Structured Response #7

Civil society within both the United States and the MENA region can be surprisingly similar to the unsuspecting Westerner. All across Arab society one can see CSO’s that advocate Gay Rights, women’s rights, minority rights and various religious rights just like many Liberal and secular organizations in the US. On the other hand, there are MENA CSO’s, just like some religious and Conservative organizations in the US, that advocate a more regressive approach, for instance, to Islamize society. Just like Cavatorta and Elananza stated in their work "Political Opposition in Civil Society: An Analysis of the Interactions of Secular and Religious Associations in Algeria and Jordan", secular and religious CSO's will often conflict with each other in Arab society to push for their way of social "change" in their country. However, there is also some cooperation between religious groups and secular groups as well to push for change. For example, a loose coalition was formed between Djazairouna (run by a Secular woman) and Disparus (which is "'vaguely' Islamist") to discover what happened to people kidnapped by Islamist groups (Cavatorta 571). This scenario should ring a bell for the myriad people who pay attention to American civil society.

There have been many instances in American society where religious groups and secular groups join forces for a brief amount of time to fight for something. For example, in 2009, environmental organizations like the Sierra Club and religious groups like the Greater Washington Interfaith Power and Light came together to "challenge Dominion Virginia Power’s plans to build a new coal-fired power plant in Virginia's Wise County"(source is here: http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/religion/news/2009/01/12/5470/faith-based-and-secular-groups-join-forces-to-fight-big-coal-in-virginia/). This is a usual example in America of how completely different civil society organizations can come out of the struggle "space" and fight a common enemy. Instead of an issue with kidnapping by Islamic groups (as what happened in MENA), however, these two US religious groups came together over a concern of environmental stability.


A show of unity between US religious organizations and secular groups, just like in Arab society, does not occur, though, with many social issues. In countries like Lebanon, there is tension between some secular pro-gay rights organizations and religious Islam organizations over the issue of gay marriage, just as there is tension over gay marriage between anti-gay rights Conservative Christian organizations and many Secular liberal organizations. This shows once again that the MENA region's civil society is not too different from America's civil society. 

Weekly Reflection

This reflection is going to be quite short - I haven't really thought too much about the Middle East this week except very briefly in passing just now when I was thinking about Hurricane Sandy. Sandy destroyed our little town in New Jersey, and while watching the news, I've realized how much effort people are making to come together and helping bring the East coast to recovery. It simply clicked with me HOW people are able to come together under different circumstances to work together to make a difference. The grassroots communities in the Middle East are able to come together because they unite so universally against many government concepts. Though I understood that this happened, it only just made sense how this could be feasible on a large scale.

Reflection #7

In this week's research, I found one article particularly interesting. Earlier this week, Bahrain government announced a new law that went into affect immediately. The law outlaws any sort of demonstrating or organization from protest groups. After the deaths of both protesters and police officers alike, the government claims that increasing violence is the reason for the crack-down. Since uprising began in 2011, Shia opposition to the Sunni held government has gotten increasingly violent. The country's dynamics make it impossible to ease any sort of tension within the country, yet violence is covered up in the media to enhance Bahrain's image in the west. The United States is such a strong ally of Bahrain, our Navy's fifth fleet is housed there, not to mention our oil interests in the Gulf. Because of this, the US pays to block negative media attention concerning the country. The new law makes it even more difficult to spread truthful media about the country. The Bahrain government has struggled to contain the protests, they imprison those who post on social media sites and even arrest doctors for treating wounded protesters. But this new law has only made the uprisings more violent. I find it very dis-concerning that the more I research this country, the less liberal and developed it seems. It shows that the surface information is indeed skewed.

Weekly Reflection October 31

Happy Halloween Everyone!

Professor Hardig’s post about orientalism was really eye opening for me and frustrating at the same time. I decided to take this class because I am interested in the Middle East and especially in human rights violations there. I’m trying so hard to get out of the orientalist mindset and better understand the MENA region, but with outside forces like the media, etc., it is still difficult for me. I find myself making generalizations in my reflections and structured responses, and even when I am doing research for my country briefs. But even though it still happens, I think I am getting better at recognizing when it happens and trying to stop it. Taking this class and being at AU in general has really helped because there are so many open-minded people here who are interested in the region also. It also really helps that one of my best friends here is from Saudi Arabia. As ridiculous as it sounds, being friends with her and talking to her about everyday things has helped to view people from the MENA as just other people. Though my friend is religious, she isn’t anything like the stereotypes I had in my head before I came here. I am hoping that I will become even more open-minded and informed during my time at AU – it has only been a few months (which is crazy because I feel like I’ve been here forever!). I hope that eventually I can break from the orientalist mindset AND help other people realize that that ideology is simply ridiculous and backward. 

