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Population Levels, Trends and Policies in the Arab Region: Challenges and Opportunities
... It is worth mentioning that the last three countries were among the first countries that officially supported family planning programs. In the 1960s, these governments started implementing a series of family planning programs to improve national health conditions and guarantee a low population growth as part of their national development policies [7]. Among the MENA region countries, Iran, Lebanon, Tunisia, and Turkey have reached a TFR below the replacement level [8]. ...
... Health carerelated Improved primary care services and integration of family planning programs [12,16,18,22,23], greater confidence of parents in the survival of their children [21], reduced rate of infant/child/maternal mortality [11,17,22,[24][25][26], increased rate of modern contraceptive use [7,10,11,17,[19][20][21][22][23], promoted maternal-child health services [17], increased beds/hospitals relative to population size [15], increased men's participation in reproductive/sexual health practices [23] Cultural Changes in women's attitudes towards employment [12], weakening of traditional values and norms of MENA societies concerning parenting and child-raising, and strengthening of their tendencies to the norms of Western cultures [14,16,21], increased women's tendency to get married at older ages [10,21,23], changes in people's beliefs about marriage and parenting [18], increased tendency to form smaller families [21,23] Economic High costs of marriage and child-raising [12,13,21,23], inflation [18], housing and employment problems [11,13,23], economic development and improved living standards [20], increased countries' per capita income [15,24], youth's economic expectations, increased GDP per capita [20] Social Increased urbanization [7,10,12,14,17,[20][21][22], increased educational levels (especially of women) [7, 10-13, 15-17, 19-24], women's empowerment [7,17], increased rate of migration (especially to foreign countries) [21], reduced rate of early marriage [23] Political Governments' direct support policies for family planning [11, 13-15, 20, 21, 23], abolishment of restrictions to the realization of women's rights (e.g., revision of divorce laws) increased legal age of marriage [21,23], the establishment of restrictions for polygamy [21], attempts to reduce people's tendency to have male children [23] women is higher than that of women in other parts of the world due to the impacts of Islamic culture on them [29]. Nonetheless, the present study's results were not in line with Hirschman's findings regarding the impact of religious values on the TFR decline. ...
... Health carerelated Improved primary care services and integration of family planning programs [12,16,18,22,23], greater confidence of parents in the survival of their children [21], reduced rate of infant/child/maternal mortality [11,17,22,[24][25][26], increased rate of modern contraceptive use [7,10,11,17,[19][20][21][22][23], promoted maternal-child health services [17], increased beds/hospitals relative to population size [15], increased men's participation in reproductive/sexual health practices [23] Cultural Changes in women's attitudes towards employment [12], weakening of traditional values and norms of MENA societies concerning parenting and child-raising, and strengthening of their tendencies to the norms of Western cultures [14,16,21], increased women's tendency to get married at older ages [10,21,23], changes in people's beliefs about marriage and parenting [18], increased tendency to form smaller families [21,23] Economic High costs of marriage and child-raising [12,13,21,23], inflation [18], housing and employment problems [11,13,23], economic development and improved living standards [20], increased countries' per capita income [15,24], youth's economic expectations, increased GDP per capita [20] Social Increased urbanization [7,10,12,14,17,[20][21][22], increased educational levels (especially of women) [7, 10-13, 15-17, 19-24], women's empowerment [7,17], increased rate of migration (especially to foreign countries) [21], reduced rate of early marriage [23] Political Governments' direct support policies for family planning [11, 13-15, 20, 21, 23], abolishment of restrictions to the realization of women's rights (e.g., revision of divorce laws) increased legal age of marriage [21,23], the establishment of restrictions for polygamy [21], attempts to reduce people's tendency to have male children [23] women is higher than that of women in other parts of the world due to the impacts of Islamic culture on them [29]. Nonetheless, the present study's results were not in line with Hirschman's findings regarding the impact of religious values on the TFR decline. ...
Background
The total fertility rate (TFR) in the Middle East and North Africa has experienced a declining trend in recent years. Accordingly, the present study was conducted to provide a clear picture of the most critical factors affecting the TFR decline in this region.
Methods
This study was a systematic review between the years 2000 and 2016. The different databases like Cochrane, PubMed, Scopus, and Science Direct and the Google Scholar search engine were used. At first, 270 articles and then 18 articles were selected and meticulously read for the final analysis.
Results
The results indicated a declining trend in the TFR in the Middle East and North Africa, as in other parts of the world. Regarding the causes of this declining trend, several factors were identified and categorized into five main factors of health care-related, cultural, economic, social, and political.
Conclusions
While taking advantage of the experiences, it is necessary to identify the five main factors and their related issues and hence consider them in the population policy-making.
... The Arab region includes 22 countries: Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Yemen. The Arab region is characterized by enormous demographic, geographic, political, and socioeconomic diversity (Mirkin, 2010). Its total population accounts for 5.57% of the world's population. ...
... Each country has prepared, according to its January 2021 edition Vol. 17,No.3 www.eujournal.org ...
... The health system was ill-prepared to January 2021 edition Vol. 17,No.3 www.eujournal.org ...
... Five drivers were discussed in the 18 articles selected in this study. The first is related to health, mainly improved health care services (such as increased beds/hospitals relative to population size) and increased access to family planning programs, as well as increased male participation in reproductive and sexual health practices (Mirkin, 2010(Mirkin, , 2013Roudi-Fahimi & Kent, 2007). These determinants have reduced infant and maternal mortality rates (Iqbal & Kiendrebeogo, 2014;United Nations, Population Division, 2002). ...
... Social factors have also been the subject of several studies on fertility analysis in MENA countries. These factors include urbanization, increasing education levels, especially among women, women's empowerment, increasing migration rates, and decreasing early marriage rates (Crane et al., 2011;Drioui & Bakass, 2021, 2022Eberstadt & Shah, 2012;Matthiessen, 2005;Mirkin, 2010Mirkin, , 2013. The last factor is the policy one, where several authors have emphasized the crucial role of government policies that directly support family planning, elimination of restrictions to the achievement of women's rights (e.g., revision of divorce laws), the raising of the legal age of marriage, and the establishment of restrictions on polygamy (Crane et al., 2011;Matthiessen, 2005;Mirkin, 2013;Pew Research Center, 2011). ...
After a long period of resistance and indications reflecting a natural regime, with variable starting points and rhythms, fertility has finally transited in all Arab countries of the MENA region. This paper aims to analyze this fertility decline to identify precursors and laggards in the shift to conscious birth control and test whether this widespread and rapid decline results from a process of spatiotemporal diffusion. The data used are the United Nations estimates back to 1950. Two approaches are used for dating fertility decline: Schmertmann et al. (2010) is based on the total fertility rate, and Coale and Treadway's (1986) method is based on Coale's Ig marital fertility index. The Knox statistic was used for the diffusion theory test. According to the two methods, the clustering of countries does not show significant differences other than a few exceptions. However, the diffusion theory test yields different results for the two approaches used. For the first method, the test is significant at the 6% level, which indicates that birth control has occurred through a contagion process among countries. However, this diffusion process was not established using the second approach, which may result from social and intentional diffusion instead. The proximate and contextual characteristics analysis in the pioneer countries around the start-up shows that the settings were favorable. The new fertility behaviors emerged first from the elites and the cities.
