Decolonizing the “Middle East”

Iran–US relations – strained at the best of times since the 1979 Iranian revolution – have never been worse than during the past six years, due to the much more intense interaction between the two ...

Middle East and North Africa region's abundant solar and wind resources provide a valuable opportunity to diversify energy production and offer a high potential for renewable energies. Thus, the solar water heating systems offer a key element in the deployment of renewable energy throughout the region. To this end, a model was developed and validated to evaluate the performance of these systems with different collectors. Then, an exhaustive energetic, exergetic, environmental and economic analysis of all the region's countries was carried out on the basis of the required meteorological data. Regarding the results for the entire region, the maximum solar fraction values attain 60 % and 83 % for the flat plate and evacuated tube systems, respectively. Under current economic assumptions, propane water heating is cheaper on a life cycle cost basis than electric and diesel heating throughout North Africa. Also, the use of auxiliary electric generators is suitable for all countries in the Middle East region except for Manama-Jordan, Abu Dhabi-UAE and Ankara-Turkey.

Purpose This study aims to investigate the nexus between natural resource rent and financial development, considering artificial intelligence (AI) as a moderator across 36 countries for the period from 2017 to 2023. Furthermore, this study categorises 36 countries into Middle Eastern and non-Middle Eastern countries based on their significant reliance on natural resources. This classification enables an examination of the variations in the relationship between natural resource rent and financial development. Design/methodology/approach This study applies both static and dynamic panel data models. Specifically, pooled ordinary least squares with cross-sectional weights, random-effects models, feasible generalised least squares and system generalised method of moments panel data models are used to achieve robust results. Findings The findings from both static and dynamic panel data models indicate that natural resource rents inhibit financial development, supporting the natural resource curse hypothesis in the financial sector. Moreover, AI has a positive impact on financial development and reverses the negative impact of natural resource rent. Similar results are obtained for non-Middle Eastern countries. However, AI fails to offset the negative impact of natural resource rent on financial development in the case of Middle Eastern countries. Practical implications The findings imply that reliance solely on natural resource rents is inadequate for fostering financial development. It is suggested that policymakers, especially in resource-rich countries, avoid overreliance on resource rents and instead prioritise the integration of AI into their financial systems. Originality/value In the era of digital transformation, AI has emerged as a key driver of countries’ financial development by improving the use of natural resources. Amidst the rapid digital transformation, the extent to which AI alters the finance–resource nexus remains unclear. While natural resources significantly influence financial development in resource-rich Middle Eastern economies, studies often overlook the moderating role of AI. Furthermore, there is limited understanding regarding whether this moderating effect varies between Middle Eastern and non-Middle Eastern countries. Hence, this study fills this research gap.

HighlightsThe prevalence of TCLs in the ME is not well documented, as most of the research has been conducted in Western countries. While recent studies suggest that the prevalence of TCLs in the ME is comparable to that of Western countries, there is a suggestion that the prevalence of T-cell lymphomas may be increasing in the ME compared to the previous decade. Because of the limited data available on TCLs in the ME, its epidemiology is not well understood. However, there are some studies that demonstrated that the risk of TCLs is significantly higher in people who have a family history of lymphoma, those who have a history of autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis and systemic lupus erythematosus, and those who have a history of exposure to ionizing radiation or certain chemicals such as benzene.Why are the main findings?■Diagnosis of TCLs in the ME is often complicated and requires pathologists familiar with the complex classification, specialized techniques in immunohistochemistry and flow cytometry, and imaging, including PET scans. The use of molecular testing and profiling of TCLs in the region is limited.■The treatment of TCLs in the ME, similar to other parts of the world, is often confusing and lacks consensus. Treatments may include combination chemotherapy, radiation therapy, immunotherapy, and autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplant. Chemotherapy is the most common treatment option for TCLs in the ME and is usually used in combination with other modalities, such as radiation therapy or immunotherapy.What is the Implications of main findings?■The clinical outcomes of TCLs in the ME are not well understood, as there is limited data available on the outcomes of these cancers in the region. However, some studies have looked at the outcomes of T-cell lymphomas in the ME, suggesting that the 5-year survival rate for patients with TCLs is comparable to that of patients in Western countries.■There is a dearth of real-world evidence and management consensus in the region, as well as a restricted number of clinical trials resulting from the ME pertaining to the management of TCLs. One of the main reasons for the limited evidence arising from the region is the lack of TCL registries.Simple SummaryThis review study focusses on T-cell lymphomas (TCLs), a type of rare and severe disease that is prevalent in the Middle East. We attempted to highlight the fact that there is less data on the occurrence, treatment, and results of TCLs in this region than in Western countries. The purpose of this research was to highlight the need for further clinical trials and registries to better understand these diseases and enhance patient care. To improve diagnosis and treatment strategies, we recommend centralizing laboratories and establishing a unified registry. Overall, the study intends to increase awareness of TCLs in ME and advocate for better research and healthcare practices to enhance patient outcomes.Background: T-cell lymphomas (TCLs) are rare and aggressive malignancies associated with poor outcomes, often because of the development of acquired drug resistance as well as intolerance to the established and often toxic chemotherapy regimens in elderly and frail patients. The many subtypes of TCL are well established to exhibit marked geographic variation. The epidemiology, clinical presentation, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of TCLs in the Middle East (ME) are yet to be explored; hence, limited data are available about these entities in this part of the world. Aim: Therefore, in this review article, we aim to discuss the available data regarding the T-cell neoplasms in the ME, including the incidence of specific subtypes of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL), as well as the trends in survival and treatment, all in an effort to understand the natural history of these complex entities across the ME.

