Master of Arts (MA), Bowling Green State University, 2016, American Culture Studies

This research analyzes youth political involvement and civic engagement in the Middle East and North African (MENA) regions and the impact of the U.S. -Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) cultural exchange programs on MENA-U.S. relations after September 11, 2001. Specifically, this study will examine how such programs shape mutual understanding between the U.S. and the countries of the MENA region. The study is informed by the researcher's direct experience through the MEPI program in Leadership, Civic Activism and Citizenship at Georgetown University in 2007. This study also analyzes the impact of leadership styles, conflict resolution and group dynamics, political and social change initiatives, and the role of civil society in democratic processes in the MENA region. This thesis also surveys the cultural exchange experiences of several young people from the MENA region through demonstrating the MEPI program's development, and analyzing the planning and design of different activities included in the program since its inception in 2002. Participants from five MENA countries (Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Morocco, and Lebanon) responded to a targeted online survey regarding the relationship between interest in political and civic engagement and the citizen uprisings in any of the five target countries before and after their participation in the program. One of the key findings of this study clearly correlates with Edward Said's theory of Orientalism; studying the MEPI program, using textual analysis, highlights clear implications of superiority and dominance from the host culture, in this case the United States.In addition to the theoretical outcomes of this research, the results also demonstrate that participation in the MEPI program is likely to increase interest in political issues among participants after they return to their home countries, particularly with younger participants. Gender, on the other hand, does not seem to affect the rate of politi (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Khani Begum Ph.D (Advisor); Lara Lengel Ph.D (Committee Member) Subjects: American Studies; Middle Eastern Studies

Master of Arts, The Ohio State University, 1964, Graduate School

Committee: Not Provided (Other) Subjects:

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2024, Media and Communication

This study utilizes an experimental design to explore how different frames impact individuals' perceptions of Muslim women when portrayed in news coverage of protests from the Middle East and North Africa region. Specifically, this research investigates the influence of news media frames on U.S. public perceptions of Muslim women activists, focusing on the impact of the hijab to test various perspectives related to minorities, gender, and stereotypical representations. In addition to examining the effect of text (positive and negative frames) and visuals (no visuals, visuals featuring veiled Muslim women, and visuals of unveiled Muslim women) on perceptions, this study also analyzes the influence of the interaction effect of the text and visual frames. This dissertation employed a factorial design, utilizing Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) to conduct an online experiment. Participants were exposed to different news frames describing protests to assess their perceptions of Muslim women activists. One of the key findings of this study highlights the influence of Western-centric notions on perceptions of Muslims. Results demonstrated that positive text frames accompanied by visuals featuring unveiled women facilitated more positive implicit perceptions compared to negative frames. However, exposure to visuals featuring veiled women fostered more support toward Muslim women's protests compared to those exposed to unveiled visuals, regardless of whether the text frame is positive or negative. Additionally, results exhibited that preexisting stereotypes of oppression and victimization, along with interactions with Muslims, emerged as the most influential predictors in shaping perceptions. iv Based on the results, the author urges editors and journalists to carefully consider the goal of their coverage of protest news from the Middle East to ensure accurate and balanced portrayals that contribute to greater social inclusion, diversity, and equity in media discourse. The (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Louisa Ha PhD (Committee Chair); Kefa Otiso PhD (Other); Lara Langel PhD (Committee Member); Yanqin Lu PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Mass Media; Middle Eastern Studies; Minority and Ethnic Groups; Womens Studies

Master of Arts (MA), Wright State University, 2021, International and Comparative Politics

This study examined the catalysts for social movements around the globe; specifically, why and how the Arab Spring uprisings led to regime change in Tunisia, why they transformed into civil war in some countries of the Middle East and North Africa (Syria), and why they did not lead to significant change at all in other places (Bahrain). The overall results of the study confirmed that political and socio-economic grievances caused the Arab uprisings in Tunisia, Bahrain, and Syria. Tunisian protesters succeeded in regime change because of a united and structured social movement leading to an effective transitional democracy in the country, whereas Syria and Bahrain used their coercive apparatus, with the help of foreign intervention, to suppress demonstrators. Thus, on the Syrian side, protests transformed into civil war. Keywords: Arab Spring; Bahrain; Middle East and North Africa; Protests; Regime change; Social Movements; Syria; Transitional Democracy; and Tunisia.

Committee: Shannon Vaughn Ph.D. (Committee Chair); Liam Anderson Ph.D. (Committee Member); Awad Halabi Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: International Relations; Political Science

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2021, Sociology

This dissertation consists of three distinct analytic papers that are designed to be published as separate articles but are also unified around the theme of contentious politics in the contemporary Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The first two papers focus on Iran as a case study, while the last one includes seventeen countries from the MENA region. The first paper (chapter two) examines the relationship between elections and political repression in electoral authoritarian regimes. Results show that voter turnout in the previous presidential election is positively associated with chances of political repression occurring in the next four years. The second paper (chapter three) assesses the relationship between diaspora protest and protest activity inside the home country. This study concludes that protest among the diaspora has a cumulative, positive impact on protest inside the home country. The third paper (chapter four) analyzes the relationship between climate change and civil conflict in seventeen countries in the MENA region. This chapter includes analyses on national as well as subnational levels. Results reveal that on the national level, there is no substantive evidence of a link between climate change and civil conflict. On this level, socioeconomic variables and history of past conflict are the most important predictors of conflict. On the subnational level, however, areas with increasing temperatures and precipitation are less likely to witness civil conflict. Taken together, this dissertation sheds light on the relationships between political participation and political repression, diaspora protests and protest emergence under authoritarian rule, and climate change and conflict. Results of these analyses can be of use to scholars of contentious politics in the MENA region and those studying social movements in other societies, especially those ruled by undemocratic regimes.