... One recent study described the contemporary demographic changes in the Muslim world as "a veritable sea-change, still curiously unnoticed" [22]. Like Oman, sharp fertility declines have been noticed in many other Arab countries, such as in Algeria and Libya, where fertility fell by five children, from more than seven children per woman in 1970-1975 to less than three children per woman in 2005-2010 [35]. In other Gulf countries, fertility has declined by at least 50% between 1970 and 2010 [35]. ...
... Like Oman, sharp fertility declines have been noticed in many other Arab countries, such as in Algeria and Libya, where fertility fell by five children, from more than seven children per woman in 1970-1975 to less than three children per woman in 2005-2010 [35]. In other Gulf countries, fertility has declined by at least 50% between 1970 and 2010 [35]. ...
Background
The sharp fall in fertility and mortality in Oman in recent time is quite stunning and more than expected, which is largely remained unexplored. This paper examined the characteristics of demographic changes and the emerging windows of opportunities and challenges for Oman. It also discussed the policy options. Data come from the national level surveys and censuses as well as the World Population Prospects 2019 Revision of the United Nations.
Results
The population of Oman grew from less than half a million in 1950 to more than four million in 2015, and expected to reach to seven million by 2055. After 1970, the annual growth rate of population accelerated due to increased immigration of working age population which has increased from less than 1% in 1970 to 44% in 2015. The fertility rate has declined from 8.6 births per woman in 1988 to 3.3 births per woman in 2008, a decline of 5.3 births per woman or 62% decline within a short period of 20 years. Under-five mortality also declined from 359 deaths per 1000 live births in 1950 to nine deaths per 1000 live births in 2015. Demographic transitions leads to many changes in the size and age structure of the population in Oman that open up the opportunities of accruing demographic dividend for economic development of the country. The dependency ratio has decreased from 98% in 1970 to 32% in 2015. Two opening of demographic dividend period has been observed—first from 1958 to 2000 and the second one has opened in 2010 which will reach its peak during the 2020s and will remain open until 2040.
Conclusion
Oman has been experiencing a period of youth bulge over the years and it is expected to continue for at least next 20 years. To reap the benefits of the emerged demographic dividend, necessary steps need to be taken in a timely manner to develop human resources. Understanding the demographic challenges must be a priority for the government of Oman, and formulate policies to harvest the benefits of the demographic windows.
... The Arab region houses a considerable part of the world's population, which is growing rapidly (Tabutin and Schoumaker, 2005). According to Mirkin (2010), the population of the Arab countries has tripled since 1970, going from 128 to 359 million, and is forecast to reach 598 million by 2050. ...
This paper was developed as part of the Research Innovation Fund of the Arab Land Initiative, addressing students and young land professionals from the Arab region interested in conducting research on land governance-related topics. The Arab Land Initiative, led by UN-Habitat and Global Land Tool Network (GLTN) with the financial support from the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development of Germany (BMZ), launched the Research Innovation Fund in July 2020. The GLTN partner Urban Training and Studies Institute based in Cairo, Egypt managed the first edition of the Fund, which assessed over eighty research proposals and selected seventeen to be developed, with the support of a pool of senior reviewers from the Arab Land Initiative’s network.
... The power, transport, industrial, and non-combusted sectors are mainly responsible for the high increase in final energy consumption. An additional contributory factor is population growth, which is expected to further increase -particularly in Egypt and Iraq (Mirkin, 2010). In addition, energy-intensive industries, including steel, cement, and chemical, account for a substantial proportion of the energy demand. ...
By applying a phase model for the renewables-based energy transition in the MENA countries to Lebanon, the study provides a guiding vision to support the strategy development and steering of the energy transition process. The Lebanese electricity sector
faces three main challenges: an unreliable power supply, a distortive subsidy system and
a weak financial stability at the utility level. The uptake of renewable energy (RE) can contribute to increasing the energy security in Lebanon, as the most pressing concern in Lebanon’s electricity sector is the need to secure a constant electricity supply.
... The population distribution in Arab countries is much younger compared to the Western world: more than half (54%) of the population is younger than 25 years, 40% is from 25 to 60 years and only 6% is older than 60 years [1]. This is one of the reasons why the incidence of cancer at a young age is much higher compared to the Western population [2,3]. ...
Background: Cancer in young women is a major health problem in the Middle Eastern
and North African population. We explored the awareness, barriers and practice of Arab
oncologists towards oncofertility.
Methods: Oncologists from Arab countries treating female cancer patients were invited
to complete a 30-item web-based questionnaire that explores oncologists’ demographics, available techniques and barriers to oncofertility.
Results: 170 oncologists working in 9 different Arab countries responded to the questionnaire. Among the responders, 89 (52.4%) were from Egypt and the central region, 60
(35.3%) were from North Africa and 21 (12.4%) were from the Gulf region.
While most participants considered a dedicated training ‘necessary’, only 43 oncologists
(25.3%) received a formal training. Only 17 participants (10%) had a fertility clinic in their
centre, 44 (25.9%) and 13 (7.6%) had to refer patients to other centres or other cities,
respectively. A total of 96 oncologists (56.5%) did not have access to a fertility preservation service.
Out of 147 responders, 79 (53.7%) offered fertility preservation only in patients presenting with early disease and 38 (25.9%) did not offer fertility preservation. In terms of
proposed strategies, 50 responders (29.4%) offered embryo cryopreservation, 79 (46.5%)
oocyte cryopreservation and 48 (28.2%) ovarian tissue cryopreservation.
Conclusion: A large gap exists between international clinical practice guidelines and
current practices of fertility preservation in Arab countries. Barriers to optimum service
delivery include the lack of physician awareness/training, unavailability of some advanced
techniques and a lack of dedicated fertility clinics within the cancer centres
... Arab World in general, and Gulf Countries in particular, have a large youth segment of their population (Mirkin, 2010) According to the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI, 2020), the number of Arab students, including Omani students, at higher education institutions in Oman was 125.466 in 2019. However, to date, the key factors influencing Arab college students' travel decisions have not yet been empirically investigated. ...
... Lebanon is a small country located in the Middle East characterized by the highest proportion of elderly among the neighboring countries, expected to reach 26% in 2050 [14]. Most of the elderly in Lebanon are looked after by members of their family and the act of caregiving is viewed as a way of thanking and honoring them [13]. ...
Background Studies have shown that dementia caregivers are inclined to sacrifice their well-being leaving them susceptible to an increased risk of anxiety, low quality of life, and depression. With the proportion of female caregivers being unusually high, most studies focused exclusively on the burden of care in female caregivers, resulting in a knowledge gap regarding male caregiver burden. This study aimed to assess the difference in the burden of care experienced by male and female caregivers of dementia patients and the association of burden of care with psychological wellbeing according to gender.
