Projects
European foreign policy and hybrid actors in the Middle East and North Africa: a pragmatist decentring approach KU Leuven
This dissertation starts from the observation of a puzzling phenomenon in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), being a distinct set of ‘non-state actors’ fulfilling functions conventionally thought of to be provided by states. These actors are not internationally recognized as state actors, yet their capacities overlap with Weberian (with its formal institutions, authority and monopoly on use of violence) as well as functional conceptions ...
Climate Variability and Change in Europe and the Middle East KU Leuven
This PhD research deals with the challenge that the contemporary water managers are faced with in incorporating climate change impact in their decision making. The overall objective of the research is to obtain a better understanding on the impact of climate change and variability on hydro-climatic variables to support water management decisions at local and regional scales. This study consists of two main parts: 1. decadal climate ...
A view from heaven. Exploring the potential of remote sensing techniques to study spatial patterns of monastic habitation on the East bank of the Nile in Middle Egypt (VIEWFROMHEAVEN). KU Leuven
Early Egyptian monasticism played a defining role in the establishment of monastic life in Europe, but our understanding of early monastic life in Egypt itself is incomplete. The crucial region of Middle Egypt has scarcely received scholarly attention. From AD 300-800, this area had a thriving Christian life and numerous monastic settlements. On the east bank of the Nile, monks settled mainly in pharaonic tombs and quarries in the chain of ...
Democratic Transitions in the Middle East and North Africa: a comparative study of Morocco and Egypt Ghent University
This project contributes to theory formation on democratic transition via a comparative study of two cases in the Middle East-North Africa region: Egypt and Morocco. Employing a "most different case" method, the project design emphasizes attention to case specific interaction between domestic institutions in these two countries and the exogeneous forces seen as precipitating or hampering "transitions from authoritarian rule".
The Idol Shop: Toppled Stillness - The Performance of Iconoclasm in Contemporary Middle East and North Africa KU Leuven
This project explores the two interrelated discourses of iconoclasm and idolatry in the political history of the Contemporary Middle East and North Africa. It focuses on the paradox that generally characterizes the symbols of power: built to propagate specific ideologies and power structures within the public domain, they remain contested and embedded in social and political conflict, becoming prone to acts of iconoclasm. While iconoclasm has ...
“The end of peasantries? A Comparative Research into the Transformation of Peasantries and Its Impact on Social Relations and Inequality (Northwestern Europe, Middle Africa, Andes, East coast of China, 1500-2000).” Ghent University
This project assesses the historical processes of peasant transformation in relation to world-systemic expansion within a comparative research design. The North Sea Basin, East Congo, the Central Andean Highlands, and the Yangzi River Delta reflect divergent historical roads of peasant incorporation in space (zoning within the world-economy) and over time (phases of incorporation).
Envisioning an alternative Future for the dispossessed in the Middle East and North Africa A study of property conflicts in Palestine, Morocco, and Tunisia Ghent University
In this project, I aim to tackle the growing trend of studying the issue of dispossession and property conflicts by bringing the MENA region into the discussion. The MENA region has a significant contribution to make to this issue. New interest in the issue of dispossession has been revived in the decade following the Arab revolutions. Due to increasing urbanization, climate change, and political conflict, MENA has been experiencing several ...
Impact study of policy influencing regarding climate justice, migration, financing for development and tax justice, and the Middle East KU Leuven
This baseline study is executed in the framework of a larger impact evaluation which is coordinated by the ngo federation, with the support of DGD and the Special Evaluation Service. The component on the coordination of the climate justice platform of 11.11.11 and CNCD was assigned to ACE Europe and HIVA-KU Leuven. The evaluaton was later on extended by 11.11.11 and Oxfam Solidarity to other themes: migration, Israel-Palestine, corporate ...
The Impact of decentralization and 'good governance' on democratic transition in the Middle East. Case-study: A comparative political analysis between Amman (Jordan) and Beirut (Lebanon) Ghent University
Since 9/11 there is a growing consensus about the need for democratic transition in the MENA Region to counter growing religious extremism and enforce international security and stability. In that context decentralization is important strategy, financially supported by international institutions and NGO's. This research proposal studies the relations between decentralized politics and democratization by doing a comparative analysis in Amman ...