United Nations University hosts discussion on directions for the region post-Arab Spring

On 27 January 2017, the United Nations University (UNU) will host The Arab Spring: Six Years On, a conversation with Professor Mohammad-Mahmoud Ould Mohamedou, Professor of International History of the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (IHEID), Visiting Professor at the Doctoral School of Sciences Po Paris and former Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mauritania.




Professor Mohamedou is well-positioned to discuss the topic as the author of Iraq and the Second Gulf War: State Building and Regime Security (2002) and Understanding Al Qaeda: The Transformation of War (2011), as well as Co-editor of Democratisation in the 21st Century: Reviving Transitology (2016). His research focuses on political violence and transnational terrorism, the transformation of warfare, political liberalisation and transitions to democracy, and contemporary Middle Eastern and North African sociopolitical developments and conflicts.

In the early months of 2011, the Middle East and North Africa embarked on a historic process of sociopolitical transformation, the “Arab Spring”, which sent large-scale reverberations throughout and beyond the region. In rapid and unexpected succession, long-established and seemingly well-entrenched authoritarian regimes collapsed, opening the way for difficult and often-violent transitions.

Professor Mohamedou will join UNU Rector David Malone in an exploration of the current state and future prospects of the region. The conversation aims to answer the questions:
 
Six years later, how do the “Arab Spring” social movements continue to fare?
Where are these political transitions heading, and what shape have the power configurations and the social pacts taken?
What are the implications for the rest of the world?

The event is part of the UNU Conversation Series, which encourages the audience to engage with the speakers during the conversation and at the reception after.

Interested?

UNU Conversation Series: The Arab Spring: Six Years On
Date: 27 January 2017
Time: 6:30 pm
Venue: UNU Headquarters in Tokyo, Japan

The event will be in English only; Japanese interpretation will not be provided.
Advance registration by 26 January is required. Register

Reviewing Islam and democracy post-Arab Spring

Source: OUP.

In late 2010, the wave of civil resistance known as the Arab Spring stunned the world as dictatorships in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya were overthrown, while the regimes of Bahrain, Syria, and Yemen suppressed their own revolutions. The Islamic political parties of Tunisia and Egypt have gained particular attention for their success in the national elections following the overthrow of their regimes, and similar electoral success has been seen in Morocco and is predicted throughout the Arab world and beyond in the broader Middle East and in Southeast Asia.

Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring by John Esposito, Tamara Sonn, and John Voll (ISBN: 9780195147988) expands upon ideas raised in by Esposito and Voll in their earlier book Islam and Democracy, as well as data from the Gallup World poll and Gallup polling throughout Egypt, Tunisia, and other loci of the Arab Spring. Islam and Democracy after the Arab Spring applies a twenty-first century perspective to the question of whether or not Islam is "compatible" with democracy by redirecting the conversation towards a new politic of democracy that transcends both secular authoritarianism and 'Political Islam'.

The book provides historical context and insights into the broader political developments of the Muslim world. While the opposition movements of the Arab Spring are distinctive, each has raised questions regarding equality, economic justice, democratic participation, and the relationship between Islam and democracy in their respective countries.

The authors are established experts on Islam and democracy and have served as consultants to governments, the military, and think tanks in the US, Europe, and Asia. Esposito is University Professor and Professor of Religion & International Affairs and of Islamic Studies at Georgetown University, while Sonn is the Hamad Bin Khalifa Al-Thani Professor in the History of Islam in the Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding at the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University. Voll is Professor Emeritus of Islamic History at the Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University.

Interested?

The hardback costs £20. An ebook version is also available

Patricia Rox brings its handcrafted luxury womenswear and accessories to Asia

Patricia Rox, the luxury womenswear brand that debuted in Europe in 2013, has set foot in Asia through the official launch of its brand and its Spring/Summer 2015 The  Fantasy Capsule in Singapore.

The luxury womenswear company creates globally inspired, traditionally handcrafted pieces. With exotic, intricate prints and bright, bold colours at the forefront of its designs, Patricia Rox brings one-of-a-kind ready-to-wear and accessories to discerning, sophisticated women. 

The latest Spring/Summer The Fantasy Capsule of silk dresses with floral-inspired prints; vibrant, circus-inspired scarves; as well as buffalo horn and enamel jewellery transports the Patricia Rox woman back to her whimsical childhood fantasies. The collection is luxurious yet effortlessly chic, and is versatile enough for a resort, travelling or attending a soiree. 

Patricia Rox is the brainchild of fashion lawyer Patricia Haywood. Gathering inspiration from her love of travel, Patricia has created a brand that brings together traditional techniques and modern ideas to create unique, handmade pieces, and a brand with a mission to make well-crafted pieces available to women everywhere. 

"At Patricia Rox, we go to great lengths to bring women unique and well-made clothing and accessories. Our vision is to bring together some of the most creative people from different regions to create something special, and to make the art of traditional craftsmanship accessible to women worldwide," says Haywood, Founder and Creative Director, Patricia Rox. 

Every piece of ready-to-wear, jewellery and scarf is handcrafted by skilled and passionate craftspeople. Patricia Rox works with artisans who are the best at their craft and who are skilled at preserving the integrity of the materials used in each piece created. 

Each print is painstakingly hand-drawn by one artist, with some prints taking 200-300 hours to complete. These one-of-a-kind prints are viewed as works of art. This traditional technique translates to smaller runs and limited editions of each design and ensures that each and every piece will be unique and exquisitely crafted. 

With a mission to find the best natural materials like silk, cotton, linen, horn, enamel and pearl from around the world to create unique pieces that are just as unique as the Patricia Rox woman, all materials are ethically and sustainably sourced from only the best suppliers from the Americas, Europe, Africa, and Asia. 

Currently, the collection of Patricia Rox scarves is available online at www.gnossem.com, a Singapore based online shopping site for unique and quality fashion from top, independent designers. Outside of Singapore, Patricia Rox is available in Asia at Aman Resorts in Bali, and www.shopzaozao.com in Hong Kong. 

An e-commerce site and physical flagship store are in the works.

*All images from Patricia Rox.