Methods This was a cross-sectional survey of dementia patients’ caregivers from various locations in Lebanon, administered over the phone using structured questionnaires from February to April 2019. The population consisted of 50 females and 11 males' informal unpaid caregivers above the age of 18 in daily contact with the patient. The sample was conveniently selected and identified through two main non-profit organizations. The patient and the caregiver’s sociodemographic information were recorded. The psychological distress was measured using the General Health Survey Questionnaire (GHQ 12) whereas the burden of care was measured using the Zarit Burden Interview 22 (ZBI 22).
Results A large proportion of caregivers reported a severe level of burden (41 %). Only item 17 of the ZBI questionnaire (Feeling of life loss control since relative’s illness) was substantially higher among females. Of the caregivers, 70.5% experienced moderate to severe distress, being significantly higher in females. The sex of caregivers was the only socio-demographic factor significantly associated with the burden of care. Female caregivers who experienced severe burden had significantly higher odds of distress compared to those with no or mild to moderate burden (adjusted OR=15.55). No association among male caregivers.
Conclusion This study demonstrated that female caregivers experience a greater burden compared to males when assessed about anger. This could be explained by the different gender roles imposed by the Lebanese society on its members. Caregivers should be part of the holistic treatment of dementia patients since they represent an essential pillar of the informal care provided.
... The power, transport, industrial, and non-combusted sectors are mainly responsible for the high increase in final energy consumption. An additional contributory factor is population growth, which is expected to further increase -particularly in Egypt and Iraq (Mirkin, 2010). In addition, energy-intensive industries, including steel, cement, and chemical, account for a substantial proportion of the energy demand. ...
By applying a phase model for the renewables-based energy transition in the MENA countries to Iraq, the study provides a guiding vision to support the strategy development and steering of the energy transition process. Iraq is currently lagging behind its regional peers in the development of renewable energy technologies and has no distinct strategy to develop the renewable energy sector. A shift towards a sustainable energy system could help Iraq secure a reliable and affordable electricity supply, achieve cost savings and create long-term opportunities for economic development.
... It is estimated that approximately 5% of the global human population are native Arabic speakers, and there are 22 Arab countries with a total population of approximately 359 million people, estimated in 2020. Based on research published by the United Nations, this number is expected to reach around 589 million by 2050 [2]. Furthermore, the Arabic language is rapidly increasing in popularity on the web and is considered the fourth proliferated language [3]. ...
There are limited research contributions targeting sentiment analysis in feedback in Arabic gulf dialect, in particular, and the Arabic language in general. Furthermore, the inadequate and limited adoption of classification techniques and natural language processing is noticeable in the sentiment analysis projects addressing the Arabic language. Hence, this paper focuses on analyzing the sentiments in automobile and real estate domains through the application of the state-of-the-art word-embedding model "BERT" and a collection of deep learning models (GRU, LSTM, CNN, CNN-GRU and BiLSTM). The results of classification revealed that combining the BERT with deep learning models have shown efficiency in analyzing sentiments and yielded outstanding results.
... The power, transport, industrial, and non-combusted sectors are mainly responsible for the high increase in final energy consumption. An additional contributory factor is population growth, which is expected to further increase -particularly in Egypt and Iraq (Mirkin, 2010). In addition, energy-intensive industries, including steel, cement, and chemical, account for a substantial proportion of the energy demand. ...
By applying a phase model for the renewables-based energy transition in the MENA countries to Algeria, the study provides a guiding vision to support the strategy development and steering of the energy transition process. The energy transition towards renewables presents a longterm opportunity for economic and social development in Algeria. Algeria has sufficient potential to export renewable energy in various forms in the future, which offers the opportunity to replace declining revenues from fossil fuels.
... Kuwait's population was around 744,000 in 1970, which increased to 3.1 million in 2010 (Mirkin, 2010), and to 4,286,844 in 2020. It is expected to increase further to 5.2 million by 2050. ...
The book includes a historical account of the Arabian Gulf and summarizes the knowledge on the oceanography and marine biology of the Gulf. It highlights the challenges that are facing the Gulf and provides recommendations to sustainably conserve the Gulf resources.
... Kuwait's population was around 744,000 in 1970, which increased to 3.1 million in 2010 (Mirkin, 2010), and to 4,286,844 in 2020. It is expected to increase further to 5.2 million by 2050. ...
The book presents updated information on the oceanography and marine biology of the Northwestern Arabian Gulf and presents major threats to the marine environment, as well as solutions and recommendations.
... Irrational water consumption and climate change are likewise contributing factors. Due to population growth, the water consumption rate in the Arab region is anticipated to rise to approximately 500 cubic meters per person by 2030 (Mirkin 2010). All of these factors complicate the challenges faced by the Arab world. ...
The present study aims to identify the relationship between the water crisis and the conflict over it in the Middle East. Furthermore, this study attempts to determine the distinctive features of the conflict over water, including the motives for this conflict and the reasons for the water crisis. We analyze the problems affecting Middle East world, and the challenges relating to water. Because water is scarce in Middle East, the competition for this limited resource may become a matter of national security. Moreover, water is a fundamental resource, integral to all economic, social, and environmental activities, including nutrition, energy, industrial development, transportation, and human health. Yet, water resources are distributed unevenly. The Middle East is extremely water-short, and therefore Middle East countries need to consider this issue a matter of life or death and a primary aspect of national as well as international security. This article outlines the links between water and conflict in the Middle East. It also makes a number of suggestions and recommendations for leaders and policy-makers regarding ways to reduce the risk of such conflicts and bring an end to or at least mitigate the water crisis.
... Over the last decades the demographic transition and family modernisation 3 process seemed to be established and irreversible in many Arab countries of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), thus affecting the key aspects of society, in particular marriage, childbearing, women's status, and care of older persons (De Bel-Air 2012;Mirkin 2010;Olmsted 2003). The fertility pattern across the region has been very heterogeneous, although many countries started exhibiting a decline in fertility in the last decades of the 20th century (Engelhardt and Schulz 2017;Casterline 2009;Eltigani 2009). ...
OBJECTIVE In a context of economic uncertainty and rising actual and ideal fertility, our analysis addresses the question of what factors can be related to the desired family size for both women and men of different generations. METHODS Using data from the 2015 Egypt Health Issues Survey (EHIS), we use Poisson regressions to model the factors affecting women’s and men’s ideal number of children. Our main explanatory variables are male and female gender-equitable attitudes and female empowerment. RESULTS More traditional gender attitudes are associated with a high level of desired fertility. Women exposed to mass media want fewer children than those not exposed, while no relationship emerged for men. The results regarding women’s empowerment confirm the role of female education, while paid work unexpectedly shows a positive association with the ideal number of children. Our findings show that Egyptian married women’s participation in family decisions is a salient aspect of their agency. Finally, we found that region and type of residence are highly associated with desired fertility for both men and women, confirming the importance of the social context where individuals live in their fertility behaviour. CONTRIBUTION Our work contributes to the existing literature on fertility in two important ways. Firstly, this is the first study of the fertility intentions of both men and women in Egypt. Second, we adopt a gender perspective by analysing the factors affecting the ideal number of children in Egypt, looking at male and female gender-equitable attitudes and women’s empowerment.
