International Development

FSI researchers consider international development from a variety of angles. They analyze ideas such as how public action and good governance are cornerstones of economic prosperity in Mexico and how investments in high school education will improve China’s economy.

They are looking at novel technological interventions to improve rural livelihoods, like the development implications of solar power-generated crop growing in Northern Benin.

FSI academics also assess which political processes yield better access to public services, particularly in developing countries. With a focus on health care, researchers have studied the political incentives to embrace UNICEF’s child survival efforts and how a well-run anti-alcohol policy in Russia affected mortality rates.

FSI’s work on international development also includes training the next generation of leaders through pre- and post-doctoral fellowships as well as the Draper Hills Summer Fellows Program.

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The Program on Arab Reform and Democracy (ARD) at CDDRL is pleased to announce the release of the August 2022 issue of Mofeed Digest, a periodic recap of the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world.

Mofeed Digest is a feature of the Mofeed Project, an initiative that builds foundational resources for understanding how the politics and societies of the Arab world have adapted in light of the pandemic. The Mofeed Project is supported in part by the Open Society Foundation.

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Mofeed Digest (August 2022)

The following digest summarizes the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles covering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world. Mofeed Digest is produced by Mofeed Project Coordinator Serage Amatory.

[MENA | Algeria | Bahrain | Comoros | DjiboutiEgyptIraq| JordanLebanon| LibyaMorocco| OmanPalestine| Qatar| Saudi ArabiaSomalia| Sudan| SyriaTunisia| UAE| Yemen

 

MENA

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Putting MENA’s Pathogenic Variants on the Global Map
KAUST, August 2022
This article reports on the work of KAUST bioscientists to place some of the genetic information of the SARS-CoV-2 variants circulating in Saudi Arabia on the global map. The scientists also identified a link between disease severity and the virus’s nucleocapsid protein.

COVID-19 Policy Responses in the Arab Region: Limited Fiscal Space and Lack of Effective Social Protection Systems
UN ESCWA, August 2022
This report sheds light on social protection interventions as part of wider fiscal support measures implemented by governments in the Arab region to cushion the repercussions of the pandemic on private households. It focuses on intra- and cross-regional differences in social protection spending using information and figures of public announcements issued by governments and tracked by the COVID-19 Stimulus Tracker of the ESCWA.

COVID-19 and the Gendered Impacts on Adolescent Wellbeing: Evidence from a Cross-Sectional Study of Locally Adapted Measures in Ethiopia, Jordan, and Palestine
eClinical Medicine, 3 August 2022
This article explores relationships between gender, COVID-19 vulnerability, social protection, and adolescent wellbeing in three diverse contexts: Ethiopia, Jordan, and Palestine.

Women’s Employment and Care Work in MENA during the Pandemic
Economic Research Forum, 16 August 2022
This article assesses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on women’s employment and gender disparities in the MENA region. It shows that the experience of the pandemic underscores the persistent gender inequality in unpaid care work in MENA, and the necessity of redressing gender norms underlying this inequality to allow women equal employment opportunities.

How the COVID Vaccine Rollout Exposed Inequality in the Middle East
Middle East Eye, 19 August 2022
This article shows how the pandemic and the subsequent rush towards vaccination underscored the tremendous gap between rich countries and poorer countries and also the immense inequities that exist between countries and regions themselves. The article points to the Middle East as the region where inequities have been most intense.

COVID, Care and the City: Perspectives from MENA
London School of Economics, 22 August 2022
This article inquires whether the interval of COVID-19 produced particular challenges and practices in the MENA region, and how these shifted over the period 2020-2022. The authors draw on contributions related to different urban centers including those in Lebanon, Egypt, and Tunis, and with a special focus on Palestine and Palestinians in Lebanon.

Modeling the Transmission Dynamics of COVID-19 Among Five High Burden African Countries    
Clinical Epidemiology,
26 August 2022
This article aims to understand the transmission dynamics of the coronavirus and its variants in five African countries, including South Africa, Morocco, Tunisia, Ethiopia, and Libya. The authors project that for the next 30 years, there will be around 86 million infected individuals and millions of deaths only in those five countries.

First, Do No Harm? The World Health Organization in the MENA Region
Arab Center Washington D.C., 26 August 2022
This article reflects on the successes and the failures of the World Health Organization in the MENA region during the COVID-19 pandemic. It identifies challenges facing the WHO in the region including the exodus of health professionals, resource-poor health facilities, and a lack of specialized resources for women, children, refugees, people with disabilities, the elderly, and nomadic groups.

Algeria

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Rapport D’Enquête pour L’Evaluation de L’Impact Socio-Economique de la Pandémie COVID-19 sur les Entreprises en Algérie
UNDP, 23 August 2022
This article reports the findings of a survey assessing the socio-economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on businesses in Algeria.

Bahrain

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Long Term Detection and Quantification of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in Wastewater in Bahrain
Journal of Hazardouz Materials Advances, August 2022
This article reports on a long-term quantification study in Bahrain to investigate the incidence of the SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Epidemiological Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfection
International Journal of Infectuous Diseases, August 2022
This article reports on the findings of a retrospective epidemiological study of 1362 COVID-19 reinfection cases in Bahrain between April 2020 and July 2021. The authors analyzed differences in disease severity and reinfection characteristics among various vaccination statuses: fully vaccinated, interrupted vaccination, one-dose vaccination, post-reinfection vaccination, and unvaccinated.

