Group items tagged

Compiled by faculty members at the German University in Cairo, this working paper series addresses the effect that watsa has on competence and morality in Middle Eastern economics and society. The authors define watsa as, "the intervention of a patron in favor of a client to obtain benefits and/or resources from a third party." In simpler terms it is a system of social networking in Arab culture in which family and social ties play a significant role in the attainment of economic advantages and resources, largely in the hiring process in businesses and organizations. A person applying for a job seeks out watsa to increase their chances of getting hired. Comparable to nepotism and cronyism, but is not restricted to friends and associates, watsa can also involve strangers linked through some social web of people. Watsa runs somewhat parallel to a Chinese concept of guanxi, based on Confucian ethics and focusing on strong collective ties. While guanxi is a part of Chinese ethics it actually defies Muslim ethical values, which advocates hiring the person most capable. In a Jordanian survey, 87% of respondents want watsa eradicated. While we know that unemployment in the Arab region is widespread, we can assume that this motivates people to do anything they can to improve their chances of obtaining a job. However, the practice of watsa as a whole is actually degrading the economic systems in the Arab sates even further. The article explains the linkage between watsa and poor job performance, economic decline, and the festering of injustice and frustration among the masses in Arab countries.

This looks super interesting, but I can't get the link to open. Thanks for writing a thorough summary of it!

More Middle Eastern countries are following Saudi Arabia and cutting ties with Iran. Saudi Arabia severed all diplomatic ties with Iran on Sunday. "The move comes after Iranian protesters attacked the Saudi embassy in Tehran, ransacking and setting fire to the building in retaliation for Saudi Arabia's execution of a prominent Shiite cleric and 46 others on Saturday," Business Insider's Natasha Bertrand reports.

This article highlights the Egyptian Revolution and its ties to social media. We have discussed Khaled Said in class and this article talks about the image of his dead beaten body appearing on Facebook and how it inspired Wael Ghonim, born in Egypt, living in Dubai, and many others to become activists in the revolution.

Following an attack on a museum in Tunisia, they plan to open a consulate in Syria and plan to renew their ties with the Syrian government. They state that this is so that they can track Tunisian militant fighters who have joined ISIS and to prevent them form any future attacks. 

Due to the attack on the Bardo museum last month Tunisia plans to re-establish diplomatic ties with Syria in order to track its citizens who have gone to fight alongside Islamist militants. It is said that some 3,000 Tunisian jihadists are thought to have gone to Syria and Iraq.

In a new report from the UN, it is revealed that the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) were maintaining regular contact with members of the so-called Islamic State since May of 2013. - See more at: http://yournewswire.com/un-proven-ties-between-isis-and-israel/#sthash.DF57aXWd.dpuf

Though so far remaining neutral,Sryian Druze now demanding weaponry from the Assad regime as defense against IS and other extremists, or will find elsewhere. Threat? Are the Druze growing tired of neutral position? Will they eventually be tied into the war?

Though once living in toleration and nonviolence, Kurdish forces and governement forces clash with numerous casualties, creating new and rising tensions. Government claims to have been supporting Kurdish military, but PYD denies any ties to the government

Both Britain and France have shunned Syrian President Assad in their quest to fight terrorism. They oppose all that the Syrian government stands for and this is why they will continue to dismiss the Syrian government and any ties with them. 

This is an article about an Israeli political cartoon that depicts an Israeli plane flying towards a US tower. The article discusses how this is very thoughtless on the Israeli side and does't understand the magnitude of 9/11. 

After the attack on the National Bardo Museum the president of Tunisia has signed several agreements to strengthen economic and security cooperation with France. Essebsi addressed the Senate in the French capital calling for further cooperation in other areas such as the fight against extremism.

Nearly 1,000 rebel groups exist in Syria as of 2013, none of which have the exact same motives and desires. Jabhat al-Nusra has become very effective but their ties to al-Qaeda make members and citizens weary. Is there a way to rationalize how this civil war may end?

This is a very well detailed article of an overall view of many of the topics tied to the Oil Industry in the middle east.

A weapons test video on a closed range, while on its own is not that important, the video ties in very well with my other three links this week. I think too often there is a disconnect between this idea okay we are arming these people (rebels) and what does that mean, hopefully this video in conjunction with the others helps bridge that disconnect.

In another coalition of airstrikes, President Obama announced one particular ISIL leader who had direct ties to the ringleaders in the Paris attacks has been confirmed dead. Pentagon reports ISIL is losing combat power; Iraqi forces are working to rid Ramadi of ISIL presence. 10 other key leaders of ISIL were taken out as well in December.

A video from YouTube showing Syrian rebels using a German 10.5 cm LeFH 18 which is a 105 mm howitzer from the 1930s. The info section of the video claims that the Syrian army supposedly operated a few of these so the rebels most likely captured it from a base. I tagged this because it ties into my question from last week of where did Syria get all of these formerly Nazi made weapons.

Discusses the stability of Egypt and the dynamic aspect of the confrontation between the government and Brotherhood. Can be tied into a number of controversies of globalization chapters regarding motives for many decisions.