... While the administrative independence of local authorities is a constitutional basis for a democratic state, local and comprehensive municipal action represents the support of local competencies for development. From this perspective, municipalities play an important role not only in local development but also for the whole country (Mirkin, 2010). ...
After the successful revolution in 2011, Tunisian municipalities face a pile of years of corrupt and centralized systems. Several political and social challenges are limiting the local and participatory initiatives during the transitional period. Nevertheless, there is a real chance for municipalities to adopt comprehensive mechanisms and improve their services towards the citizens.
This study sought to analyze the influences of the GIZ-funded project intervention titled "Citizen Space" CoMun Program -established in 2013- on the citizen satisfaction level in 9 Tunisian cities. This evaluation aims to determine the real impact of the project that led to changes in the level of citizen’s satisfaction with municipalities' services, engage with beneficiaries in order to gain more in-depth information, solicit their suggestions and identify further needs. It will correspondingly assess the factors that reinforced or limited the citizens’ satisfaction, and draw recommendations for future better policies.
The methodology applied a participatory and mixed approach of quantitative and qualitative methods that draw on both existing and new data to generate concrete, evidence-based findings. As COVID-19 has posed specific challenges for data collection activities globally, data gathering included taking 777 beneficiary surveys physically and remotely, in addition to 219 non-beneficiary surveys. The qualitative component consists of field observation and in-depth interviews. The study uses quantitative analyses by applying matching techniques and a critical instance case study cross-checked with the qualitative analyses.
The findings show that Citizen Space has a positive effect on citizens' average satisfaction level. The study also revealed that having better municipality services decreases the gender-based-violence. So as to ameliorate the future results and achieve sustainability of the project goals, this paper recommends implementing the digital transformation, building the capacity of the staff working in public service, and improving the quality of facilities provided by the municipalities.
... The combination of population growth and climate-related risks challenges the difficult democratic transition and the sustainable economic growth. This is dramatically affecting metropolitan areas, which host the majority of a population that is expected to reach 130 million people by 2050 (Mirkin, 2010), with the prevalence of low income, poor educated and unhealthy communities (Attia, 2001). Particularly, the metropolitan areas of Cairo and Alexandria have historically attracted migrants from rural and poor developed villages, which have determined an unprecedented increase of congestion and pollution, informal development of slums, breakdown in urban services, loss of agricultural land and crises of food supply in the last three decades (Abdelaziz Attia, 2001). ...
Focusing on the major topics raised by the AdapTM Project, this book explores and conveys new insights into the state of the art of Climate Change management between the sea and the land. The contributions provide an extensive overview on adaptation and mitigation strategies and solutions across a wide range of urban and natural biotopes and regions and argue about the importance of tackling cli- mate change issues for building a better and more sustainable future.
The book aims to emerge as a valuable contribution for enhancing knowledge and expertise of students, teachers, public administrations and other stakeholders in- terested in the management of climate-related issues, which are going to stress the area of Mediterranean with great strength. The building process of knowledge and awareness on climate change related issues is urgent and represents the only way to tackle the risks that our planet will face in the next challenging times.
... The combination of population growth and climate-related risks challenges the difficult democratic transition and the sustainable economic growth. This is dramatically affecting metropolitan areas, which host the majority of a population that is expected to reach 130 million people by 2050 (Mirkin, 2010), with the prevalence of low income, poor educated and unhealthy communities (Attia, 2001). Particularly, the metropolitan areas of Cairo and Alexandria have historically attracted migrants from rural and poor developed villages, which have determined an unprecedented increase of congestion and pollution, informal development of slums, breakdown in urban services, loss of agricultural land and crises of food supply in the last three decades (Abdelaziz Attia, 2001). ...
The Book is dived into three Topical Parts related to Climate Change management. This Book focuses on the major topics raised from the AdapTM Project (www.adaptm.eu) through exploring and conveying new insights into the state of the art of Climate Change management. The contributions provide an extensive overview on adaptation and mitigation strategies and solutions across a wide range of urban and natural biotopes (from urban coastal areas to marine environment and meteorology) and countries (from Lithuania to Egypt) and argue about the importance of tackling climate change issues for building a better and more sustainable future.
The Book aims to emerge as a valuable contribution for enhancing knowledge and expertise of students, teachers, public administrations and other stakeholders interested in the management of climate-related issues, which are going to stress the area of Mediterranean with great strength. The building process of knowledge and awareness on climate change related issues cannot be postponed and represents the only way to tackle efficiently the risks that our planet will face in the next challenging times. [The Editors]
... The combination of population growth and climate-related risks challenges the difficult democratic transition and the sustainable economic growth. This is dramatically affecting metropolitan areas, which host the majority of a population that is expected to reach 130 million people by 2050 (Mirkin, 2010), with the prevalence of low income, poor educated and unhealthy communities (Attia, 2001). Particularly, the metropolitan areas of Cairo and Alexandria have historically attracted migrants from rural and poor developed villages, which have determined an unprecedented increase of congestion and pollution, informal development of slums, breakdown in urban services, loss of agricultural land and crises of food supply in the last three decades (Abdelaziz Attia, 2001). ...
... The combination of population growth and climate-related risks challenges the difficult democratic transition and the sustainable economic growth. This is dramatically affecting metropolitan areas, which host the majority of a population that is expected to reach 130 million people by 2050 (Mirkin, 2010), with the prevalence of low income, poor educated and unhealthy communities (Attia, 2001). Particularly, the metropolitan areas of Cairo and Alexandria have historically attracted migrants from rural and poor developed villages, which have determined an unprecedented increase of congestion and pollution, informal development of slums, breakdown in urban services, loss of agricultural land and crises of food supply in the last three decades (Abdelaziz Attia, 2001). ...
... The combination of population growth and climate-related risks challenges the difficult democratic transition and the sustainable economic growth. This is dramatically affecting metropolitan areas, which host the majority of a population that is expected to reach 130 million people by 2050 (Mirkin, 2010), with the prevalence of low income, poor educated and unhealthy communities (Attia, 2001). Particularly, the metropolitan areas of Cairo and Alexandria have historically attracted migrants from rural and poor developed villages, which have determined an unprecedented increase of congestion and pollution, informal development of slums, breakdown in urban services, loss of agricultural land and crises of food supply in the last three decades (Abdelaziz Attia, 2001). ...
