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The Hypocrisy Behind The Absolute Banning Of Torture: Historical Fallacies, Factual Necessities, And Judicial Artifices
Get PDFThe absolute and non-derogatory prohibition of torture is embedded in almost every international or regional human rights instrument that deals with civil rights. However, this ban witnesses a diversion between theory and practice. While this diversion is comprehendible in authoritarian states, democratic regimes also implement it in some instances. This usage notably arose in the wake of the 11th of September 2001 and the accompanying usage of physical coercion in the interrogation processes. Simultaneously, some scattered, though notable, scholarly voices started challenging the absolute prohibition against torture. This pro-torture school of thought echoed in some legislative and executive works. The judiciary, as well, was in a complicated situation between preserving its heritage in defending human rights and its role in preserving state security. Such a hardship was reflected in the language of the verdicts. The sum of these scholarly, legislative, executive, and judicial momentum was still minor and could not change the well- established absolute prohibition. This paper argues that the denial of absolute prohibition has existed forever and will continue to exist. The 9/11 incidents only brought it to the surface. I further dispute the effectiveness of the focus on absolute prohibition as an effective tool to curb torture with all the hard cases it raises
National Efforts in Climate Change Adaptation in Agriculture: Assessing Policies and Practices in Egypt’s Nile Delta
Get PDFClimate change significantly threatens global security and environmental stability, impacting various sectors, especially the agricultural sector (IPCC, 2021). Climate change has already diminished Egypt’s agricultural productivity by 15 percent (Nassr et al., 2021). In response, the Egyptian government has intensified its efforts to increase agricultural practices adaptation, such as Egypt\u27s 2050 Climate Strategy, the National Water Resources Plan (NWRP 2017-2037), and the NWFE program (NCCS, 2022; NWRP, 2017; NWFE, 2022). Nevertheless, the national policies and efforts remain underexplored in the literature, and their evaluations are not accessible to the public (Grindle, 2017). This research aims to assess the extent to which national climate change policies have encouraged a change in agricultural adaptation practices in Egypt’s Nile Delta. The study employs a qualitative exploratory approach, gathering data through semi-structured interviews with stakeholders, including farm owners, government stakeholders, and experts, to analyze their perspectives on how these policies have induced change (Neuman, 2014). The findings of this research indicate that there is a disconnect between policy and on-ground implementation in Egypt, derived from crucial aspects such as the absence of robust policy implementation mechanisms, institutional incoherence, and insufficient climate change awareness among farmers (Grigorieva et al., 2023; Patel & Mwangi, 2023). The research stresses the importance of improving adaptation in agricultural practices through enhanced policy implementation mechanisms to ensure that the agricultural sector achieves optimal productivity (Smit & Olesen, 2013). The recommendations include developing transparent and accountable evaluation frameworks for policies and institutions, fostering public-private partnerships, increasing capacity-building programs, and implementing a hybrid system between centralized and decentralized institutional systems (Grindle, 2017; FAO, 2021)
Beyond Legislation: Challenges and Opportunities of the Inclusion of Vulnerable Migrants to the Formal Egyptian Labour Market
No full textEgypt hosts a significant number of refugees, asylum-seekers, and vulnerable migrants. There are over 9 million migrants of diverse nationalities, including 1.5 million migrants living in a vulnerable situation (JPMR, 2022). As of June 2025, approximately one million registered refugees and asylum-seekers reside in Egypt (UNHCR, 2025). This substantial population faces considerable legal, economic, and social hurdles. Their presence in the Egyptian labor market presents a complex dynamic, given that they are mostly present in the informal labor market, making it more challenging for the state to benefit from their inclusion in the formal labor market. Furthermore, the formal inclusion faced many challenges, initially, legislative. However, after the issuance of the Asylum Law No.164 in December 2024, a unified legal framework was established, which, in theoretical terms, fostered inclusion. Nevertheless, the pre-existing challenges went beyond the legal framework, which is the focus of this paper, namely, to highlight these challenges and provide evidence-based solutions accordingly.
This policy paper offers a comprehensive framework for integrating refugees, asylum -seekers, and vulnerable migrants into the Egyptian labor market, serving as a guide for the upcoming executive regulation and further policies and legislations on that matter. It examines the current obstacles these individuals face in accessing employment, explores the potential economic and social advantages of their inclusion, analyses existing Egyptian policies, and reviews successful integration models from other nations. The findings of the paper lead to three interconnected policy options: governance, legal access, and skills recognition.
