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Remote work and women’s employment in MENA: opportunity or pitfall?
COVID-19DiscriminationEconomyGender IssuesLabor Market Blog Posts

Remote work and women’s employment in MENA: opportunity or pitfall?

Many women in the Middle East and North Africa are not in the paid labour force despite being highly educated. Good internet access and the global shift to telework as a result of the pandemic would seem to offer them opportunities for work and greater gender equality. But as this column warns, while online employment lowers barriers to getting women…

February 24, 2021
Algeria’s Pulse: Two Years After “Hirak”
CorruptionFreedomsGovernancePolitical Systems Blog Posts

Algeria’s Pulse: Two Years After “Hirak”

Two years have passed since the advent of the Algerian “Hirak” – the social protest movement that instigated far reaching and substantial political change, primary among them was the prevention of a fifth presidential term for Abdelaziz Bouteflika. In Arab Barometer’s first survey of Wave 6, a substantial majority of Algerians (82 percent) believe that corruption was prevalent in state…

February 17, 2021
Libya’s Pulse: Ten Years After the Revolution
GovernancePolitical Systems Blog Posts

Libya’s Pulse: Ten Years After the Revolution

Ten years after the Libyan revolution, Libya makes international headlines for its civil conflict and institutional breakdown. Still, according to Arab Barometer surveys, a majority of Libyans have consistently said democracy is preferable to any other system of government. In Arab Barometer’s second survey of Wave 6, this is what Libyans said about characteristics of democracy:  

February 17, 2021
Digital media usage during times of distress
COVID-19Media Blog Posts

Digital media usage during times of distress

COVID-19 has disrupted livelihoods and economies across the world, changing consumption patterns of all different types of products and services, including digital media. The Arab World is no exception, though perhaps the transformation in digital media consumption has been accelerated by the pandemic outbreak. The Arab world has witnessed a steady increase in both internet usage and social media penetration,…

February 10, 2021
Lebanon’s Pulse on Perceptions of Freedoms
FreedomsMedia Blog Posts

Lebanon’s Pulse on Perceptions of Freedoms

Upon the assassination of Lebanese researcher and political activist Lokman Slim, many have questioned whether or not freedom of expression is guaranteed in Lebanon. In Arab Barometer’s first survey of Wave 6, Lebanon placed last among countries surveyed in perceptions of freedoms.  

February 4, 2021
U.S. & China’s competition extends to MENA
International Relations Blog Posts

U.S. & China’s competition extends to MENA

Globally, a new competition is taking place between the U.S. and China, which extends to the Middle East. China has taken an increasing role in the region, providing aid to governments for COVID-related relief, building on years of increased involvement in MENA through its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). As the Trump administration has changed the terms of U.S. engagement,…

January 12, 2021
Devotion at Sub-National Level: Evidence from Ramadan Lights in Egypt*
Religion Blog Posts

Devotion at Sub-National Level: Evidence from Ramadan Lights in Egypt*

Religion informs political attitudes and hence is consequential for understanding political beliefs and preferences. This is especially true for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) where religion is a formidable social force, ranging from its influence on the Arab Spring, various civil wars, the failure of democratization, and responses to COVID-19. Islam, especially, factors prominently in social, political, and…

January 8, 2021
On Conducting Surveys in the Time of Corona: An Interview With Michael Robbins
COVID-19 Blog Posts

On Conducting Surveys in the Time of Corona: An Interview With Michael Robbins

Elevating the voices of Arab citizens is at the forefront of what we do at Arab Barometer. And, during uncertain times, listening to the needs and concerns of ordinary people is extremely important. As such, Arab Barometer research network recently completed a unique survey that captures the sentiments of Arab publics amid the unprecedented times of the COVID-19 pandemic. However,…

January 4, 2021
Arabs’ Evaluations of their Governments’ Response to COVID-19
COVID-19GovernanceHealthPolitical Institutions Blog Posts

Arabs’ Evaluations of their Governments’ Response to COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic hit Arab governments in a difficult time when most were already under pressure. Economic crises and armed conflicts in some countries, like Libya and Syria, have had spill-over effects that continue to be felt across the region. Governments’ failure to address these challenges over the years had shaken the public’s trust in their rulers. The Arab Barometer’s…

December 17, 2020
Taking Lebanon’s Pulse after the Beirut Explosion
CorruptionEconomyGovernancePolitical InstitutionsPolitical ParticipationPolitical SystemsSecurity Blog Posts

Taking Lebanon’s Pulse after the Beirut Explosion

Background In the sixth and latest wave of Arab Barometer, we asked 1,000 Lebanese citizens questions related to the Beirut port explosion and Lebanon’s political system. These results suggest that Lebanon’s economic crisis and poverty remain the top concerns of Lebanese citizens rather than the effects of the blast. And, although Lebanese prefer a civil state in theory, they are…

December 15, 2020