Author: Ahmed Souaiaia
AHMED E. SOUAIAIA (pron. sway-`iyya) is a faculty member at the University of Iowa, with joint appointment in International Studies, History, and College of Law.
More information here: https://ahmed.souaiaia.com/
What is the difference between “Muslim” and “Islamic”?
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia * Abstract: Social labels and categories are exercise in control. They describe opponents, create boundaries, exclude social groups, justify discrimination, and promote persecution. They are imbued with sociopolitical power. Muslims used labels, internally for the first time, during the formative period of the community to privilege the elite and marginalize dissenters. Read more
Continue ReadingSaudi Arabia’s Impracticable Alliances
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia * Abstract: Before WikiLeaks released the Saudi diplomatic cables in 2010, the rulers of Saudi Arabia had cultivated the image of being deliberate, moderate, and averse to confrontation. Since the start of 2011, the Saudi rulers have behaved in ways that annulled that perception. The Saudi rulers hosted the Tunisian dictator Read more
Continue ReadingThe legacy of the illegal war on Iraq and the burden of befriending the Wahhabi rulers
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia A day after the couple Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik killed 14 people in San Bernardino, CNN reported that Malik had made “a pledge of allegiance to ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi.” Subsequently, it was reported that Malik attended al-Huda, a religious institute whose funding and curriculum were decided by Saudi Read more
Continue ReadingSaudi and Qatari dilemma: Can they support al-Sisi in his war on ISIL and support ISIL in its war on Assad?
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* GCC When Prince Salman became King Salman, world leaders wanted to know about the man now controlling the country that exports more oil than any other, Saudi Arabia. Several leading publications claimed that the 79 year old king suffers from serious chronic illnesses. The Economistproposed that his predecessor, King Read more
Continue ReadingWhere is the Outrage?
Europe’s hypocrisy and latent racism displayed after the Paris attacks by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* On January 11, 2015, an estimated 1.6 million people walked the streets of Paris as part of a “unity march” in reaction to the recent attack in the French capital. Some 40 world leaders joined the march. Other high-profile individuals also Read more
Continue Reading“This is What the Arab Spring Looks Like”
Tunisia’s transition to representative governance brings hope to Arab Societies by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* Four days after the fourth anniversary of the spark that ignited the fury of protests widely known as the Arab Spring, Tunisian voters reminded the world about what the Arab Spring is supposed to look like. The election of a Read more
Continue ReadingIran’s emerging institutional power and its effect on negotiations with the United States
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* On the eve of the Republicans’ takeover of the U.S. Senate and increased control of the House, the Wall Street Journal revealed, on the authority of anonymous sources, that President Obama had sent “secret letter” to the leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Iran took its time confirming it Read more
Continue ReadingISIL cannot be defeated militarily without addressing the roots of its genocidal creed and confronting its sectarian backers
by Ahmed E. Souaiaia* Less than a year after the start of the crisis in Syria, I warned that militarizing the Syrian uprising is a dangerous step. Picking sides and arming them would amount to launching a new proxy-war similar to the one that took place in Afghanistan in the 1970’s and 1980’s. The danger, Read more
Continue Reading