In this episode, Ezra Karmel speaks with Francesco Cavatorta and Hendrik Kraetzschmar about their recent special issue in MELG examining multiparty coalition government in the Arab MENA. We discuss key features of coalition formation, composition, and duration/durability, why they have grown in prevalence, what they can teach us about coalitions in other contexts (including Israel ..read more

In this episode, Meriem Guetat and Meriem Agrebi discuss governance in Tunisia amidst Covid-19, highlighting what the situation tells us about the narrative of Tunisia’s democratic exceptionalism following the 2011 revolution. The podcast revolves around the recent article that they co-wrote as part of part of MELG’s recent special issue on governance in the MENA amidst Covid. You can read the article here: https://brill.com/view/journals/melg/14/1/article-p128_008.xml ..read more

In this episode, we speak with Mona Harb and Ahmad Gharbieh about the varying modalities of Covid governance in Lebanon. We discuss the different responses of sectarian and non-sectarian actors to the pandemic and how they played out geographically. The podcast revolves around the recent article that they co-wrote with Mona Fawaz and Luna Dayekh. The articles is part of MELG’s upcoming special issue on governance in the MENA amidst Covid. You can read the article here: https://brill.com/view/journals/melg/aop/article-10.1163-18763375-14011293/article-10.1163-18763375-14011293.xml Mona also rec ..read more

In this episode, we speak with Erika Biagini and Lucia Ardovini about continuity and change in the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood since the 2013 coup. The discussion draws from a recent MELG special issue co-edited by Lucia and Erika: https://brill.com/view/journals/melg/13/2/melg.13.issue-2.xml ..read more

In this episode, we speak with Jacob Mundy about the decade of unrest since the revolution in Libya and the encouraging recent establishment of the Government of National Unity. The podcast draws both from Jacob's 2018 book (Libya) and the recent MELG special collection he edited on Libya's protracted interregnum: https://brill.com/view/journals/melg/13/1/melg.13.issue-1.xml ..read more

In this episode, we speak with José Ciro Martínez about his 2018 MELG article, "Site of Resistance or Apparatus of Acquiescence? Tactics at the Bakery" as well as some more recent develops in Jordan around bread politics and COVID-19. Martinez's article (which is open access) is available here: https://brill.com/view/journals/melg/10/2/article-p160_160.xml?language=en ..read more

In this episode, we speak with Joas Wagemakers about the Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan, its historical evolution, and the splits that have emerged within the movement. Joas recently published an article in MELG focusing specifically on the divergent responses of the Brotherhood to the "Arab Spring". The article is available here: https://brill.com/view/journals/melg/12/1/article-p35_35.xml ..read more

In this episode, we speak with Annelle Sheline about her recent article in which she demonstrates how Middle East monarchies have used the label of "moderate" as a reputation strategy. Her article is available to read here: https://brill.com/view/journals/melg/12/1/article-p109_109.xml ..read more

In this episode, we speak with Dr. Jillian Schwedler about different approaches to studying politics and protests in the Middle East, with a specific focus on protests in Jordan ..read more

In this episode, we speak with Michelle Weitzel about soundscapes, affect, emotions, the Arab Uprisings, and her recent article in MELG: "Engineering Affect: Street Politics and Microfoundations of Governance", which can be found here: https://brill.com/view/journals/melg/11/2/article-p203_203.xml ..read more