Committee: Hollie Nyseth Brehm Ph.D. (Advisor); J. Craig Jenkins Ph.D. (Committee Member); Christopher Browning Ph.D. (Committee Member); Timothy Bartley Ph.D. (Committee Member) Subjects: Sociology

Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA), Ohio University, 2017, Business Administration

The purpose of this thesis is to explore the relationship between youth in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and social entrepreneurship. Specifically, this study looks at their interest in becoming social entrepreneurs, and at their perception on the impact of social entrepreneurship. This research contributes to the social entrepreneurship literature by exploring how youth can leverage social enterprise to contribute to the development of countries in the MENA developing region. A quantitative methodology with 77 survey respondents revealed that understanding the meaning of social entrepreneurship and being aware of the impact that social enterprises can enable youth interest in this field. This study concludes by recommending for social entrepreneurship education and institutional support from the government, private sector, and financial institutions to promote social entrepreneurial efforts among youth.

Committee: Ikenna Uzuegbunam Dr. (Advisor) Subjects: Business Administration; Entrepreneurship

Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.), Bowling Green State University, 2017, Media and Communication

This dissertation examines the fatwa, an Islamic religious ruling and scholarly opinion on matters of Islamic law, and how fatwa is used as cultural, political and legal rhetoric. It illustrates how rhetoric of ulama¿ [scholars trained in Islam and Islamic law], mutakallimun [theologians], muftis [group of theologians or canon lawyers], qadis [judges], professors, and Sheikh al Islam [the highest-level state religious official], play a role in culture and communication in the Islamic world to gain political, social, cultural, and spiritual control. Specifically, the dissertation examines two of the most renowned fatwas (fatawa) issued in the past three decades: First, the fatwa issued by Ayotallah Ruhollah Khomeini on Salman Rushdie, second, the fatwa issued on Bengali Bangladeshi ex-doctor turned author, Taslima Nasrin, who has lived in exile since 1994. The most important contribution to knowledge this dissertation makes is the analysis of the fatwa issued on Egyptian author and intellectual, Dr. Faraj Fodah, who was murdered in 1992. Next to no research or media coverage exists in western sources about Fodah's life, publications, accomplishments, and assassination. Additionally, comprehensive evidence and transcripts from the trial of Fodah's assassins is presented. A combination of rhetorical criticism and discourse analysis is applied to examine the rhetoric of fatwas. Also analyzed are global perceptions of fatwas issued on Rushdie and Nasrin, both controversial authors of South Asian heritage, their involvement with the western nations that gave each asylum, and the broader western discourses that have held both authors in esteem and as exemplars of free speech. The study enhances understanding of how religion is used as an instrument for power, prestige, and political gain in Arab and Muslim majority nations. The study also helps understanding of political and cultural turbulence in the Middle East and North Africa. Finally, the dissertation highli (open full item for complete abstract)

Committee: Alberto Gonzalez PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Lara Lengel PhD (Committee Co-Chair); Christopher Frey PhD (Other); Ellen Gorsevski PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Communication; Rhetoric

Doctor of Philosophy, The Ohio State University, 2011, Public Health

Background: Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death worldwide and is projected to cause nearly 450 million deaths worldwide during the next 50 year. Health professionals can play a critical role in reducing tobacco use. However, data on the competence of physicians from the Middle East and North Africa to offer tobacco cessation counseling are very scarce. The goal of this research is to determine how well prepared students in the Middle East and North Africa are with respect to providing cigarette and waterpipe smoking cessation advice, and to determine the prevalence of smoking and waterpipe use among Lebanese medical students. Methods: We surveyed the administrators who are familiar with the content of the curriculum in accredited medical schools from the Middle East and North African regions. We also surveyed third year medical students from Lebanon. The questionnaires included items about specific curricular content related to tobacco dependence and treatment. Descriptive statistics were reported by country and region and among the medical students in Lebanon. Results: There may be major gaps in medical training pertaining to tobacco related issues in medical school‘s curriculum in the Middle East and North Africa. The prevalence of tobacco use is high among Lebanese medical students. Discussion: Targeting the medical curriculum for improvement in tobacco use and cessation in countries of the Middle East and North Africa will not only help this region, but it will also serve as an international effort to contain a global phenomenon.

Committee: Amy Ferketich PhD (Committee Chair); Philip Binkley MD (Committee Member); Phyllis Pirie PhD (Committee Member); Mary Ellen Wewers PhD (Committee Member) Subjects: Epidemiology; Public Health