Demographic and Viral-Genetic Analyses of COVID-19 Severity in Bahrain Identify Local Risk Factors and a Protective Effect of Polymerase Mutations
medRxiv, 16 August 2022
This working paper analyzes paired viral sequencing and non-genetic host data to understand host and viral determinants of severe COVID-19 infections. The authors estimated the effects of demographic variables specific to the Bahrain population and found that the impact of health factors is largely consistent with other populations.

Maternal COVID-19 Disease and COVID-19 Immunization
Cureus, 23 August 2022

This article evaluates the immune response and vertical transmission of anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) antibodies in vaccinated, expectant mothers infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and studies the sequelae. The study was conducted on pregnant women at Bahrain Defense Force Hospital from March 2021 to September 2021.

Comoros

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COVID-19 : L’Engagement Communautaire des Femmes au Cœur de la Réponse aux Comores
World Health Organization, 25 July 2022
This article highlights the role of women communities in the Comoros in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Djibouti

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Impact of COVID-19 on Poverty in Djibouti
The Borgen Project, 3 August 2022
This article examines the impact of the protective measures enacted by the Djiboutian government in response to the COVID-19 pandemic on food security, income, unemployment, and women.

Egypt

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Post COVID-19 Firm-Level Government Support in Egypt: Uneven Allocation and Unequal Effects
Economic Research Forum, August 2022
This article explores the allocation and effectiveness of government support to firms in Egypt. Government support has helped mitigate the effects of COVID-19, with a significantly larger, favorable impact on smaller, younger and private firms.

Prevalence of COVID-19 in Egyptian Children with Hemoglobinopathies and Inherited Anemias
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, August 2022
This article examines the prevalence of COVID-19 cases among children with hemoglobinopathies and other inherited anemias living in El-Minya Governorate, Egypt, who are at high risk of exposure to infection.

Modelling the Fourth Wave of COVID-19 Pandemic in Egypt
Journal of Mathematics and Computer Science, 11 August 2022
This article studies the dynamics of COVID-19 in Egypt using machine learning algorithms and the epidemiological model SEIR. Among the machine learning models studied, two models showed promising results (SVR, SEGPR).

Comorbidities and Outcomes among Patients Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Upper Egypt
The Egyptian Journal of Neurology, Psychiatry and Neurosurgery, 12 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the impact of comorbidities in COVID-19 patients on the outcome and to determine predictors of prolonged hospital stay, requisite for intensive care unit (ICU) admission.

SARS-CoV-2 Genome Variations and Evolution Patterns in Egypt: A Multi-Center Study
Scientific Reports, 25 August 2022
This article reports on the study of 110 diagnosed positive COVID-19 patient’s samples collected from Kasr Al-Aini Hospital and the Children Cancer Hospital Egypt between May 2020 and January 2021. The viral genomes were sequenced by next generation sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis was performed to understand viral transmission dynamics.

Iraq

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The Role of Influenza Vaccination in the COVID-19 Infection: Impact on Incidence and Severity in Iraq
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 4 August 2022
This article examines the role of the influenza vaccination in COVID-19 infections. It shows that influenza vaccination could be linked to better clinical outcomes and a lower COVID-19 severity score, without significant effect on the infection rate.

Analysis of Proinflammatory Cytokines in COVID -19 Patients in Baghdad, Iraq
Archives of Razi Institute, 10 August 2022
This article investigates the proinflammatory cytokines in patients with COVID -19 in Baghdad, Iraq. The most common clinical symptoms were cough, fever, and headache, while sore throat, gastrointestinal symptoms, chest pain, and loss of taste and smell were less common in COVID -19 patients.

Reinvigorating Medical Student Mentorships in Neurosurgery during the Pandemic: Lessons Learned from Iraq
Surgical Neurology International, 12 August 2022
This article discusses the Baghdad neurosurgery mentorship during the COVID-19 pandemic with notable comparison to the mentorship preceding the pandemic.

Contributing Factors in Whether Displaced Households Want to Receive Humanitarian Information from Humanitarian Actors: Iraq Multi-Cluster Needs Assessment
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16 August 2022
This article investigates factors related to desire of displaced households to receive humanitarian information. The authors show that the desire to receive humanitarian information was related to whether household members were unemployed due to COVID-19, displacement status, and walking time to reach the nearest health care facility and marketplace.

Measurement of the Serum Level of Leucine-Rich Alpha-2-Glycoprotein-1 in Hospitalized Iraqi COVID-19 Patients
Journal of Contemporary Medical Sciences, 26 August 2022
This article reports on the findings of a study aimed to assess Leucine-rich alpha-2-glycoprotein-1 biomarker serum level in hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

Disease Severity and Efficacy of Homologous Vaccination among Patients Infected with SARS-CoV-2 Delta or Omicron VOCs, Compared to Unvaccinated Using Main Biomarkers
Journal of Medical Virology, 27 August 2022
This article aims to establish the clinical severity of COVID-19 caused by Delta and Omicron SARS-CoV-2 variants among patients who either attended or were admitted to hospitals and to compare the effectiveness of Pfizer and AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines.