Climate change has become a global challenge due to its critical impact on the natural as well as the human environment. This article focuses on the effects of climate change in the Middle East (ME) region and the strategies suggested to combat its impacts. The research involves reviewing and analyzing published articles from major databases in this domain. The literature shows that countries in the ME region, with a particular focus on the Arab countries, have also realized that urgent actions should be taken to decrease climate change threats. Several countries are committing to international principles, supporting the global effort against climate change, such as adopting renewable sources for efficient energy production. Moreover, some of the ME region countries are considered a hub for emitting CO2 because of their hot climate, which requires the use of energy for air-conditioning, high-water desalination demands due to water scarcity, and the dependence on energy-exhaustive industries. Recently, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates have proposed strict measures to reduce their energy consumption and move towards renewable energy sources like solar and wind energy. Some countries have also funded projects for developing green buildings to create a sustainable environment. However, this paper emphasizes the need to establish strict regulations to impose policies and practices to achieve the global temperature rise limit below 1.5oC. Moreover, all ME countries must invest in renewable energy sources by promoting education, research, and implementing carbon pricing mechanisms. Nevertheless, as part of the Paris Agreement and other international commitments, there is a growing need to develop more socio-economic policies to meet this vision.

Introduction: The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the urgent need for innovative healthcare solutions to address rapid population growth and healthcare service disparities, especially in resource-constrained settings. Telemedicine, which enables remote patient-provider communication and care, offers great potential to improve accessibility, efficiency, and quality of healthcare delivery. However, its development in Middle Eastern (ME) countries has been relatively slow and insufficiently monitored. This scoping review summarizes recent telemedicine implementations and their associated challenges in ME countries while offering recommendations for policymakers. Methods: A search of Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science for articles published between January 2019 and August 2023 yielded 437 publications, of which 34 were included for data analysis. Study data were categorized using country of origin, study design, data collection methods, study subjects, telemedicine interventions, and major findings. Results: The key insights highlight the need for integrating innovative technologies into healthcare systems, increasing public awareness and education on telemedicine, diversifying research to address regional priorities, and fostering interdisciplinary collaboration to accelerate telemedicine adoption. Conclusion: In conclusion, while telemedicine has made significant progress in ME countries, ongoing challenges must be addressed to ensure equitable and effective healthcare delivery for all.

Guest Editors’ Introduction

The association between socio-cultural factors and well-being among young adult Middle Eastern migrants in Australia