The paper distinguishes between its respective target groups, as asylum-seekers, refugees, and vulnerable migrants are identified differently and carry a different legislative framework. Therefore, the paper identifies each target group separately, explores the challenges that go well beyond the legislative framework, and reflects on the opportunities and policy recommendations to utilise and overcome those challenges
CASAR Public lecture: The Fierce Battle for the 2024 US Presidency: Race, Gender, and the Power of Identity Politics
Get PDFIn light of the upcoming 2024 US Elections, we hosted this lecture on SUNDAY OCTOBER 27TH - 1-2 pm titled: The Fierce Battle for the 2024 US Presidency: Race, Gender, and the Power of Identity Politics. Speakers: CASAR guest speaker Dr. Sherri McFarland - moderated by CASAR Assistant to Director and Adjunct Faculty Yasmeen El-Ghazaly. Dr. Sherri Lynn McFarland\u27s academic and professional careers demonstrate her passionate desire to contribute to the economic, social, and political progress of African and Middle Eastern North African (MENA) countries and their diasporic communities. Her keen interest in the people of these regions led her to specialize in Sudanese affairs during her doctoral studies at Howard University. Dr. McFarland has conducted extensive research on Egypt, Sudan, Somalia, and other countries culturally and politically aligned with both the Arab and African worlds for over twenty years. As a result, she possesses a comprehensive understanding of the political, social, and economic issues affecting sustainable development in Africa and the Middle East. Dr. McFarland\u27s extensive knowledge of international security and development issues fueled her desire to establish peace educational programs that advanced a deeper understanding of issues that stifle sustainable development. Currently, Dr. McFarland is conducting independent research at the American University in Cairo, focusing on the plight of Sudanese refugees and other refugee communities in Egypt. She continues to expand her knowledge concerning religion, ethnicity, and female agency in Africa and the Middle East.
This lecture was a joint collaboration between CASAR and the Tomorrow’s Leaders Gender Scholarship Program at AUC
Venue: P007 lecture hall - Campus Conference Center rooms - AUC New Cairo Campus
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INTERGENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS WITHIN FAMILY BUSINESSES: A CONCEPTUAL MODEL FOR UNDERSTANDING STRATEGIC IMPACT
No full textPurpose: Sustainability is gaining increasing importance, and family businesses—with their unique characteristics such as long-term vision and the influence of family values— play a crucial role in this context. However, generational dynamics within business families (founder, current leader, rising generation) can significantly shape the firm’s approach to environmental issues, given the differences in perspectives, values, and experiences. Existing literature, though expanding, has not sufficiently explored how these internal generational differences interact to form the collective environmental awareness of business families and how this is reflected in the firm’s strategic direction and actual environmental performance. There is a lack of conceptual frameworks linking generational gap theories, environmental psychology, and family business management. This research aims to fill this knowledge gap by exploring and understanding the nature of potential differences in environmental awareness and priorities across successive generations within family businesses and analyzing the mechanisms through which these differences influence environmental strategic decisions and performance. The study seeks to propose a conceptual model that illustrates these complex relationships, paving the way for deeper understanding of how internal generational dynamics shape the environmental trajectory of family firms.
Design/methodology/approach: Given its exploratory nature and the goal of building theoretical understanding, this study adopts a qualitative methodology based primarily on qualitative content analysis of publicly available data. This approach will focus on analyzing various documents (annual and sustainability reports, website content, media statements) from a purposive sample of family firms that disclose generational and/or sustainability-related information. Materials will be thematically analyzed to identify indicators of environmental awareness, priorities, and strategies, and their potential linkage to different generations (via temporal shifts or attributed statements). Supporting theoretical frameworks (such as generational theory) and secondary literature reviews will contextualize the findings. This approach enables in-depth understanding and the development of a conceptual model that can serve as a basis for future empirical research.
