The news of the Kingdoms of Jordan and Morocco possibly joining the Gulf Cooperation Council states was met with shock and awe amongst users of social media networks within minutes of its announcement. The new Secretary General of the GCC Abdul Latif Al Zayani, barely a few weeks into his job broke the news to reporters in Riyadh on Tuesday evening. But what will this expanded entity look like and what are the initial challenges and opportunities? Read more »
Archives for 2011
Muslim Brotherhood in the Gulf: An attempt to steal the show
The governments of the Arab Gulf states have been sceptical of the Arab Spring. For many political observers this scepticism stemmed from the fact that most of these states enjoyed strong personal and political relations with the presidents of Egypt, Yemen and Syria. Read more »
Osama Bin Laden: He had it coming
For ten years millions of Arabs were held hostage due to the acts of a minority. During this time tens of thousands of lives were lost in senseless violence that only a megalomaniac would be able to justify. Read more »
Gulf majlis culture forms fabric of society
Traditions are carried forward, local dialect is preserved, Arabian hospitality and respect for elders are upheld in this community meeting place. It’s time that the social role of the majlis is acknowledged and strengthened once again. Read more »
Danish Farhan Talks Twitter Politics With Sultan Al Qassemi, Mishaal Al Gergawi
On Twitter’s 5th birthday, Danish Farhan, Mishaal Al Gergawi, and one of Time’s 140 most influential Tweeps Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi, were invited to weigh in on Twitter and its growing relevance in business and politics. Read more »
McCarthyism in Gulf social media
Post-Second World War America was a period of economic growth and prosperity for many citizens but it was also a dark period in which a powerful US Senator by the name of Joseph McCarthy initiated a process of publicly accusing individuals of harbouring communist tendencies without regard for evidence. Read more »