Publications

At the Edge of the City - Reinhabiting Public Space toward the Recovery of Beirut’s Horsh Al-Sanawbar

“At the Edge of the City” is a contemporary critique of urban governance and spatial production in Beirut. The undertaking is advocating in scope, multidisciplinary in approach, and journalistic in style. The book is an edited volume on public space in Beirut, focused on the case of Beirut’s park Horsh Al-Sanawbar, hosting the original textual and visual works of over 25 scholars, professionals, journalists, activists, and artists. “At the Edge of the City” presents multidisciplinary, textual and visual contributions that attempt to shape an understanding of continuously evolving meanings of public space in Beirut, opening up the discussion and raising questions, and challenging the status quo, as well as the social imagination, of public space itself.

Slow Trade - Sound Farming: A Multilateral Framework for Sustainable Markets in Agriculture

This report is the result of the EcoFair Trade Dialogue, a two-years extensive consultation and exchange process that took place across all continents. The proposals have been discussed and improved upon by a great number of representatives from farmer organizations and grass-roots initiatives, politics, the academic world, and civil society organizations. As it is high time to achieve a paradigm shift and start trade negotiations towards a General Agreement on Sustainable Trade, this report understands itself as a contribution to this aim.
2024-06-21-11_50_32-unpacking-the-dynamics-for-communal-tension-en.-2009.pdf-adobe-acrobat-reader-.png

Unpacking the Dynamics of Communal Tensions

paper
The study assesses the perceptions of youth concerning the theme of intercommunal relations, intercommunal special dynamics and the nature of the political system. The study reveals the alarming trend of social and territorial enclaves among youth and the distrust and resentment powered by intercommunal stereotyping. The study concludes with a number of recommendations that have been construed to mitigate the ever-growing scourge of communal tensions. They revolve around curtailing the incessant regeneration of the exclusive and politicized communal identity; de-compartmentalizing intercommunal social relations; addressing the challenges of exclusionary spaces of social relations, and other vital themes that serve to promote social cohesiveness, and peaceful co-existence. Recommendations for future research have also been made.  

What Can Europe Do in Iraq? Recommendations for a New U.S.-European Collaboration

This publication describes a new start of cooperation between Europe, the United States, and regional partners in the Middle East to tackle the challenges in Iraq and to help bring peace, stability, and sustainable development to the wider region. With contributions by Layla Al Zubaidi, Bülent Aras, Megan Chabalowski, Richard Gowan, Faleh Jabar, Daniel Korski, Sami Moubayed, Daniel Serwer, and Heiko Wimmen

Bareed Mista3jil

MEEM launched in 2009 the book “Bareed Mista3jil”: a collection of 40 true stories from voices in Lebanon that we seldom hear. Their common thread is that they are all from persons of non-conforming sexualities and gender identities, the life of queer women and transgender in Lebanon.

Walking the Line

he Heinrich Böll Stiftung, the German Development Service, the Forum Civil Peace Service and the Working Group on Development and Peace jointly commissioned a study as to understand more the conflict and peacebuilding context and for reflection on options for peace-building by German development and peace organisations.
proceeding-of-a-regional-workshop-arab-world-policy-for-post-2012-negotiations.-oct.-2008-.pdf-adobe-acrobat-reader-32-bit.jpg

Proceedings of the Regional Workshop on ‘Arab World Policy for Post-2012 Negotiations

On October 14 - 15, 2008, the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs and the League of Independant Activists -indyACT hosted a two-day regional workshop in collaboration with the Heinrich Böll Stiftung - Middle east Office to build the capacity of Arab climate change stakeholders and produce a regional statement on climate policy. Participants from ministries of environment, research institutions, NGOs, Embassies, UN agencies, funding organization and the media were invited to the American University of Beirut to gain in-depth understanding of the policy issues linked to the post-Kyoto negociations and develop a unified position in order to play a meaningful role in the shaping ofthe post-2012 treaty.
proceeding-of-a-regional-workshop-arab-world-policy-for-post-2012-negotiations.-oct.-2008-.pdf-adobe-acrobat-reader-32-bit.jpg

Proceeding of a Regional workshop- Arab World Policy for post 2012 Negotiations. Oct. 2008

Book
As the world braces for the pivotal post-2012 climate agreement in Copenhagen, the urgency to curb global temperature rise below 2ºC has never been clearer. The United Nations' IPCC warns that only a drastic reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 60-80% by 2050 can stave off catastrophic climate impacts. While global momentum builds, the Arab world remains conspicuously disengaged. Fossil fuel giants like Saudi Arabia bear a historical responsibility yet often hinder progress to protect their oil interests. With climate change emerging as a palpable threat, especially in civil society, the Arab League stands at a crossroads. Will it seize this unique chance to lead the global fight and secure a sustainable future, or let it slip away? The fate of our planet could hinge on their decision.