Mohamed ElAgati

COVID-19 pandemic: Does the mainstream public policies system achieve protection for all?

Executive summary: The COVID-19 pandemic has put the world in front of many challenges regarding public policies and state responses to the spread of the pandemic. This as well has led to raising multiple concerns concerning fair and equitable public service provision and the process of doing that with accordance to social justice values. This paper examines the three cases of Egypt, Tunisia and Lebanon, in public policies and state responses in facing the pandemic. It attempts to test the ability of countries in the region to provide services at times of crises. This is done through analyzing public policymaking…

COVID-19 and the crisis of democracy

In late December 2019, the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) appeared in the Chinese city of Wuhan. In early 2020, the virus had reached dozens of countries, and by April 2020, the virus had infected around three million and killed more than 200 thousand1. In late January, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a state of emergency2 and shortly after the virus was declared a pandemic3. Countries closed their borders and airports and global aviation ground to a halt and governments imposed either curfew or total lockdown in addition to other procedures that were characterized by centralization and conservatism. The spread of…

European Free trade agreements: Investing in development or developing investment?

Edited By: Mohamed El Agati Researchers according to the studies order: Heba Khalil, Mohamed Gad, Saker Al Nour, Reem Abdel Halim, Abdel Mawla Ismail, Mona Ezzat, Shimaa El Sharkawy, Mohamed El Agati Translated By: Sonia Farid When the Egyptian and Tunisian revolutions erupted in 2010 and 2011, respectively, the EU reacted tragically, declaring in March 2011 its readiness to support Arab people in their struggle for freedom and social justice by deepening free trade and investment agreements with North African countries. (Southern Mediterranean). Although the language of the agreements changed in the period following the Arab uprisings, the reaction of…

Consolidation of citizenship through municipalities in the Arab region

The book is a study of multiple cases of citizenship and its support through the localities. The book includes cases from Egypt, Tunisia, Lebanon, Iraq, Morocco and Yemen. The question of this book is how we strengthen citizenship through municipalities and local communities in the Arab region. The involvement of citizens in the political process is an essential part of democracy.  Citizen participation in local governance involves ordinary citizens assessing their own needs and participating in local project planning and budget monitoring. It is important for improving public resource management and reducing corruption, by making public servants and political leaders accountable to…

Alternatives’ Papers, Fifth Issue (January 2018)

 This issue Follow-ups The Forgotten Yemen: the role of international community in Yemen.            1 Yasmin Ayman  Issues Availability of information and National Security      13 Topic of the Issue (Citizenship right between politics and violence): Citizenship challenges and its effect on minorities in the Arab region.    18 Mohamed El Agati Targeting Christians in Sinai … targeting upon identity or part of a broader strategy.  25 Mina Samir  Another youth “Coptic youth” in the Egyptian revolution: politicization and engagement through Maspero Youth Union … Reading a study of Caroline Barbary.                                                                                    31               …

Social disparities and class distinction in the Arab region

Capitalism has since the Industrial Revolution presented itself as the only way towards human progress and the ideal social system. According to capitalist ideologies, society is basically run by the elite in the form of those specialized in political and management sciences, finance, accountancy, and economics, which means a separation between the production process and the management process. In other words, society will be separated from the centers of wealth and profit accumulation or will be deprived of its collective production. This system is not new, for it is only a modern version of societies that were divided according to…

Book: Alternative Economy in the Arab region “Concepts and Issues”

Underlining the drawbacks of the capitalist system and looking into alternative economic solutions started with a number of initiatives that began in the 19th century. These included the Paris Commune in 1871 and before it farmers’ revolts against feudalism, the Russian Revolution in 1917, the revolutionary waves of the 1920s and 1930s, and the alternative economic models initiated by workers and professionals in the late 20th century and the early 21st century. All these uprisings, initiatives, and efforts revolved around the possibility of establishing a humane system in which the well-being of people takes precedence over profit and the accumulation…

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