Since the first oil-boom of the 1970s, the Arab Gulf countries have witnessed rapid socio-economic developments as a result of expansive oil-revenues. These rapid socioeconomic developments were...Show moreSince the first oil-boom of the 1970s, the Arab Gulf countries have witnessed rapid socio-economic developments as a result of expansive oil-revenues. These rapid socioeconomic developments were multifaceted, but in a region known for its social conservatism, it is interesting to explore the evolution of the position of women amid socio-economic changes. The expression of female agency offers numerous possibilities to explore this evolution in Arab-Gulf societies from a woman’s perspective, but it also offers challenges to Western academics as contemporary literature on female agency in the Arab Gulf is limited. In this thesis, I present a case study of the social media accounts of six Arab-Gulf women with a relatively large social media following. Research has been conducted into their social media posts to explain a changing attitude in female agency in the Arab Gulf, in terms of clothing, self-expression and positioning in their society. As all six women are part of the wealthier echelons of their society, it is interesting to observe that there is little cohesion in their posts to changing societal progress in terms of women’s rights. While the women seem to acknowledge societal change through their posts, none of them used their relatively large social media following to explicitly call out leaders to demand rights or to express gratitude for obtained rights. This research highlights the need for further exploration into the expression of female agency through the use of social media in a digitalizing world.Show less
The pressing water shortages, extreme population growth, and high food dependency rates lie at the roots of the contemporary food crisis in the MENA region. These circumstances will exaggerate in...Show moreThe pressing water shortages, extreme population growth, and high food dependency rates lie at the roots of the contemporary food crisis in the MENA region. These circumstances will exaggerate in the near future, leading to even more challenges in guaranteeing food security. There is an ongoing academic debate on whether the region should focus on the international food market or strive for food self-sufficiency. According to some, the former lies at the roots of the food crisis, while the latter is challenging because of climate issues. To contribute to this debate, this thesis critically examines the coming about of the food crisis based on food regime theory. It takes Tunisia, Morocco, and Egypt as case studies to reflect on the agricultural policy in the MENA region from the colonial period onwards. There is a large focus on the neoliberal food regime, being the current global system of food production, consumption, and distribution that can be characterised by 1) a liberalised agricultural market, 2) a centralisation of power and wealth through large agribusiness from the Global North, 3) a focus on the export market and 4) the significant role of International Financial Institutions like the WB and the IMF. This thesis expounds on the contemporary food crisis in the MENA region, both in socio-economic and ecological terms, and explores the relationship between the neoliberal food regime and these issues. As for prospects, it suggests combining food self-sufficiency with the global market, striving for a fair and sustainable global food system that takes into account the contemporary context, its historical background, economic and collaboration opportunities and ecological restrictions. This entails a critical reflection on the role of the persisting Global North in the contemporary food regime and the global food crisis.Show less
This research investigates the factors contributing to a change in the anti-Semitic discourse used by some Palestinian Syrian Dutch individuals (PSDs) during their participation in pro-Palestine...Show moreThis research investigates the factors contributing to a change in the anti-Semitic discourse used by some Palestinian Syrian Dutch individuals (PSDs) during their participation in pro-Palestine protests in the Netherlands. Based on interviews conducted with five PSDs, this study has focused on studying the impact of different factors leading to a new understanding of anti-Semitism. The findings indicate that a shift away from the use of anti-Semitic rhetoric took place amongst the participants, as observed in four different aspects. While this does not necessarily mean that anti-Semitism is not present, the general trend indicates a shift toward a more inclusive discourse in the future. As such, it is important to consider these factors that helped change this rhetoric and take them into account in the context of discussing anti-Semitic discourse in pro-Palestinian demonstrations taking place in the Netherlands.Show less
This paper discusses that Saudi Arabia is undergoing a transformation as they implement many liberal reforms. These reforms are not isolated but are part of a strategic framework called Vision 2030...Show moreThis paper discusses that Saudi Arabia is undergoing a transformation as they implement many liberal reforms. These reforms are not isolated but are part of a strategic framework called Vision 2030. This is to ensure that Saudi Arabia becomes more attractive to the Western world as a tourist hotspot and to do business with. This paper analyzes some of these reforms within the framework of vision 2030.Show less
