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Language and Power: A Critical Discourse Analysis of Egypt’s Housing Narratives
Get PDFThe issue of housing in Egypt is an evolving historical phenomenon intricately tied to the Egyptian identity, and deeply embedded in the social and political fabric. Common language shapes actual realities and it forms an integral part of the cultural parameters. This research is a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the housing narrative across four consecutive ruling regimes with distinct political orientations. It deploys a two-stage CDA approach. The first stage involves ideological codification of the narrative to chronologically organize them into their ideological orientations and categories. The second stage historicizes data via a dual approach, namely integrating Norman Fairclough\u27s three-dimensional model and Michel Foucault\u27s power-oriented discourse analysis. Through examining newspaper archives, media outlets, policy statements, legal documents, and public announcements, the study aims to unveil the ideologies embedded in the social, political, and economic fabric and the relationship to the language used in the narrative and the actual situation. CDA deploys linguistic tools to explore the evolution of the narrative by investigating lexical changes, the use of assumptions, and the dialogical orientations in the data collected, elucidating the profound impact of language on shaping, and reinforcing the housing industry in Egypt. It is argued that the discourse surrounding the housing industry in Egypt unfolds as a dynamic narrative, marked by fluctuations in the identification of a ‘crisis’ and the perceived causes behind it. Hence, the term ‘housing crisis’ has emerged as a metaphor in the housing narrative across the time frames under study. This research discerns the intricate relationship between the identified categories in the housing narrative and how they evolve over time and the role of power in constructing actual housing situation. Ultimately, through the application of CDA, it becomes clear that the ‘crisis’ narrative serves as a political construct to establish power and control
Dreams of an Elsewhere or Aspiring to Stay? Navigating Anxious Youthhood and Migration in Morocco
Get PDFMigration in Morocco has long been a topic of scholarly and public debate, with a particular emphasis on low-skilled labor migration. Nonetheless, there is still a significant need to figure out the aspirations of educated, skilled youth regarding their desire to move or stay in the country. This thesis investigates the aspirations of educated youth in Casablanca, Morocco, and how they are influenced by the changing dynamics of contemporary Morocco. It addresses youth aspirations and migration by examining the elements affecting their decisions within the context of the country’s current economic, social, and political contexts. The primary focus of this research revolves around introducing the contemporary dynamics in Morocco, particularly how socioeconomic factors shape the aspirations of its educated youth. Key questions include why some Moroccan youth perceive their homeland as a desirable place to build their futures, while others entertain migratory aspirations. Drawing on qualitative ethnographic fieldwork, this study provides a new perspective, exposing the nuances of youth aspirations beyond the prevalent migration discourse. The lack of scholarly attention to the aspirations of skilled individuals in modern Moroccan society motivated this research. Using theoretical frameworks such as vulnerability, mobilization, waithood, wait space, and l- brra, the study explores the challenges and aspirations of Moroccan youth. The findings demonstrate that young Moroccans\u27 aspirations are inextricably tied to the dynamic nature of their country. Some see a bright future for Morocco, fueled by existing possibilities and the flood of foreign investment, while others face severe structural and systemic barriers. These challenges, along with ongoing privatization in critical sectors like health and education, intensify sentiments of uncertainty and vulnerability among young people, particularly those from the lower middle class. In addition, cultural and social norms, especially through a gender lens, determine the migratory goals and experiences of young Moroccans. These findings will be discussed in-depth and in detail in the subsequent sections
Navigating the Nexus: Competition Law, Data Privacy, and Regulatory Challenges in the Digital Economy
Get PDFCompetition law and data privacy meet at a crucial point in the growing digital economy, making it essential to delve into their intricate relationship. This thesis investigates how competition law and data protection law interact within the digital market. It examines how data protection regulations influence market dynamics and competition, and how competition law affects data processing and individual rights during the digital transformation. By thoroughly exploring key themes, such as historical context, current challenges, and regulatory responses, this research aims to shed light on the changing regulatory landscape and its impact on future frameworks in the digital era. The thesis argues that a balanced approach is essential to promote innovation, protect consumer welfare, and safeguard individual privacy rights in the digital age. It delves into the challenges posed by zero-price markets, the impact of big data as a competitive advantage for tech firms, the legal framework governing data privacy, and the regulatory responses aimed at bridging the gap between competition law and data privacy, epitomized by the European Union\u27s Digital Markets Act. Through this multidimensional exploration, the thesis aims to provide a holistic understanding of the intricate interplay between competition law and data privacy, shedding light on the challenges, opportunities, and implications for the future of regulatory frameworks in the digital age
Art You Can Taste: Cooking and Eating in a Gallery / فن يمكنك تذوقه: الطهي وتناول الطعام في المعرض الفني
No full textCooking and eating have been deployed by artists as a medium of expression that subverts expectations regarding art preservation and social relations in the institutional setting, while promoting artworks as a kind of phenomenon that can be fully embodied. This article analyzes three different artistic manifestations that combine food and art, in order to demonstrate how their alliance manifests a range of possible relations between the audience and the artworks and calls our attention to the ways in which food can be mobilized to foster social and environmental practices in the artworld and beyond.
