تمثل تجربة المجلس الوطني الحالية للعديد من الإماراتيين تجربة لا ترتقي إلى المستوى المطلوب، ولكن لا ينبغي أن ندع التجربة تلك تثنينا عن المضي قدماً في مسار المشاركة الشعبية.
Articles
Our Common Bond Is Stronger Than the Extremist Rhetoric
In 2003, I was inundated with requests from friends to join an online social forum to attack an American blogger. He had written that Muslims were “pigs,” saying that the world “should kill their women and children.” Read more »
The Civil Society Movement in the Arab Gulf States
At first glance it seems as though the six Gulf Cooperation Council monarchies have no civil society movements to speak of, but scratching the surface unveils a complex layer of organisations that exist side by side with the governments and in some cases have been merged into governmental structures. In fact because of the relative young age of these states many of those who were active against the British presence in the Gulf prior to independence became themselves government officials and can be found in government circles until today. Read more »
عن أحوال المجتمع المدني في الخليج
In this important Arabic language article, Sultan discusses the realities facing civil society in the Gulf. Read more »
Mixed marriages bring strength upon strength to the UAE
Not too long ago, I boarded a plane in Dubai bound for the United States. There were a number of Emirati families on board, some of whom I recognised and greeted. After a 14-hour direct flight, we descended from the plane and made our way to passport control. One Emirati family walked towards the line for US citizens and, in my naivety, I almost told them they were standing in the wrong queue. I hesitated, correctly it turned out. They were American citizens and obliged to stand in the US citizens section. Read more »
إماراتيون مخلوطون بالدم ليس بالولاء
في رحلة قمت بها إلى الولايات المتحدة التقيت على متن الطائرة مع بعض الإماراتيين، ومن بينهم أسرة من الأسر المعروفة في الإمارات. عند وصولنا بعد رحلة استغرقت 14 ساعة اتجهنا إلى نوافذ الهجرة ولاحظت أن أفراد تلك الأسرة الكريمة اتجهوا إلى الطابور المخصص لحاملي الجوازات الأميركية ولسذاجتي كدت أن أنادي عليهم لأنبههم بغلطتهم، ولكني ترددت وكان حدسي صحيحاً.