Click to increase image sizeClick to decrease image size Notes Etel Solingen, Regional Orders at Century's Dawn: Global and Domestic Influence on Grand Strategy (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1998). Fred Halliday, ‘The Middle East and the Politics of Differential Integration’, in Toby Dodge and Richard Higgott (eds.), Globalization and the Middle East (London: Royal Institute of International Affairs, 2002), pp. 36–56. Leon Carl Brown, International Politics and the Middle East: Old Rules, Dangerous Game (Princeton: Princeton University Press, 1984), pp. 3–18. Specifically the autonomy of external constraints and internal pressures needed to adapt to the exigencies of the changing power balance in order to minimize costs and maximize benefits. See Raymond Hinnebusch and Anoushiravan Ehteshami (eds.), The Foreign Policies of Middle East States (Boulder CO and London: Lynne Rienner, 2002), pp. 10–11, 20. Patrick Seale, The Struggle for Syria (London and Oxford: RIIA, Oxford University Press, 1965). Raymond Hinnebusch, Syria: Revolution from Above (London: Routledge, 2001), pp. 52–7; Avner Yaniv, ‘Syria and Israel: The Politics of Escalation’, in Moshe Ma'oz and Avner Yaniv (eds.), Syria under Assad: Domestic Constraints and Regional Risks (London: Croom-Helm, 1986, pp. 157–78. Hinnebusch, Syria: Revolution from Above, pp. 67–88. Patrick Clawson, Unaffordable Ambitions: Syria's Military Buildup and Economic Crisis (Washington, DC: Washington Institute for Near East Policy, 1989). Patrick Seale, Asad: The Struggle for the Middle East (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1988), pp. 226–66, 267–315, 344–9, 366–420; Moshe Ma'oz, Asad: the Sphinx of Damascus: a Political Biography (New York: Grove Weidenfeld, 1988), pp. 113–24, 135–48; Hinnebusch, Syria: Revolution from Above, pp. 151–5. Bashar's acceptance speech, The Syrian Arab News Agency website, July 21, 2000, ‘http://www:basharassad.org/english.htm’. The Middle East, March 1999, p. 35; Sept. 1999, p. 27. UNCTAD, World Investment Report (New York: UN, 1999); World Bank, The Little Data Book (New York: World Bank, 2001), pp. 9–12. Middle East International, April 6, 2001, pp. 7–8; 13 July 2001, p. 5; David Makovsky ‘Syria's Foreign Policy Challenges US Interests’, Policywatch, No. 513, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy, Jan. 19, 2001. Patrick Seale, lecture, London, 2001. Rachel Bronson, ‘Syria: Hanging Together or Hanging Separately’, The Washington Quarterly, v. 23, Autumn, 2000; Yotam Feldner, ‘Escalation Games: Syria's Deterrence Policy, Part I: Brinkmanship’, MEMRI. (Middle East Media Research Institute), May 24,2001 www.memri.org; Middle East International, July 13, 2001, pp. 10–11. Middle East International, June 16, 2000, pp. 21–2. Middle East International, July 28, 2000, p. 14; Stratfor.com, ‘Global Intelligence Update’, February 29, 2000. Gary C. Gambill, ‘Syria's Foreign Relations: Iraq’, Middle East Intelligence Bulletin, March, 2001, www.meib.org; Ibrahim Hamidi, Daily Star, Dec., 14, 2001. Makovsky, ‘Syria's Foreign Policy Challenges US Interests’; Middle East International, Feb. 9, 2001, p. 12; Yotam Feldner, ‘Escalation Games: Part II: Regional and International Factors Between Washington and Damascus: Iraq’, MEMRI, May 25, 2001. Al-Hayat, Sept., 28, 2001. BBC Summary of World Broadcasts, Middle East and North Africa, Jan. 7, 2002. ‘Joining the European Trade Club’, in Oxford Business Group, Emerging Syria 2002, London, 2002, p. 45. Ayman Abdul Nour, ‘Syria: Economic Reform and European Partnership’, unpublished policy paper, Damascus, June 12, 2001. Middle East International, March 23, 2001, pp. 14–15. The EU claims that it is not demanding an end to support prices in agriculture or of subsidies to the public sector. Its insistence is on transparency of trade rules and suppression of charges and barriers that distort import and export prices and flows. However, subsidizing products which could not compete with imports would be very costly for Syria. Skeptics include Michael Mann (1997), ‘Has Globalization ended the rise and rise of the Nation-state?’ Review of International Political Economy, v. 4, n. 3, Autumn, 1997, pp. 472–96; see also Toby Dodge and Richard Higgott, ‘Globalization and its Discontents’, in Dodge and Higgott (eds.), Globalization and the Middle East, pp. 13–35. Enthusiasts include K. Ohmae, The Borderless World (London: Collins, 1990) and The end of the Nation-State (New York: Free Press, 1995).

Time for the renaissance of medicine in the Middle East

The Middle East and North Africa are one of the most conflict-prone regions. Due to its geopolitical position and oil production, the Middle East has always been the trump card in the game, both before World War II and during the Cold War, still today. Why do wars persist in the Middle East? Why has the situation in the Middle East deteriorated to this extent? Is rentier economics always a vital variable explaining political instability in the Middle East? After empirically analyzing the causes of political instability in the Middle East using various data, the study suggests that the experience of being a colony of Britain, France, and Italy hurt society and that the critical geographic location between the United States and the Soviet Union during the Cold War suffered various harmful effects. On the other hand, the result also shows that manufacturing weakness due to the oil economy, high unemployment rates, and lack of democracy are all critical explanatory variables for political instability. Since the 2000s, the United States has increased its energy self-sufficiency rate through the shale oil and gas revolution. The Middle East is an option for the United States to buy oil. On the other hand, the Middle East is essential for the United States to export weapons. The Middle East has faced a geopolitical crisis in recent years due to these factors.

