A discussion with an Egyptian female online activist and participant of the Tahrir Square protests. We heard about this opportunity from a former Tufts student and IGL member, who is now interning with a film production company that made a documentary about four female activists during the protests. One of the activists, Shima'a, is coming to the U.S. to give a series of talks along with the two leaders of the production company..., who are both renowned writers and filmmakers.

On Tuesday February 15th, the New Initiative for Middle East Peace (NIMEP) will hold a public lecture/forum to discuss the current turmoil in Egypt, as well as short and long term implications for the country and the region as a whole.

The event will start at 6:30pm in Cabot Auditorium and is open to the public.

Fact-Finding Mission to Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates - January 2010

Follow the Research Trip (January 3rd - 18th)!

A hostage for 14 months in Iran, Ambassador Limbert holds the Department of State’s Meritorious Honor Award, two Superior Honor Awards, and the Award for Valor.  Before joining the Foreign Service, he taught in Iran, both as a Peace Corps Volunteer (1964-66) and as an English instructor at Shiraz University (1969-72).  A career Foreign Service Officer since 1973, Ambassador Limbert’s overseas experience also includes tours in Algeria, Djibouti, Iran, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates. From 1981 to 1984 he taught Political Science at the U.S.

Panelists

Vali Nasr | Fletcher Professor

Sherman Teichman |Director IGL

Malik Mufti | Director of IR Department

Mass poverty is one of the world’s most pressing problems and daunting challenges. The compelling facts are well known:

• Over one billion people – almost one in five – live in extreme poverty, subsisting on less than a dollar a day.
• If the poverty line was raised to $2 a day, more than half of the world’s population would be living in poverty.
• Over 100 million primary school-age children cannot afford to go to school.
• Eight million people die each year simply because they lack the means to survive.

In January, ten members of NIMEP (including a PhD candidate at the Tufts University Fletcher School) spent two weeks in the Arab Republic of Syria conducting NIMEP's annual fact-finding mission.

Professor Ronnie Olesker facilitated a policy simulation, of her own design, in which students assumed the roles of various actors throughout the Middle East and engaged in decision-making processes and negotiations, simulating those that occur in the Middle East today. The purpose of the simulation was to give students a better understanding of the various factors that influence policy and actions in the Middle East and the complexities of such decision-making processes.

After a talk by Professor Abu Husayn of the Fares Center for Eastern Mediterranean Studies, three students from the previous spring's NIMEP fact-finding mission in Lebanon gave presentations, including a video and audio presentation, on the trip and their research. Nancy Henry outlined the research she conducted on the challenges facing the Lebanese military. NIMEP members Nicki Sobecki and Tim Fitzsimons premiered their audio/visual presentation made up of hundreds of photos from the trip as well as informative narration.

Synopsis: Bilateral peace talks are often not productive. Engaging Syria might be a possible solution, although it might drive a strategic wedge between parties. The reluctance of the US to deal with non-state actors is an important obstacle in the Israeli-Arab conflict.