What is the project about?
The wave of dissatisfaction with present political orders is sparking revolutionary actions, protest movements, and innovative forms of civic engagement across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). These actions offer valuable insights into the root causes of discontent and reveal emerging visions of new political arrangements desired by the protagonists. This project aims to explore these imaginaries through an in-depth qualitative analysis of MENA countries ranging from Iran to Tunisia. By attending to the heterogeneity of visions driving acts of resistance since 2019, it seeks to rethink how political transformations are conceived in political science and move beyond the narrow focus on the reform of political institutions. Furthermore, it will contrast the local visions with imaginaries of reform behind internationally sponsored democracy promotion programs to understand the potentials and limitations of external support for meaningful political change. Thus, the project will not only enhance our understanding of non-Western imaginaries of political transformation but also provide a critical reflection of policy practice.
Team members
Dr. Tereza Jermanová (Principal Investigator)
Dr. Jan Daniel
Dr. Jakub Záhora
Anna Filipi
Funding
Four-year project (im)vision (2024-2028) is funded by PRIMUS research programme of Charles University.
Contact