In this personal essay, Sultan Sooud Al Qassemi opens up about the different reasons he decided to quit social media “cold turkey”, to the surprise of many. Read more »
Articles
Remembering the Father of Democracy in the Gulf—Sheikh Abdullah al-Salem
Kuwait’s Sheikh Abdullah exhibited the two traits of a great leader; enlightened and effective. More than half a century after his passing, Sheikh Abdullah’s political foresight is still impacting the Gulf. His bold leadership is an example for the new generation in the Gulf, where there is no lack of ambition. Read more »
21st Century Diplomacy
In this article for Emirates Diplomatic Academy, Sultan Al Qassemi describes the contribution that Emirati art has made to the UAE’s cultural diplomacy and soft power. Read more »
Gulf states have had enough of Qatar’s broken promises
Citizens of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states woke up on one Monday morning to what is the most severe crisis in the regional bloc’s 36-year history to date. In a closely coordinated series of statements, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and the UAE, along with Egypt, announced the severing of ties with Qatar, demanding that the country sever ties with extremist groups. Judging by the Qatari reaction so far, it seems the Gulf states’ patience will be tested. Read more »
The Politics of Egyptian Fine Art
When the revolution broke out in 2011, Egyptian artists were thus well positioned to take on a much more direct, activist role, and many did. Art changed as well, becoming more accessible and purpose-driven. Now, as the tide again has turned to authoritarianism, the unbridled hope of the uprising has waned, negatively affecting art as much as any other part of the revolution. Yet there are glimmers of dissent in the art that lives on, and many reasons to think that Egyptian artists will be part of the vanguard of the next wave of social and political change, whatever it may be. Read more »
How the CIA Secretly Funded Arab Art to Fight Communism
Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, details began to emerge about the CIA’s covert role in using art as a tool for political ends during the Cold War. But while much is known about CIA funding for American art during the Cold War, their support for Arab art during the same period has rarely been discussed. Read more »