استخدم العديد من الفنانين الطهي والطعام في أعمالهم الفنية بوصفهما وسيلة تعبير قادرة على قلب التوقعات المتعلقة بمفاهيم الحفاظ على الفن والعلاقات الاجتماعية داخل المؤسسات الفنية، وإنتاج أعمال فنية بوصفها نوعاً من الظواهر التي يمكن للمتلقي تجسيدها بالكامل. تحلل هذه المقالة ثلاثة تجليات للطعام في أعمال فنية حديثة ومعاصرة، لتتناول كيفية خلق علاقات جديدة ومتنوعة بين المتلقي والأعمال الفنية، كما تظهر كيف لفتت الطرق التي ﻭﻇﱢﻒ بها الطعام فنياً انتباهنا لتعزيز أنشطة اجتماعية وبيئية في عالم الفن وخارجه
Daughters and Fathers in Memoirs: Najla Said and Fatima Bhutto
Get PDFThe father-daughter relationship has always been crucial in shaping the identity of the daughter. Daughters inevitably inherit their fathers’ personal trauma, and in the case of the daughters of activists, national trauma as well. Throughout childhood, adolescence, and adulthood, daughters struggle to depoliticize their famous fathers, as well as assert their individuality amidst the overshadowing activism of their fathers and conflictual history of their nations. To heal the daughters’ identity fissures, they embark on a journey to chronicle memories of their fathers throughout their lives and critically assess their fathers’ cultural, social and political heritage and identity. This thesis will explore motifs such as: the personal and national intergenerational transmissions from fathers to daughters; the daughters’ exploration of their personal and communal identities, as well as national and filial duties. The memoirs examined in the thesis are: Looking for Palestine: Growing Up Confused in an Arab-American Family (2013) by Arab-American author Najla Said and daughter of Edward Said, as well as Songs of Blood and Sword: A Daughter’s Memoir (2010) by Fatima Bhutto, Pakistani poet, daughter of Mir Murtaza Bhutto, and granddaughter of the late president of Pakistan Zulfikar Ali Bhutto
Towards an Inclusive Media Policy Framework Targeting Adolescents in Egypt
Get PDFFor years, adolescents have been lost between adulthood and childhood. This is even reflected in the policies that directly affect their lives and well-being. In Egypt, there has hardly been a clear political line on how the media should deal with adolescents. As this age group belongs to childhood, most of the laws and regulations are hardly dedicated to address them despite their different characteristics. Within the Egyptian context, there are children\u27s laws concerned with basic children\u27s rights and other laws that relate to the media. However, we notice a gap in adolescent-friendly laws, policies and regulations, especially in the field of media. This study attempts to answer the question of what is needed to ensure the development of adolescents through media content that targets at them. In order to explore the way forward for a more inclusive media policy targeting adolescents in Egypt, a qualitative approach was taken by engaging media experts and Egyptian adolescents directly through interviews and focus groups. The research revealed a dire need for a holistic approach to developing appropriate adolescent media policies. The main research findings concerned the lack of control over the available content addressing adolescents. The importance of raising awareness was also one of the key findings mentioned by experts, families and interviewed adolescents. The study also found that media content aimed at adolescents lacks values which are essential for this age and that alternative content and/or spaces are ultimately needed. The study calls for creating a framework tailored to young people that focuses more on their needs and offers alternatives to the available content targeting adolescents. This study is a first step towards defining the necessary components for a future adolescent-oriented media policy. It advocates for placing adolescent-centered approaches at the heart of any intervention that relates to their wellbeing
University Students\u27 Wellbeing: A Case Study of an International Private University in Egypt
Get PDFWellbeing is a crucial topic that is gaining increasing attention in higher education and should be taken into careful consideration. This is a qualitative case study, using a phenomenological approach, which explores the phenomenon of student wellbeing in an international private university in Egypt. Data was collected through semi-structured individual interviews with a total of fourteen participants: eight purposefully selected students who have taken part in wellbeing programs, initiatives, or events at the American University in Cairo (AUC), as well as six faculty/staff members, leaders, mentors, or coaches in the field were interviewed. In addition to the interviews, conversations were held with two key informants about student accommodation letters as well as other relevant information to study wellbeing at AUC. Participant observation was another data collection tool integrated to study one of the most recent mental health and wellbeing events more closely. Key findings on students’ experiences with and recommendations for dealing with wellbeing are highlighted, along with the responses of stakeholders on this matter, the responses of key informants, and personal insights from the participant observation. Results portrayed that some of the most common wellbeing issues among AUC students revolved around stress, anxiety, depression, and imposter syndrome. Some coping strategies presented to address such wellbeing issues included mindfulness and meditation, extracurricular activities, journaling, time management, positive affirmations, as well as having support systems and a healthy lifestyle.