Focusing on the major topics raised by the AdapTM Project, this book explores and conveys new insights into the state of the art of Climate Change management between the sea and the land. The contributions provide an extensive overview on adaptation and mitigation strategies and solutions across a wide range of urban and natural biotopes and regions and argue about the importance of tackling cli- mate change issues for building a better and more sustainable future. The book aims to emerge as a valuable contribution for enhancing knowledge and expertise of students, teachers, public administrations and other stakeholders in- terested in the management of climate-related issues, which are going to stress the area of Mediterranean with great strength. The building process of knowledge and awareness on climate change related issues is urgent and represents the only way to tackle the risks that our planet will face in the next challenging times.
... This highlights the fact that, largely, the expatriate workers were either not allowed to or could not afford to bring families because of the high cost of living. It also affected the sex ratio of the total population (Mirkin 2010). For example, over the years, the sex ratio among the national population has largely hovered around 970 women for every 1000 men but the sex ratio among the resident population is much lower and in 2010 it recorded 695 women for every 1000 men (MoEP 2010a, b). ...
The chapter discusses the imperatives for reforms that for the first time in the 1990s turned the focus on the need to reform the education system. What were the factors that led to it and how did the monarchy respond to the growing demands for education reforms? The chapter underlines in greater length the factors, besides September 11, that brought about a policy change as far as the question of education reforms were concerned.
... Decreased birth rates and longer lifespans indicate that the global population is aging, although rates of aging differ between countries [1]. In 2010, the proportion of the population aged >60 years in the general Arab Region was 7%, and this proportion is expected to rise to 19% by 2050 for the region as a whole [2]; the United Nations estimates for the individual countries of the Arabian Gulf by 2050 are 25.7%, 24.9%, 20.7%, 26.7% and 10.5% in the Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, respectively, which are comparable to the 26.9% predicted for the USA and lower than that predicted in European countries, ...
Pneumococcal disease has substantial incidence, morbidity and mortality in older adults. Decreased birth rates and longer lifespans indicate that the global population is aging, although rates of aging differ between countries [1]. In 2010, the proportion of the population aged >60 years in the general Arab Region was 7%, and this proportion is expected to rise to 19% by 2050 for the region as a whole [2]; the United Nations estimates for the individual countries of the Arabian Gulf by 2050 are 25.7%, 24.9%, 20.7%, 26.7% and 10.5% in the Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, respectively, which are comparable to the 26.9% predicted for the USA and lower than that predicted in European countries,
... Those goals have to be achieved against the backdrop of a rapidly growing population in the Arab Region, which is projected by some to increase by two-thirds until 2050 compared to 2010 [2] and other factors-including industrialisation, water desalination and increasing use of electricity for cooling-which induce trends towards substantially higher overall domestic energy demands in MENA countries [3] (see "Differences between model assumptions and characteristics of the MENA region"). ...
Given large potentials of the MENA region for renewable energy production, transitions towards renewables-based energy systems seem a promising way for meeting growing energy demand while contributing to greenhouse gas emissions reductions according to the Paris Agreement at the same time. Supporting and steering transitions to a low-carbon energy system require a clear understanding of socio-technical interdependencies in the energy system as well as of the principle dynamics of system innovations. For facilitating such understanding, a phase model for renewables-based energy transitions in MENA countries, which structures the transition process over time through the differentiation of a set of sub-sequent distinct phases, is developed in this article. The phase model builds on a phase model depicting the German energy transition, which was complemented by insights about transition governance and adapted to reflect characteristics of the MENA region. The resulting model includes four phases (“Take-off renewables”, “System integration”, “Power to fuel/gases”, “Towards 100% renewables”), each of which is characterized by a different cluster of innovations. These innovations enter the system via three stages of development which describe different levels of maturity and market penetration, and which require appropriate governance. The phase model has the potential to support strategy development and governance of energy transitions in MENA countries in two complementary ways: it provides an overview of techno-economic developments as orienting guidelines for decision-makers, and it adds some guidance as to which governance approaches are suitable for supporting those developments.
... At the other end of the spectrum are Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, which are among the world's wealthiest nations as reflected in their per capita Gross Domestic Product [12]. ...
Egypt has been facing major challenges in the food safety system the most important of which is the fragmentation among different entities which made it difficult to have a standardized clear defined mechanism to ensure safety of food. There are many challenges in many countries in the MENA region. Yet many of these countries are working on upgrading their food laws and undertaken changes to the organizational structure of their regulatory institutions to maintain or expand international export activities, tighten control on local and imported products, and protect consumers’ health.• Egyptian current situation has changed. Based on clear vision, now Egypt started working towards the modernization of the food safety systems, strengthening the capacity of analytical laboratories, and establishment of a food inspection-based risk analysis by establishing the National Food Safety Authority (NFSA).• HACCP practice in Egypt still needs lots of effort. Not all companies and trade industries are following it. Many small and medium sized food companies lack awareness regarding the importance of the HACCP and thus not applied.
An integral part of the system of food safety management is awareness and advocacy on all levels. In this area Egypt has a gap that needs to focus on in the near future.
... For instance, Djibouti and Yemen are classified among the least developed by the United Nations (UN) and are among the poorest countries in the world, and currently, Yemen is experiencing an extended civil war that has largely destroyed any public health system. At the other end of the spectrum are Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, which are among the world's wealthiest nations as reflected in their per capita Gross Domestic Product [5]. ...
Foodborne diseases continue to be a global public health problem with an estimated 600 million people falling ill annually. In return, international standards are becoming stricter which poses challenges to food trade. In light of the increasing burden of foodborne diseases, many countries in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region have upgraded their food laws and undertaken changes to the organizational structure of their regulatory institutions to maintain or expand international export activities, tighten control on local and imported products, and protect consumers’ health. However, until this date, the published information on the regional health burdens of foodborne diseases is very limited and it is not clear whether the recent changes will serve towards science-based and effective preventive functions and the adoption of the risk management approach. In this review, we summarize the recent food safety issues and the national food control systems of selected countries in the region although we were challenged with the scarcity of information. To this end, we examined the national food safety systems in the context of the five essential elements of the FAO/WHO Guidelines for Strengthening National Food Control Systems. These five elements—food law and regulations; food control management; inspection services; laboratory services; food monitoring; and epidemiological data, information, education, communication, and training—constitute the building blocks of a national food control system, but could also serve as tools to assess the effectiveness of the systems.
... Data about the prevalence of invasive pneumococcal disease in Qatar are lacking. According to one report, the incidence of the disease in the general Arab region was 7% above the age of 60 years, and this is expected to increase 19% by 2050; however, incidents in Qatar population are high than those in the general Arab population (20.7%) which are comparable to those in population in the USA (26.9%) [10]. Since extremes of ages are predisposing conditions towards invasive pneumococcal disease, an effective vaccination program is very important to decrease the morbidity and mortality due to this condition. ...