Anticipated Findings: The study is expected to reveal noticeable variations in environmental awareness and priorities among different generations. Younger generations (Millennials/Gen Z) may show more progressive attitudes and stronger commitment to integrated sustainability, potentially pushing for more ambitious environmental strategies and green investments. In contrast, older generations may focus on traditional economic considerations and regulatory compliance, viewing environmental initiatives without direct returns more cautiously. This generational variance is anticipated to lead to complex internal dynamics (tensions or collaboration) that shape the firm’s environmental strategy and performance. Mediating factors such as company size, industry, family culture, and governance structures are likely to influence these relationships.
Paper type: This paper is classified as a conceptual study. Its aim is to develop a theoretical framework to understand how differentiated environmental awareness across generations impacts family businesses\u27 strategies and environmental performance. It synthesizes and discusses relevant literature, identifies potential relationships, and proposes explanatory mechanisms, offering a model that can underpin future empirical studies and provide insights for both scholars and practitioners.
Originality: The originality of this research lies in its intersection across three vital fields: generational studies, environmental awareness, and family business management. This intersection—specifically, the influence of generationally diverse environmental awareness on strategy and performance in family firms—remains underexplored. The study makes a valuable theoretical contribution by developing a conceptual framework that integrates these domains and highlights potential mechanisms. Such understanding is crucial for academic advancement and for managerial practices amid generational transitions and growing sustainability pressures.
Social/practical implications: The findings can help family firms and their leaders better understand and manage generational dynamics related to environmental issues, facilitating internal dialogue and the development of more inclusive and aligned sustainability strategies. Consultants can leverage the insights to support their clients. On a societal level, understanding how family firms approach environmental challenges can aid policymakers and supporting organizations in designing more effective initiatives to promote responsible environmental practices in this key sector, contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals.
Limitations: The main limitations include reliance on publicly available data, which may not accurately reflect internal realities, and the conceptual nature of the paper, which requires empirical testing for validation and generalization. Isolating the generational awareness effect from other intertwined factors may be challenging, and generational definitions/classifications may be somewhat simplified. The research provides theoretical insights that need to be substantiated by empirical evidence.
Future research: The study opens avenues for future research: conducting empirical (quantitative and qualitative) studies to validate the framework; exploring mediating and moderating factors (such as governance structures, family cohesion, industry pressures); expanding the scope to diverse cultural and industrial contexts; investigating the impact of environmental awareness and training programs targeting business families; and adopting longitudinal perspectives to trace the evolution of environmental awareness and strategies across generations
Policy Paper on Incorporating Migrant Children in a Strengthened Public Education System
No full textA transit, destination, and sending country, Egypt generously hosts more than one million refugees and asylum seekers (UNHCR, 2025), in addition to several migrants estimated at nine million in 2022 (IOM, 2022). Against this backdrop, the country is currently facing growing challenges in ensuring access to quality, inclusive, and equitable primary education for migrant and refugee children, particularly following the arrival of Sudanese nationals since April 2023, when the conflict in Sudan erupted. Egypt’s new Asylum Law No. 164 of 2024 grants de jure access to basic education for all refugee children until the age of 14, yet the law has not been enacted, since it was only issued last December. Currently, only a few nationalities, including Sudan, are granted access to basic education based on bilateral agreements. Furthermore, substantial legal, administrative, financial, and psychosocial barriers continue to hinder these nationalities’ de facto integration into the public education system. These include overburdened school infrastructure, discrimination, lack of legal documentation, and the absence of a unified policy framework for community -based learning centers. As a result, many Sudanese migrant children1 remain excluded from education or are enrolled in informal systems that lack regulation, sustainability, and pathways to formal certification. This policy paper focuses on school-aged Sudanese migrant children, especially at the primary education level, with an emphasis on high-density migrant communities across Greater Cairo. The paper draws on stakeholder interviews, roundtable discussions, and existing research to assess and build on current efforts, such as those implemented under the Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees (JPMR), and propose actionable policy options aligned with Egypt’s legal obligations and development goals. The paper presents two policy alternatives designed to facilitate both short-term and long-term educational inclusion of migrant children. First, the development of Hybrid Learning for Equitable Access to Education is proposed, aiming to introduce a blended approach that combines in-person and digital instruction, thereby enabling flexible and scalable access to education. This particularly benefits children with disrupted learning histories, language barriers, or limited access to school facilities. Second, Supervised Community Learning Centers (CLC) Engagement is proposed to allow children to register in the homeschooling track in public schools, sit for public school exams, while attending CLCs. This option integrates CLCs as transitional education spaces that follow the Egyptian curriculum, allowing Sudanese migrant children to prepare for and take national exams while gradually transitioning into public schools. The model is community-driven, overseen by the Ministry of Education and Technical Education (MoETE), the Joint Platform for Migrants and Refugees (JPMR), and the Education Working Group (EWG), and includes teacher training, enrichment programs, and legal recognition mechanisms
