Democratisation & Human Rights

Large numbers of Iraqi refugees have been arriving in neighboring countries, especially Syria and Jordan, in particular since the conflict in Iraq evolved into large-scale ethno-sectarian violence and displacement. For a long time, this new and increasingly massive refugee crisis in the Middle East has been virtually ignored by Western media and public opinion. By Layla AL-Zubaidi and Heiko Wimmen

Since October 2006, a beefed up UN force of some 15,000, including a naval force led by Germany, has deployed in Southern Lebanon to prevent new hostilities between Hizbullah and Israel, and to assist the Lebanese government in establishing its authority over the border region. But can the ‘new’ UNIFIL really make a difference, and be more effective than its predecessor? The author, spokesperson for UNIFIL for more than 20 years, attempts an assessment.

Following-up on his book from 2004 titled "Good Muslim, Bad Muslim", the author advances further arguments on how to better understand the "clash of civilizations" - including its distinctive European version - and how to best develop an effective counter to hate movements organized as political projects.

Arising from an interest in the study of the modalities of production of knowledge in and about the Arab region, this paper deals with Occidentalism, understood as the body of narratives and discourses by which Europeans and the US societies, governments and policies are represented and interpreted in this part of the world.