... (Sangowawa, et al.,.2008;Oluwafemi et al., 2010;Abotutu, and Ojeh, 2013). The fluctuation in the climatic factors (especially, the consistent increase in temperature since 1999 and decrease in rainfall since 2002), increased in population, and rapid urbanization have been noted to have responsible for a wider gap between water demand and supply in recent years (GlobeScan and MRC, 2006;Mirkin, 2010;Akinrotimi et al., 2011). In general, water for domestic uses is being sourced from three surface rivers (the Adiyan, Iju and Ishashi) through their supply scheme plants and contributes about 340,000m 3 /d of the total surface water supply available to meet the continuously growing population. ...
This study examines the impact of climate, urbanization, and population on water supply in Lagos State. Population and water production data in Lagos State between 1963 and 2006 were collected, and used for time series analyses. Multi-temporal land-sat images of 1975, 1995 and NigeriaSat-1 imagery of 2007 were used for land use change analysis. The population of Lagos State increased by about 557.1% between 1963 and 2006, correspondingly, safe water supply increased by 554%. Currently, 60% of domestic water use in urban areas of Lagos State is from groundwater while 75% of rural water is from unsafe surface water. Between 1975 and 2007, urban land use increased by about 235.9%. The 46years climatic records revealed that temperature and evaporation decreased slightly while rainfall and relatively humidity decreased consistently. Urban land use is expected to increase by 20% with expectation of serious congestion in the suburb areas. Based on these trends and using 4 % annual growth rate of the Lagos State population, the required water is expected to increase to about 19.8million and 3,213,058m 3 /d respectively by the year 2026. The implication is that the percentage of unaccounted residents to public pipe borne water in Lagos may increase to over 65% in the nearest future while citizens have to provide about 50% of their required water through boreholes and dug wells (in the urban area), and rivers, streams, and ponds (in the rural areas).
... Despite common language, shared culture and history for many EMR countries, economic, demographic and social diversities exist across the region, also heavily marked by political unrest. 22 The EMR also differs from other regions in terms of its socioeconomic development. One report stated "wealth disparities within the individual societies are relatively low; on the other hand, wealth disparities between the oil-rich Gulf monarchies and the populous resourcepoor countries are tremendous." ...
Objective. To explore pharmacy stakeholders' perspectives in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) on pharmacy education and quality assurance. Method. Thirty-two interviews were conducted with professionals from 15 EMR countries, exploring pharmacy education in the region. Themes were mapped to the five pillars of the International Pharmaceutical Federation's Global Framework on Quality Assurance of Pharmacy Education. Results. Nine challenges were identified across the framework on country-, institution-, and faculty-level. These challenges were political-socioeconomic instability; limited accreditation and quality assurance measures; insufficient engagement of professional organizations; disconnect between academia, practice and regulatory sectors; curricula shortcomings; skills-gaps; absence of competency frameworks; inconsistencies in pre-registration training; and professional development mechanisms. Conclusion. Vast inter-/intra-regional variability in pharmacy education and quality assurance measures was revealed. The lack of pharmacy-specific national/regional competency frameworks and quality assurance systems has implications for stakeholders in the profession. Progress in this area is crucial for pharmacy education in the EMR.
... Data about the prevalence of invasive pneumococcal disease in Qatar are lacking. According to one report, the incidence of the disease in the general Arab region was 7% above the age of 60 years, and this is expected to increase 19% by 2050; however, incidents in Qatar population are high than those in the general Arab population (20.7%) which are comparable to those in population in the USA (26.9%) [10]. Since extremes of ages are predisposing conditions towards invasive pneumococcal disease, an effective vaccination program is very important to decrease the morbidity and mortality due to this condition. ...
Intracranial abscesses, postinfectious vasculitis, and hydrocephalus are rare complications of Streptococcus pneumoniae ( S. pneumoniae ) meningitis, and to our knowledge, there have been no case reports where all these 3 complications occurred in a single patient with Streptococcus pneumoniae meningitis. Here, we report a case of a 48-year-old male who developed postinfectious vasculitis, abscess, hydrocephalus, and hearing loss after S. pneumoniae meningitis. Clinicians ought to be aware of the possible adverse outcomes of S. pneumoniae meningitis and the limitations of current treatment options.
... Although Arab countries share many cultural features including the Arabic language, and a common history, PARKSJOURNAL.COM they present large disparities in climate, ecosystems (deserts, wetlands, oases, forests, coastal and marine), socio-demographics, economic development, resources, political regimes and stability (Mirkin, 2010). ...
Biosphere Reserves have been managed worldwide to demonstrate three integrated functions within their triple zonation scheme: conservation of natural and cultural values, logistic support and sustainable socioeconomic development. Evaluation of these functions is formalised within the Periodic Review process whereby reports are submitted every ten years with the primary intent to evaluate the effectiveness of Biosphere Reserve concept implementation locally. However, the effectiveness of the Periodic Review as an evaluation system is poorly understood, and studies that document its regional implementation are lacking. Here we present the first regional review of the Periodic Review evaluation within the ArabMAB network. Using a mixed methods approach, we assess compliance with the Periodic Review report submission requirement, and quality of Periodic Review reports based on a novel approach. Our results show that the Periodic Review is characterised by significant delays (mean = 7.6 years), with five of 27 reports missing. Report quality for seven available reports varies, with most rating as low to average quality, and many lacking essential elements to assess Biosphere Reserve concept implementation as defined by Article 4 of the Statutory Framework of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves. We discuss factors that hinder successful compliance with the Periodic Review requirement regionally, and offer recommendations for improving Biosphere Reserve evaluation.
... This phenomenon has highlighted the importance of PA in our daily life behaviour and how the lack of PA can be dangerous, especially to youth life. Accordingly, Mirkin (2010) indicated that Iraq has approximately 50% of the population under the age of 19. However, it is difficult for people in this country to keep healthy and live actively due to poor security conditions and the instability of safety. ...
... Fertility in the Kingdom might be explained by differences in women's individual and familial characteristics and places of residence (Khraif, 2009). The status of women and care for elders also are changing in the Arab states in response to the demographic transition's influence on society (Mirkin, 2010). ...
Fertility levels and their determinants in Saudi Arabia have not been studied sufficiently for formulating family policy, although some attention has been paid to rapid fertility transitions in the context of socioeconomic and cultural change. This study focused on the fertility of a particular occupational category in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to assess determinants of fertility, measured as the number of children. The sample was drawn from the King Saud University staff – ever-married Saudi Arabian women. Results found that proximate factors (age, age at first marriage, intended number of children, length of marriage and contraceptive use) were significant in predicting fertility behaviour, whereas geographic, social and economic factors were insignificant. Thus, the fertility behaviour of this occupational group seems unique. This might be due to the special characteristics and lifestyle of this particular occupational group. The effect of the intended number of children on the actual number signified the fertility behaviour of this group of women. This, expectedly, should improve the influence of social and economic factors on fertility behaviour, in the future. Thus, advocates, policies and programmes (population and public health) at the societal and familial levels, should consider the demographic change in the social and economic context.
... With an annual natural increase rate of 2.6%, the population of the Middle East is growing 1% faster than the world as a whole. At this rate, the region will double in population size in less than 30 years [2]. ...