The mythical half-snake, half-woman creature named Shahmeran from the Middle East has made an appearance in a controversial artwork highlighting LGBTQ+ oppression and faithbased misogyny during the...Show moreThe mythical half-snake, half-woman creature named Shahmeran from the Middle East has made an appearance in a controversial artwork highlighting LGBTQ+ oppression and faithbased misogyny during the Boğaziçi University student protests in early 2021. Shahmeran is an old and known symbol in the region, especially in the diverse areas of south-eastern Turkey, northern Iraq and Iran. She is most probably a remainder of ancient mother goddesses, and was changed overtime to be adopted by the Islamic community with her own story with the help of early Indo-Iranian literary culture, thus making her a pre-Islamic phenomenon. Traditionally, Shahmeran is used primarily for oral storytelling, literature, and art, but also serves as an important talisman for protection against the evil eye and adversity, as well as for happiness and prosperity. The use of Shahmeran in a student protest at a famous university to highlight social issues is a significant change compared to her traditional roles in the region’s folk beliefs. In response to these events, I based my research on the use of Shahmeran as a political symbol for minority groups such as the LGBTQ+ community and the Kurds. This research was conducted by analysing existing Turkish literature, various artworks and news articles. Shahmeran is an inherently non-binary creature, with both female and male sexual characteristics, making her an important symbol for the LGBTQ+ community and gender expression in general. For Kurds, Shahmeran is used as a symbol of resistance against the Turkish state. Both minority groups in Turkey use art with her in it to express their political realities.Show less
This thesis aims to investigate the influence of Moroccan feminist movements in achieving reform concerning women´s rights both in theory and practice. In order to do so a historical overview is...Show moreThis thesis aims to investigate the influence of Moroccan feminist movements in achieving reform concerning women´s rights both in theory and practice. In order to do so a historical overview is given on the development of feminist movements in Morocco, both secular and Islamic in nature. In this overview some activist campaigns are discussed that were a significant part of the struggle towards progression of women´s rights, both in terms of convincing the political powers, as well as the public. Eventually reforms to the Family law and constitution were implemented, and articles that were reformed appear to vastly improve the position of women. However, numerous articles that were not reformed endure the lesser position of women in society, and at times even contradict newly reformed articles. In practice, reforms seem to have made some impact, providing women with better chances at education and employment, but women continuously face lesser opportunities or conditions when compared to men. This becomes even more evident when looking at women´s marital rights, and the hardships they face in pursuing a political career. Overall, Moroccan feminist movements have been an essential factor in realising policy change, but on a practical level, it has proven to be even more difficult to reach widespread change. Reforms are often not implemented locally, and feminists have not yet managed to encompass all aspects of Moroccan society. Still, the situation of contemporary Moroccan women appears to have greatly improved compared to that of Moroccan women 70 years ago.Show less
This thesis primarily draws comparison between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Pahlavi Dynasty by emphasising the changed political dynamics in relation to the presence of Iranian nationalism.
During the Iran-Iraq war, the Iranian government applied Shi’ite notions of martyrdom in order to mobilize people for the war and enhance its legitimacy. In this research, the question is analyzed...Show moreDuring the Iran-Iraq war, the Iranian government applied Shi’ite notions of martyrdom in order to mobilize people for the war and enhance its legitimacy. In this research, the question is analyzed how Persian memoirs by female authors on the Iran-Iraq war (1980-1988) have reflected the Iranian cult of martyrdom. Based on the scientific realm of (critical) memory studies, this study analyses the framing of martyrdom by investigating the Persian memoirs of Zahra Hoseyni: One Woman’s War: Da. In these memoirs, Hoseyni narrates how she grew up in the Iranian city of Khorramshahr amid the detrimental events of the Iran-Iraq war and how she participates in the war as a nurse and grave worker. This study suggests that the experiences of martyrdom by Persian women in their memoires are highly determined by their female perspective. In Da, Hoseyni alludes to Zaynab (626-682), the sister of the martyred imam Hoessein (626-68), as being an authority of morality. Though male narratives about the Iran-Iraq war would call upon the martyrdom of imam Hoessein himself, female memoirs imply that they feel more acquainted with the role of Zaynab. Besides, this study suggests that Da proves itself as an emancipatory publication, in which Hoseyni steadfastly objects to the conventional gender roles within the Iranian society. By portraying Hoseyni as an independent woman during the Iran-Iraq war, Da shows that conceptions of martyrdom in female Persian war memoires coincide with challenging views of women’s roles in public society.Show less
The Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) has experienced a remarkable change in its fertility rates during the last four decades. In this timeframe the government shifted the population policies from pro...Show moreThe Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) has experienced a remarkable change in its fertility rates during the last four decades. In this timeframe the government shifted the population policies from pro-natalist to anti-natalist in the late 1980’s and back to pro-natalist a decade ago. The fertility rate which was approximately 6.0 in 1976 rose to 7 in 1986 and then declined rapidly to less than 2.0 in 2005. The two periods in which the IRI employed pro-natalist policy and propaganda (1979-1989 and 2012-now), received only limited analysis in the academic literature. This paper examines the visual pro-natalist propaganda of the past decade and compares it with the propaganda of the formative period of IRI, by analysing and comparing the selected case-studies from each period. Using propaganda-analysis by Jowett and O’Donnell and visual semiotics as described in The SAGE handbook of visual research methods, this paper observes to what extent there is continuity and change in the depiction of families and what this reveals about the social, economic and political situation of IRI.Show less