Keywords: Higher education, students, wellbeing, coping strategies, Egyp
Can miRNA be the Missing Link Between Parkinson’s Disease and Pesticides?
Get PDFParkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative condition that leads to significant morbidity and a decline in the quality of life. It develops as a consequence of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. Nevertheless, the development of PD is influenced by environmental factors, and the intricate nature of these relationships is further complicated by a multitude of factors, including the genetic backgrounds that are specific to populations and variations in environmental exposures, such as pesticides. Pesticides, consisting of a diverse family of chemicals commonly used in both agricultural and household settings to protect crops against insects and fungus, have been identified as potentially notable risk factors for the onset of PD. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the expression profiles of a new set of candidate miRNAs associated with the pathogenesis of PD and environmental exposure. The study focused on examining the expression of s hsa-miR34c-5p, hsa -miR132-3p, hsa -miR-7-5p, hsa- miR-181a-5p, hsa -miR-29c,3p, hsa-miR-155-5p, and hsa-miR-17-5p in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) derived from Egyptian patients with PD and comparing them with a reference control group. Furthermore, the analysis extends to include the examination of miRNA expression in both the mild and severe stages of PD patients, along with reference controls, to ascertain whether there is a correlation between miRNA expression and the severity of the disease. Additionally, an exploratory investigation has been conducted to investigate the role of these candidate miRNAs in the early events of PD by comparing the expression profiles of early-onset and normal-onset PD patients with the reference group. A consensus-based strategy has also been proposed to analyze the data on miRNA expression to gain a more profound understanding of the molecular regulatory changes that occur during Parkinson’s disease. The levels of miRNA expression in PBMCs obtained from 50 patients with PD and 39 control subjects were evaluated using the reverse transcription-quantitative real-time PCR method. The study also assessed the ability of these expression levels to distinguish between patients with Parkinson’s disease and reference individuals by ROC curve analysis. A dysregulated miRNA-based network was constructed in PD using an approach that involved consensus, integration, and identification of respective targets and transcription factors. In addition, enrichment analysis was performed to obtain the enriched gene ontology and pathways. Our results demonstrated significant downregulation of hsa-miR-34c, miR-132, miR-7, and miR-29c and overexpression of hsa- miR-181a and miR-155. On the other hand, miR-17-5p did not show any significant differences. Nevertheless, the level of expression of miR-17 showed significant upregulation with disease severity. The blood level of expression of miR-34c, miR-132, miR-7, and miR-17 showed downregulation in the mild stage of PD compared the reference group and higher in the severe stages of the disease compared the mild stages of PD. Additionally, a significant upregulation of miR-181a was observed in the early onset of PD patients compared with the reference group. mir-132, miR7, and miR-29c showed a noteworthy downregulation in the early onset compared tothe control group. miR-7 and miR-29c showed a satisfactory value of AUC = (0.764, 0.745) to discriminate between individuals with PD and the reference control group; moreover, miR-132 reported a significant AUC = 0.816 to differentiate between PD patients and the control group, which suggests it can potentially be used as a blood biomarker. In addition, the seven miRNAs were linked to known PD pathways, and candidate-related target genes were presented.in-silico analysis identified candidate target genes and TFs, including those related to neurodegeneration and PD
Experiences of Female Academic Leaders in Higher Education: A Case Study in Cairo
Get PDFSuch as in many contexts, the gender gap in higher education leadership persists universally. Women are still underrepresented despite the contributions they demonstrate in leading higher education institutions. This study aims to contribute to the area of research in this regard by exploring the experiences of female academic leaders in Cairo, Egypt. It specifically highlights the challenges these women face, and how they manage to overcome it. Using a qualitative approach to deeply explore the phenomenon, ten interviews were conducted with female leaders at the American University in Cairo. Looking through the lens of intersectional feminism, under the umbrella of neo-patriarchy theory, this research explores the different indicators that shape and influence the experiences of these women while examining the interplay of the socio-cultural, professional, and institutional obstacles these women must deal with. The study’s findings shed light on the different intersectional indicators that appear to influence female leadership in higher education when coined with gender. This last appears to be a significant determinant. The paper concludes that an intersectional perspective is needed by higher education institutions to improve the situation of female leaders in academia
