“To live like a tree, lonely and free / To live as brothers like trees in a forest”

About Ahmed E. Souaiaia

Ahmed E. Souaiaia teaches at the University of Iowa. He is the author of the book, Contesting Justice (State University of New York Press, 2010).

Articles by Ahmed E. Souaiaia

Syrian crisis now a global affair

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 12 May 2013

The outcome of the Syrian crisis, no matter what that might be, will delimit the new Middle East in a way that will affect the entire world—not just Syria and the region

Why did Mouaz al-Khatib change his mind about talks with the Syrian government?

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 1 February 2013

Relying on the regional and world powers has proven to be a costly participation in a proxy war that is devastating the country.

The failings of the process of adopting the Egyptian constitution

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 16 December 2012

If the constitution is approved by a simple majority of voters, the opposition would have no reason to abandon protesting the outcome and instability will persist.

Recognizing the new Syrian National Coalition alone will not end the war in Syria

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 28 November 2012

The peculiar enthusiasm of former colonizers of the Arab world, like France, for recognizing Syria’s representatives without waiting for the Syrian people to decide through ballots (not bullets), has delegitimized the Coalition in the eyes of many Syrians.

Why do Arab rulers want a ceasefire in Gaza but not in Syria?

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 19 November 2012

The rulers of Saudi Arabia and Qatar insist that Bashar Assad step down or be removed by force because the Syrian people want him gone. Yet, they ignore the fact that the Arab peoples want them all gone, not just Assad.

Can non-violent resistance and armed rebellion co-exist?

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 14 August 2012

The first and most important casualty of the militarization of the Syrian uprising is the non-violent movement.

Islamists bring religion down to earth: the end of religious idealism

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 23 February 2012

The movement was in disarray until the historical revolution offered it a second life - a revolution that they did not plan and certainly did not start.

Proxy wars: could the US end up supporting al-Qaeda-like groups in Syria?

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 9 February 2012

Syrian state-controlled media blames most of the deaths on armed groups (which it calls terrorists). These allegations have awakened Russia’s dormant–but not forgotten–memory of the Saudi-American alliance that created the Mujahidin networks in Afghanistan, which in turn defeated the Soviet Union.

Who are the 40%?

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 25 January 2012

The Islamist win in Egypt confirms a trend. Religious absolutism is now out of the equation: people are empowered to determine their political leaders and their institutions.

Some politicians in the first democratic government of Tunisia

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 31 December 2011

The three parties in the new coalition government of Tunisia have months, not years, to deliver on unemployment, political reform and economic growth.

Holding on to the status quo, Gulf States seek political unity

Ahmed E. Souaiaia 21 December 2011

If the Gulf Cooperation Council wanted to support democracy and stability, they would have invested in Tunisia and Egypt. Instead, they are investing in regimes that mimic their own Umayyad model of governance.

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