Trust Pathways in Digital Journalism: Comparing Western and National News Media Influence on Civic Engagement in Egypt
Get PDFAbstract: Trust remains fundamental to an audience’s engagement with digital journalism, yet research has predominantly focused on Western contexts, overlooking trust dynamics in diverse digital environments. This study examines news media trust and civic engagement in Egypt’s evolving digital landscape, comparing Western and national digital news consumption patterns. Using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling with data from 426 Egyptian digital news consumers, we apply a four-factor trust model to analyze (1) the relationship between trust propensity and trust in digital news content and (2) how journalist assessment relates to both content trust and civic engagement across platforms. Our results reveal significant differences in trust formation, whereby trust propensity strongly predicts content trust for Western digital media (β = 0.440) but weakly for national digital media (β = 0.191), while journalist assessment consistently influences both content trust and civic outcomes across platforms. Our findings contribute to digital journalism theory by illuminating how journalist credibility functions as a trust anchor across platforms. For digital journalism practice, we identify platform-specific trust-building strategies for Western and national digital news organizations operating in complex media environments. This study extends digital journalism research beyond Western-centric models, demonstrating how cultural context, educational factors, and platform characteristics shape digital trust pathways
Investigating the Regulatory Impact of non-coding RNAs on Meis1
Get PDFMyeloid ecotropic virus insertion site 1 (MEIS1) is a transcription factor involved in a myriad of functions such as hematopoiesis, cardiac regeneration, cell cycle progression, cell proliferation, and limb and organ development. Precise control of MEIS1 expression and function is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis and preventing pathological conditions including cancer. Emerging evidence suggests that non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) play a significant role in fine-tuning MEIS1 activity. Unmasking these regulatory mechanisms could provide potential therapeutic strategies for conditions where MEIS1 is aberrantly expressed. The present dissertation presents a comprehensive overview of current knowledge on MEIS1, synthesizing findings from the literature to highlight its functional versatility and its implications in crucial functions such as carcinogenesis, proliferation, differentiation, cardiovascular regeneration, cell cycle arrest, maintenance of hematopoiesis, and organ patterning and development. This thesis also explores the regulation of MEIS1 at the transcriptional, post transcriptional, and post-translational levels, with particular attention to its complex interactions with the non-coding transcriptome. Building on this foundation, this work presents our experimental approach to explore novel regulatory mechanisms that may influence Meis1 expression and function, with a particular focus on microRNAs (miRNAs/miRs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Using in-silico analysis, miR-499-5p was predicted to target Meis1, and Malat1 was predicted and previously proven to sponge miR-499-5p. For the first time, we showed that forcing the expression of miR-499-5p downregulates Meis1 messenger RNA (mRNA) and protein in C166 cells by directly binding to its 3’UTR. Moreover, Malat1 knockdown significantly increases miR-499-5p expression, subsequently suppressing Meis1. Furthermore, through BrdU proliferation assay, we showed that the knockdown of Malat1, Meis1, or mimicking the expression of miR-499-5p promoted cell proliferation. Gene Ontology, KEGG and Reactome enrichment analyses on proteins identified via mass spectrometry after manipulating Malat1, miR-499-5p, or Meis1 revealed a multitude of differentially expressed proteins related to cell cycle, cell division, and key pathways like Wnt and mTOR, essential for cell proliferation. Finally, since Malat1 and miR 499-5p are conserved in humans and mice, we examined the expression pattern of both ncRNAs in neonatal, postnatal, and adult mice hearts, representing models of proliferative and non-proliferative tissues. We highlighted a paradoxical pattern, where Malat1 is underexpressed while miR-499-5p is overexpressed in proliferative neonatal cardiomyocytes. Collectively, our experimental findings confirm that Malat1 sponges miR-499-5p, regulating Meis1, and that Malat1/miR-499-5p/Meis1 could potentially form an axis that has a pivotal influence on cellular proliferation. Lastly, this thesis highlights the therapeutic potential of modulating MEIS1 activity by presenting current strategies and available pharmacological molecules that target MEIS1. Particular emphasis is placed on RNA-based therapies, such as antisense oligonucleotides (ASO), Locked Nucleic Acid (LNA) gapmers, and miRNA inhibitors, which represent promising tools for future therapeutic applications and warrant further investigation
Measuring Return and Volatility Interactions Across GCC Equity Indices and Cryptocurrencies
Get PDFThis research is examining how volatility travels between major cryptocurrencies and Gulf stock markets. Using daily data for six GCC equity indices (ADX, BAX, DFMGI, KSE, QE, TASI) and five leading cryptocurrencies (Bitcoin, Ethereum, XRP, Dash, Monero) from 2017–2022. Our methodology contains a three-step framework consists of a univariate Garch (1,1) to assess the volatility of each asset. A bivariant BEKK Garch to measure shocks transmission and volatility transmission from cryptocurrencies to Gulf stock market. The last step is using the DCC Garch model to model the time varying correlation. We also split the sample before and after January 2020 to evaluate COVID-19’s effect on cross-market relationship.