Background: High parity adversely affect both the family and the government to support a youthful population.
Aim: The present study aimed to examine the association of high parity with health, social and economic events among families in Mosul.
Method: The study applied a cross-sectional design and multi-stage stratified sampling technique in Mosul at the north of Iraq. Data collection continued almost ten months to complete the estimated sample size (from April, 1st 2011 till the end of Jan, 2012). Statistical equations estimated prevalence of high parity and determined the associated health and socio-economic events by applying chi square test.
Result: The study interviewed 1302 mothers in childbearing age. Prevalence of high parity was 27.8% mainly in suburban and rural areas (p=0.000). It was more frequently reported among mothers of lower social classes (p=0.001), consanguineous marriage (p=0.03), and early maternal and paternal marriage (p=0.000 and p=0.000). High parity was significantly associated with economic-inadequacy (p=0.000), over-crowding state (p=0.000), downward social transition (p=0.001), under five mortality (p=0.001), domestic physical violence (p=0.000), drop-out from primary school (p=0.000), smoking habit among siblings (p=0.000) and working children (p=0.000).
Conclusion: Almost three out of ten mothers, particularly in suburban and rural areas, were grand- or great grand multipara; a behaviour that significantly associated with health and socio-economic penalties.
... 31 Despite shared cultural and language similarities, the EMR is a region marked by sharp socioeconomic and political disparities between sub-regions. 32 A recent study 33 highlighted that international frameworks including the FIP's Global Framework on Quality Assurance of Pharmacy Education, are pressing pharmacy stakeholders to consider and facilitate pharmacy educational reform in many EMR countries. The EMR has many pharmacy schools steeped in tradition and the research has uncovered a myriad of barriers and facilitators affecting the ability of pharmacists to attain competencies required to practice. ...
Background:
In an ever-changing environment, pharmacy education is in the race to catch up and excel to produce competent pharmacists. Examining academic institutions, including schools of pharmacy, their internal systems and framework, it seems appropriate to view these institutions using multiple lenses. Bolman and Deal conceptualized a method to examine organizations using four constructs (structural, human resource, political, and symbolic). The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR), with deep-rooted pharmacy education and practice was the setting for this research.
Objectives:
To explore factors affecting academic reform in undergraduate pharmacy education in the EMR from stakeholders' and students' perspectives; and to apply Bolman and Deal's four-frame organizational change model to explore how these issues might be viewed.
Methods:
A multiple-method approach was employed and involved collecting, analyzing and integrating qualitative semi-structured interview data with open-ended questions in a survey. Cross-sector stakeholder sample from various EMR countries was recruited and interviewed. Final year pharmacy students from one school of pharmacy in Jordan were surveyed.
Results:
Emergent themes were indicative that academic reform was addressed by all frames of the Bolman and Deal model. Structural and political frames received substantial weighing pointing to the importance of curricular reform, collaboration and leadership. A need for skillful and role-model teaching academic staff was highlighted, and in harmony with the human resource frame. Issues within the symbolic frame were readily apparent in the data and spanned the other three frames in relation to heritage, customs and cultural barriers.
Conclusions:
Issues pertinent to academic reform in pharmacy were presented. Viewing change in pharmacy schools from multiple perspectives highlighted the need for structural changes to pharmacy programs, human resource management, political will, leadership, and collaboration. The importance of understanding cultural aspects of organizations is critical as it is these that provide identity to any organization and help reformers better manage change.
The focus in this chapter is on Islamophobia and neoliberalism within a global context, and the ways in which these dynamics operate as a form of racialised governmentality in racial states across the West. The chapter provides an outline of the origins of the hierarchical and civilisational classification of people stemming from the period of the Enlightenment and linked to the discourse of Orientalism. Following this, Islamophobic discourse is contextualised in a post-communist/colonial era and linked to neoliberalism under US hegemony to explain how ‘otherness’ is embedded in the fabric of states through an analysis of the discursive constructions of Muslims and the underpinning material dynamics which shape these discourses. This includes geopolitical and economic goals of global powers, to strengthen their neoliberal ideology and maintain global supremacy. Finally, the focus is narrowed to surveillance and the schooling of Muslim youth to draw connections between the context and schools.KeywordsRacialised governmentalityOrientalismUS hegemonyNeoliberal ideology
Disruptive events can bring about significant change and, if we can put aside the terrible human consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, and focus on higher education, we can without doubt state that the sector globally has navigated one of the most disruptive periods, quite possibly, ever. Unlike other historical major disruptions that have often revolved around the substance of what universities teach, the pandemic has challenged conventional models of how higher education operates. Universities have had to pivot rapidly to adopt new technologies supporting novel approaches to pedagogy. It is quite remarkable that many have done this successfully, achieving what would previously have been thought impossible or something that could only happen with a great deal of preparation and time for implementation. As we emerge from this experience the key questions now are (i) which of the changes we have experienced will be permanent? and, (ii) which universities will act first to realize the benefits of these changes? Will it be the old universities—those with prestige, and with a greater weight of tradition—or the bold—the agile institutions, less hidebound by their past, and more prepared to change? Other changes—in particular the demographic transition and the fourth industrial revolution—emphasize the need for higher education to prepare for and embrace change. This paper shows that the next few years will offer significant opportunities for higher education institutions in the Arab world to challenge the existing global hierarchy of universities through offering new and innovative approaches to learning that challenge the old ways. The universities that realize this and embrace change could reap huge benefits. Those that don’t will face risks and an uncertain future.KeywordsCovid-19Higher educationEducation technologyDemocratic transitionStudent experience
A clear understanding of socio-technical interdependencies and a structured vision are prerequisites for fostering and steering a transition to a fully renewables- based energy system. To facilitate such understanding, a phase model for the renewable energy (RE)
transition in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) countries has been developed
and applied to the country case of Tunisia. It is designed to support the strategy development and governance of the energy transition and to serve as a guide for decision makers.
