“Only war makes it possible to mobilize all of today’s technical resources while maintaining the property system.”

- Walter Benjamin, 1936

About Heba Abou Shnief

Heba Abou Shnief is a specialist in development policy research for the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region, particularly on ’social development policy reform’, the ’role of the state’ and the ’economic reform policy’. She is a Senior Officer for Strategic Planning and Policy Coordination at the Social Contract Center (SCC) in Cairo - a joint UNDP-Government of Egypt project that promotes social equity and works to build consensus towards a new social contract in Egypt.

Articles by Heba Abou Shnief

A vote of confidence in Egypt’s presidency

Heba Abou Shnief 21 June 2012

The ability of the executive to set a clear and cohesive national agenda that is practical enough to be achieved requires genuine independence and freedom from the politics of parliamentary systems. What is needed is an executive who works with parliament for the people, rather than for parliament simply in the name of the people.

Reflecting the public will in Egypt: between rhetoric and institutionalism

Heba Abou Shnief 7 January 2012

Despite the success of the January 25 Revolution, Tahrir Square at best offers a powerful platform for monologue on some of the most profound democratic challenges the new Egypt faces.

This week's editor

Niki Seth-Smith is a freelance journalist and co-editor of OurKingdom.

Europe from the bottom up

European Union stars in Paris. Flickr/notarim. Some rights reserved.

A new Europe can only come from the bottom up
Etienne Balibar

A social Europe must be a political Europe
Bo Stråth

As Europe is provincialized: a reply to Etienne Balibar
Sandro Mezzadra

European debate

A republican call for a basic income
Daniel Raventos and Julie Wark

Nuclear non-proliferation

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

Mali - the plot thickens

Remote control war

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In the months following the start of the Arab Revolutions, articles and analysis poured into openDemocracy from contributors across the Middle East and Europe. Gradually, the impact of Tahrir Square began to extend well beyond the Middle East as democratic inspiration travelled from east to west. Arab Awakening tries to capture that inspiration and use it to help us read a rapidly changing world.

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About Heba Abou Shnief

Articles by Heba Abou Shnief

A vote of confidence in Egypt’s presidency

Reflecting the public will in Egypt: between rhetoric and institutionalism

This week's editor

Europe from the bottom up

European debate

Democratic Wealth

Nuclear non-proliferation

oDRussia at journalismfestival .com

Mali - the plot thickens

Remote control war

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