Our findings show that the volatility of the cryptocurrencies is much higher and more persistent than the GCC stocks from Garch (1,1). Using the BEKK-GARCH model, we find that volatility spillovers from cryptocurrencies into Gulf stock markets are more pronounced than the direct transmission of shocks. The largest, most liquid coins especially Ethereum and Bitcoin are the main transmitters, while exposure on the Gulf side is uneven. The DCC-GARCH results suggest that, although average correlations between cryptocurrencies and Gulf stocks remain low, they spike during periods of market stress such as the early covid-19 outbreak. Also, the covid-19 creates a turning point by broadening correlation, increasing volatility transmission and changing several signs in correlation and volatility transmission. Which means that the diversification advantage of cryptocurrencies loses its value when investors care the most during stressful times.
In sum, despite regulatory barriers, GCC markets are not insulated from cryptocurrency dynamics. Investors may benefit from cryptocurrencies as diversifiers in stable times, but correlations intensify during crises. For policymakers, the widening post-covid spillovers highlight the need to monitor crypto markets when preparing for stress events
(Post-)Colonial Shakespeares: Macbeth in South Africa
Get PDFThe history of Shakespeare in South Africa is that of an often contested cultural battleground, with meanings fought over across a colonial boundary. In Chapter One, we examine some of the many cultural intersections between Shakespeare and South African rewriters. In the process, we can see how Shakespeare came to the region as a tool for colonial domination, but would eventually be used to rebuke the colonial narrative that was conservatively ascribed to him. He was used to enforce racial and political hierarchies, particularly through missionary education and institutions like the “Kaffir Institution.” The anxieties surrounding the ‘overproduction’ of Western-educated Black South Africans are examined through Homi Bhabha’s theory of colonial mimicry. Shakespeare’s dual role as both a tool of colonial control and a resource for anti-colonial resistance is a central point of focus for this thesis. By following the journey of Shakespeare through South Africa’s history, we can see how Black South African figures appropriated Shakespeare. Famed Setswana translator Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje even gave Shakespeare his Setswana name: “William Tsikinya-Chaka.” The second chapter of this thesis looks at Welcome Msomi’s uMabatha (1970), a Zulu adaptation of Macbeth. It argues that the play systematically flattens Zulu cultural forms to render them recognizable in a Shakespearean framework by stripping them of complexity. Though celebrated internationally as an “authentic” African Shakespeare, the play often caters to the Western view, giving credence to colonial stereotypes and minimizing the trauma of colonization. In the third and final chapter, we examine Pieter-Dirk Uys’ tragedy turned to farce MacBeki (2009) to reveal how the post-apartheid ruling elite mimic colonial and apartheid-era power structures. Uys’ adaptation transforms Shakespearean tragedy into farce, in the process highlighting the ongoing corruption of the ANC elite and disillusionment in their administration. The thesis as a whole shows that Shakespeare’s role in the South African cultural landscape has been that of a palimpsest, that is constantly reinscribed and reinterpreted to suit warring political agendas, emphasizing the ongoing negotiation of cultural identity and power