Az „arab tavaszként” aposztrofált eseménysorozat közegészségügyi vonatkozásai eddig kevés figyelmet kaptak a társadalomtudományi szakirodalomban, pedig mind a folyamat előzményeit, mind a következményeit tekintve fontos megállapításokkal szolgálhat ez a megközelítés. Az emberi egészséget meghatározó változók között nem csupán „semleges” környezeti és biológiai tényezők kapnak szerepet; a kulturális normák, a társadalmi intézmények, a jövedelmi szint vagy éppen a politikai döntések is hatással vannak az emberek széles tömegeinek a jóllétére — méghozzá különféle demográfiai ismérvek függvényében szelektív módon és mértékben. Az „arab tavasz” a közegészségre legelőször is egy sor fegyveres konfliktuson keresztül gyakorolt jelentős hatást 2011-et követően, összetettebb mechanizmusok révén azonban hosszabb távon is alakította azt – így például a 2013 utáni egyiptomi egészségügyi reformok esetében, mint látható lesz. Mindeközben az „arab tavasz” eseményei maguk is részben az egészséggel összefüggő folyamatokból vezethetők le. A tanulmány ezt az oksági összefüggésrendszert kívánja feltárni, elsősorban a 2011-től 2019-ig terjedő, vagyis a világméretű koronavírus-járványt megelőző időszakra fordítva a figyelmet. = Public health-related aspects of the so-called “Arab Spring” have thus far received scant attention in the social sciences literature, even though such an approach can yield important insights regarding the causes as well as the consequences of the momentous events of 2011. Among the determinants of health, we find not only “neutral” environmental and biological variables but also the manmade effects of cultural norms, social institutions, income levels and political decisions, with implications for the health of populations. Often, these implications operate selectively – with varying effect and to a varying extent – on different segments of society, exerting this effect in interaction with demographic and other variables. The Arab Spring impacted on public health through the ensuing armed conflicts, first of all, as well as through more complex mechanisms over the longer run, as will be shown here, for instance, with a view to Egypt’s post-2013 health reforms. In the meantime, the Arab Spring itself can be explained partly with reference to health-related processes. The present study sets out to study the related web of causal relationships focusing primarily on the period from 2011 to 2019, that is, the period preceding the worldwide coronavirus pandemic that began in late 2019.
Research over the past twenty years has found that fathers play an important role in their children’s development. However, the literature on fatherhood is still limited, particularly in the Arab world. This paper uses data from a mixed-method pilot study of sixty-one Arabs residing in the United Arab Emirates to examine the nature and impact of father involvement in the Arab region. The findings indicate that Arab fathers score highly on the good provider role, but low on responsible paternal engagement, which includes father involvement in the child’s education and related activities. We also find that the more positively involved a father has been in his child’s life, the higher the child’s self-esteem tends to be. In addition, the results show that experiences of father involvement vary according to the gender of the child, socioeconomic status, and nationality. These findings have important implications for understanding the nature of Arab father involvement and serve as a prelude to a larger study of father involvement across the Arab region.
Social media or social networking tools are Internet-based applications that focus on building social networks or social relations among people with shared interests and/or activities. Social media sites essentially consist of a representation of each user (often a profile), his/her social links, and a variety of additional services. Social networking sites fuss and was impressed by the community as a result of submissions from the ease and facilitated communication between people, and widened its fame and many use became their top concern, where communicating through these sites to get to know each other, and find out news each other, and receive news and themes and all that is new in the arena. However, since these sites and programs are open, there are no controls commensurate with our religion and our values and our habits of Arab and fixed principles, which impact on the lives of people in general, whether positively or negatively.
The Middle East and North Africa (MENA)’s womb was pregnant with a tremendous political turning point on the day Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire on 17 December 2010. Bouazizi was a 26-year-old vegetable vendor who was dissatisfied by unemployment and the corrupt bureaucracy of Tunisia. This fire was not a mere self-immolation, it inflamed the whole body of the Arab world. A spark which turned into a conflagration ousted rulers in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya, and ignited political turmoil in most – and civil war in some – states of the region with their destructive consequences of death, casualty, compulsive migration, economic breakdown and chaos, which still persist in some of the countries of the region such as Syria and Yemen. Although ‘greater political stability for a country does indeed lead to an increased rate of entrepreneurship and wealth creation’ (Dutta et al., 2013, p. 130), this chapter intends to study whether sound entrepreneurship could also lead to political stability and, conversely, to political instability: that is, whether two concepts (political stability and entrepreneurship) have a reciprocally symbiotic relationship with each other. In other words, it examines whether flourishing entrepreneurship, which pragmatically leads to a more affluent economy, could prevent political instability. Hence, the entrepreneurial contexts of the Arab states involved in the Arab Spring before the turmoil have been studied to shed light on this proposed relationship.
The rising risks of thermal extremes are among the largest global threats. They are significant in hot urban deserts (HUDs) given the already high air temperatures, urban-induced heating, and vulnerability of residents. The challenge compounds as localities combat urban heating with mitigative approaches unmindful of on-ground constraints in hot desert environments. Based on a systematic literature review, this study investigates the current state of knowledge of morphological heat mitigative interventions in HUDs. First, metrics, measurements, and methods were extracted to examine the applicability of different interventions. Then, a content synthesis identified the levels of strategy success. Lastly, challenges and uncertainties were identified to compare mitigation aspirational aims from their actualities. For hot urban deserts, the results indicate opportunities to use seldomly investigated morphological metrics such as the length of contiguous vertical facets and intermediate orientations of canyons to mitigate urban-induced heating. In addition, this study reports the methodological challenges in metric computations across scales. It revealed the impact of coupling effects and measurements approaches in defining the success of morphological mitigative interventions. The review illustrates the need to unpack complex relationships between mitigation interventions and thermal stimuli both spatially and temporally to optimize benefits and minimize tradeoffs of mitigation strategies.
Energy and water are two indispensable entities that administer lives and the development of civilizations. The economic and social health of the modern world relies upon the sustainable supply of water and energy. Recently, their demands have risen in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region due to the substantial growth of population, lifestyle, climate change and the rapid development of the industrial sector.
Some forecasts predicted that in the near future the MENA region will suffer from a severe water scarcity due to climate change. Therefore, the application of effective solutions is highly required in the short and medium term.
In this book, we study demographic developments in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). In the past, the demographic developments in the Middle East and North Africa have been described as "peculiar" and "unique". In particular, the development of fertility got attention from a western point of view because it did not show the sharp decline with increasing development as the western countries did. Moreover, the growing population size and the bulk of young people caused worries, particularly in Europe, where a discussion about "the death of the West" has started. Thus, the demographic processes in the Middle East and North Africa call for a closer inspection of the recent levels and tends. Surprisingly, there is not much literature on these countries, leading us to compile essential descriptive findings. In the present book, we evaluate the current state and recent demographic developments in the MENA countries by presenting comparable and recent data on changes since 1950 and on the current characteristics of the population in the 22 countries of the Arab League (Algeria, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, State of Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syrian Arab Republic, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, Yemen) plus three neighboring countries (Israel, Turkey, and Iran) using databases of various United Nations agencies and the World Bank. We deliberately refrain from discussing population forecasts which, due to assumptions underlying to them, would be worth to be discussed separately.
The current recession, the worst in a half century, is likely to affect international migration differently than past recessions. In 1973–1974 and 1981–1982, rising oil prices led to recessions in oil-importing countries and economic booms in oil-exporting countries, enabling some migrants to shift from bust to boom areas, as from Europe to the Middle East. The 1997–1998 Asian financial crisis did not spread globally, and was followed by a relatively quick resumption of economic and job growth that attracted migrant workers. The 2008–2009 recession is most severe in countries that had the most severe debt excesses, including the U.S., Spain, and Eastern Europe, and in countries most dependent on trade, including many Asian countries. New deployments of migrants are likely to slow, but what is not yet clear is how many migrants who lose jobs will remain abroad.