middle East | Mershon Center for International Security Studies | The Ohio State Universityincluded in-depth surveys in each of the six countries, with multiple sources of data, event analysis, and content analysis of newspapers using Lexis-Nexis.  Essential has been the work of 17 graduate and undergraduate students who each worked in depth on one country.In particular, they studied:●     The definition and importance of rentier status, both foreign aid and oil revenues, which creates internationally dependent states. ●     The size and out-migration of both Kurdish and Palestinian populations within the Middle East, creating highly mobilized diaspora communities. ●     The importance of remittances in diaspora communities, which spur global communication and the transnational transfer of capital. ●     The importance of civil society and organizations (both religious and secular) in the region, which transform political opportunities and create networks among activists. ●     The importance of global communication and networking among organizations and migrants, providing opportunity for cultural transformation, framing of grievances, and exchange of capital. The team has found that diverse and unique factors fuel contention in each nation.  Varieties of religious restriction and regulation, ideologies of gender equity, potential for protest, and colonial history all matter. Issue frames are important to understanding Israel and Palestine. The international stage, human rights pressures, policing and security are all important to state action in Turkey. Civil society and organizations (both secular and religious) influence the development and sustainment of contentious activity in all nations. The project is supported by a four-year $585,000 grant from the National Science Foundation, as well as grants from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences and Mershon. For more information, see the project website at http://drnexus.osu.edu. © 2006-07 Mershon Center for International Security Studies 1501 Neil Ave.  Columbus, OH 43201  Phone: 614.292.1681  Fax: 614.292.2407 Email: mershoncenter@osu.edu http://mershoncenter.osu.edu/expertise/institutions/drnexus.htm (2 of 2) [12/11/2008 8:26:30 AM]

Dissent Repression Nexus in the Middle East 2008

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Dissent Repression Nexus in the Middle East 2006

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