Structured Response #7- Hanna

I saw a poster hanging up the other day that said, "What about the Muslim voter?" When we break down our voting trends in women, men, catholic, christian, jewish, latin-american, black, and white...we leave out Muslim voters. I had never thought of that before seeing that poster. I had never even considered the Muslim vote. This post reminded me again of this poster.

Now...
My only primary source for Civil Society Actors roles in government and in democratization is from our talk with Professor Hardig's friends in Lebanon. They seemed to have the same frustrations as CSA's in the US, though I think they are in two completely different categories of frustration. On the Lebanon side, they can't do anything and on the US side, they aren't doing as much as they'd like. Other than this observation there is not much more I know.

Our CSA's roles in the election are heavily youth based with campaigns like Rock the Vote that play to the majority of our youth being Democrats and yet a majority of those Democrats not voting in the elections. We could make this parallel to the youth driven social movements in the MENA. Throughout all of history, the youth have been a keystone in our social movements. From this we can make a rough prediction of what the future holds for both the US and the MENA. In the US, our youth have become lazy and apathetic when it comes to politics--they have allowed it to become a popularity game. Until our youth regains its passion for the future of this country then our country will continue to be in a stalemate of progress. When we switch over the the countries in the MENA, their youth is excited and passionate about progress--so I believe they will obtain it. In history, the youth have always achieved what they sought out for. With persistence-- all things will be possible in the MENA as long as it maintains it's youth base. In fact, our youth could learn a little something from them.

Reflection #7- Hanna

I just finished reading Professor Hardig's post on Orientalism. I'm very interested to discuss this in class. In conversations I have had with Hayley about comments we have exchanged with one another-- I know that we both feel that there are misjudgments and generalizations being made in our own arguments. We know we are wrong with what we say, but we try to be as honest as possible with how our mind is processing this information. I might say in a post that 'People vote based on religion'...I know this must not be true and I know that by saying this I am 'orientalizing'..and yet I still post it because I want to be as honest as possible to how I am understanding the information. There is a dirty feeling that comes with saying these things in blog posts and yet we say them anyways. It almost excites me to think of reading my reflections at the end of the semester and seeing how my thought process has changed.
As was said in the documentary we watched with Edward Said speaking; Orientalism is driven by media and Hollywood movies. Our generation is in the perfect position to change this. On one side, we are still bombarded and influenced by news stations and movies and on another side, (SOCIAL MEDIA, MY FAV TOPIC) we have blogs and twitters giving us the side and views of actual Real people from the MENA region. We can self educate to change the way we view the middle east.
 I think my family has given me a more real view of the world and my father has always constantly reminded me that I must disregard the media and learn about the people for myself. When we heard about the Benghazi attack, it could be easy to go with our pre-existing notion that the MENA people are *hostile*. I will admit that even I had underlying feelings that were telling me that this was a typical reaction from these people. My father made sure I was correctly informed that our media did not report that large groups of people protested the death of Ambassador Stevens in front of government buildings in a country where it is very dangerous to do so. Why is it that our media lets us believe that all of the people in that country are hostile towards the US? Why would they not want us to know that these people are as equally inclined to be angered by death as a western person.

If I was to break down what I really wish to gain from this class....it would be to break down my own stereotypes that I have given to the middle east. Despite my family giving me constant correction when I say something that is a stereotype or when I make a generalization...those feelings are still there and have been deeply rooted in all of us through our media and through Hollywood movies. If the only thing I get from this class is an understanding of the people in the MENA, than i will be happy.

Structured Response 5

Social movements have influenced the democratization process significantly in the United States throughout its history. To me, the entire history of the United States seems based off of the movements of the people towards a more democratic state in which all of the citizens’ rights are recognized. As discussed in Professor Hardig’s post, factors that have more specifically influenced the democratization process in the USA include the extension of voting rights to all citizens. Examples of this in American history include the women’s suffrage movement. To me, that is an example of a social movement by women towards earning their right to vote. Furthermore, the Civil Rights movement is another example of a social movement in America that led to the right for people of all skin colors to vote. These social movements have clearly influenced the democratization process in America because they have caused an extension of voting rights. Because of this, more people in America are able to play a role in the American government.

            The ability of the American people to utilize social movements to influence democratization in the United States of America reflects the ability of citizens of any country to truly effect change through social movements. In countries in the MENA region, for example, I think that the determination of the people to extend fair voting rights to everyone will certainly influence democratization in these countries. Potentially, social movements within countries in the MENA region have the ability to effect the same change on the democratization process, especially if they have the majority of citizens behind their movements towards more democratic states. The stronger their social movements become, the more able the countries in the MENA region will be to effect democratic change. I truly think that the USA is a great model of the way that social movements have the ability to impact a government, and it seems to me that the history of the United States reflects the ability of citizens of countries in the MENA region to effect change as well through social movements, regardless of what kind of government they are operating under.