The core of the 36th round of the Energy Modeling Forum project shows that it is more likely that major fossil-fuel exporters, such as the Middle East, are highly affected because of the decrease in fossil-fuel extractions required for the worldwide fulfillment of the Paris agreement. We employ a multi-region, multi-sector computable general equilibrium model of global trade and energy to examine the effects of implementing the Paris agreement with a focus on the Middle East which is further disaggregated into Iran, Saudi Arabia, the rest of net fossil fuel exporting countries (XFE), and the rest of countries (XNE). After examining the abatement costs for the regions, we apply four emission reduction targets, ranging from a low ambition level to a high ambition level. We develop comprehensive scenarios covering several cooperation options within the Middle East and between the Middle East and selected regions outside. The results show that Iran has the lowest marginal abatement cost in the Middle East, followed by XNE, XFE, and Saudi Arabia. If the Middle East does not implement any climate policy, the welfare losses can be slightly compensated due to a carbon leakage to the Middle East. The cooperations within the Middle East are not welfare increasing for the region as a whole when Iran mainly benefits from such cooperation whereas Saudi Arabia loses welfare. The Middle East benefits from global cooperation and the cooperation with Europe, but the cooperation with China, India, or Russia can be welfare decreasing.

This article studies the transformations of the narrative of ‘the Vision of the New Middle East’ as a political myth in Israel from its conception in the early 1990s to this date. Borrowing its analytic framework from Georges Sorel's concept of political myth, the article opens by offering a narrative analysis of the paradigmatic vision, as formulated by Shimon Peres (then Israel's Foreign Minister). The article goes on to trace the reception of this narrative and the uses made of it in two of the main arenas of the Israeli political and public spheres: the Knesset (the Israeli parliament) and the mainstream Hebrew press. The article argues that, while ‘the New Middle East’ has become an idiomatic phrase synonymous to peace, a closer look at its appearances in the Israeli public and political spheres suggests that the uses and transformations of ‘the New Middle East’ in effect signal its failure to become a politically mobilizing myth or image. Instead, this notion has become an icon of a utopian, abstract, and rather apolitical notion of peace in the Middle East. This case study thus suggests an interesting lesson as to the potential and limitations of using peace as a mobilizing political myth.

The paper aims to provide a critical in-depth analysis of Mobile Phone Application's role in enhancing human interaction with E-Retailers, and more specifically, in the Middle East. First, the paper provides an outlook description of the definition and history of Mobile Phone Applications and human interaction and how the two complement each other. Next, the study outlines the various instances that human interaction with Mobile Phone Applications has led to E-retailer success and how it has come about. Then, the discourse provides an analytical look at the E-retailing Business in the Middle East while focusing on the history of E-retailing, business startups in the Middle East, and the revolution of E-retailing in the Middle East. Additionally, the research emphasizes the merits and demerits of using Mobile Phone Applications to promote and enhance E-commerce business in Middle East countries. Using relevant sources and credible references, the analysis will highlight the numerous instances Mobile Phone applications have been used by clients to connect with businesses that maintain an online presence. Using anthological, historical, and descriptive research methods, the arguments portrayed in this paper will heavily reflect on various case studies provided in the article. The case studies feature data representation from research conducted in the Middle East concerning Mobile Phone applications and E-commerce. Through focused approaches, this paper discerns, comprehend, and establishes the framework of the Middle East E-Commerce scene over the years, and outlines how far the industry has made progress through online platforms. Furthermore, emphasis will be laid on the market gaps left to fill in the E-commerce sector in the Middle East and the several approaches to better the industry. Lastly, this paper will conclude by providing my recommendations on the betterment of Mobile Phone Applications and how E-retailing can improve in the Middle East.

The Indian summer monsoon (ISM) simulated over the 1989–2009 period with a new 0.75° ocean–atmosphere coupled tropical-channel model extending from 45°S to 45°N is presented. The model biases are comparable to those commonly found in coupled global climate models (CGCMs): the Findlater jet is too weak, precipitations are underestimated over India while they are overestimated over the southwestern Indian Ocean, South-East Asia and the Maritime Continent. The ISM onset is delayed by several weeks, an error which is also very common in current CGCMs. We show that land surface temperature errors are a major source of the ISM low-level circulation and rainfall biases in our model: a cold bias over the Middle-East (ME) region weakens the Findlater jet while a warm bias over India strengthens the monsoon circulation over the southern Bay of Bengal. A surface radiative heat budget analysis reveals that the cold bias is due to an overestimated albedo in this desertic ME region. Two new simulations using a satellite-observed land albedo show a significant and robust improvement in terms of ISM circulation and precipitation. Furthermore, the ISM onset is shifted back by 1 month and becomes in phase with observations. Finally, a supplementary set of simulations at 0.25°-resolution confirms the robustness of our results and shows an additional reduction of the warm and dry bias over India. These findings highlight the strong sensitivity of the simulated ISM rainfall and its onset timing to the surface land heating pattern and amplitude, especially in the ME region. It also illustrates the key-role of land surface processes and horizontal resolution for improving the ISM representation, and more generally the monsoons, in current CGCMs.