The Impact of COVID-19 Quarantine on Physical Activities in Basra, Iraq: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Emerging Investigators, 30 August 2022
This article aims to determine the level of physical activity of the residents of Basra (the second-largest province in Iraq) during the COVID-19 quarantine according to sex, age, educational level, marital status, occupational/educational status, and health status.

Jordan

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Drivers of the Acceptance Of COVID-19 Vaccines in Jordan: The Moderating Role of a Pre-Existing Health Condition
Journal of Positive School Psychology, August 2022
This article investigates the drivers influencing the acceptance of COVID-19 vaccination in Jordan and examines the moderating role of pre-existing health conditions.

The Impact of an Educational Workshop on Counteracting Hesitancy toward the COVID-19 Vaccine among Pharmacy Students in Jordan
Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 4 August 2022
This article investigates the effect of clinical pharmacist-led education on counteracting hesitancy toward the COVID-19 vaccine and thus on the willingness to take it by pharmacy students in Jordan.

Attitudes towards COVID-19 Booster Vaccines, Vaccine Preferences, Child Immunization, and Recent Issues in Vaccination among University Students in Jordan
Vaccines, 4 August 2022
This article explores attitudes toward recent issues in vaccination among university students in Jordan. The authors inquired about COVID-19 vaccine preferences, factors affecting COVID-19 vaccine preferences, child vaccination, and booster vaccines.

Regional Connectivity Drove Bidirectional Transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the Middle East during Travel Restrictions
Nature Communications, 15 August 2022
This article investigates the relative contributions of regional and intercontinental connectivity to the source-sink dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 for Jordan and the Middle East
.

Active Safety Surveillance of Four Types of COVID-19 Vaccines: A National Study from Jordan        
Clinical Drug Investigation,
23 August 2022
This article aims to investigate and compare the incidence, nature, severity, and predictors of adverse events following immunization (AEFIs) with COVID-19 vaccines.

Jordan: COVID-19 Impact on Micro-Businesses and Landless Labourers - Final Report (August 2022)
REACH, 29 August 2022
This article focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic (lockdown measures and restrictions, and their economic impacts) on agricultural microenterprises, income-generating activities, and income-diversification activities in Jordan. The enterprises and activities selected for this study correspond to four specific occupational groups: farming micro-businesses, food processing micro-businesses, artisanal micro-businesses, and landless laborers.

Kuwait

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Aggression and Violence during the Lockdown Caused by the COVID-19 Pandemic in Kuwait
Journal of Affective Disorders Reports, 18 August 2022
This article investigates whether there are significant sociodemographic differences in reported cases of physical and verbal aggression, anger, hostility, and violence among 815 Kuwaiti residents during the lockdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic on Children's Oral Health and Caregiver's Attitude towards Teledentistry: A Kuwait based study
Journal of Population Therapuetics and Clinical Pharmacology, 24 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on children's oral health and caregiver's attitude towards teledentistry in Kuwait.

Lebanon

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Effect of COVID-19 on Mental Health among the Young Population in Lebanon
L'Encéphale, August 2022
This article investigates the prevalence of psychiatric symptoms related to insomnia, depression, and anxiety, and identifies risk factors contributing to psychological stress in the Lebanese young population during COVID-19 pandemic.

Older Adult Syrian Refugees and COVID-19 in Lebanon
Norwegian Refugee Council, 2 August 2022
This joint report by the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Faculty of Health Sciences at the American University in Beirut explores the challenges faced by older Syrian refugees in Lebanon during the COVID-19 pandemic.   

Fighting COVID-19 in a Multicrisis Context: The Case of Lebanon
Community, Economy and COVID-19, 24 August 2022
This article studies the way in which the pandemic was successfully managed in the short term in Lebanon, but also how the lack of sustainable policies, low government trust, and limited monetary means led to an economic catastrophe and eventual large-scale spread of COVID-19.

The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic, Financial Wellness, and Online Teaching on Schoolteachers’ Mental Health: A Cross-Sectional Study in Lebanon
International Journal of Clinical Research, 26 August 2022
This article aims to assess stress, anxiety, and depression levels among Lebanese schoolteachers based on the COVID-19 outbreak, the Lebanese economic crisis, and online education.

Menstrual Health and Period Poverty in Lebanon during Economic Crisis: A Qualitative Analysis of the Challenges and Recommendations
Frontiers in Reproductive Health, 26 August 2022
This article aims to explore stakeholder's perspective on the Lebanese public health policy regarding menstrual health, the evolving challenges it faces in the context of the current economic collapse and the COVID-19 pandemic, and to suggest recommendations for solutions.

COVID-19 Mortality Surveillance in Lebanon
Scientific Reports, 27 August 2022
This article documents the Lebanese experience of COVID-19 mortality surveillance and provides an analysis of the epidemiological characteristics of confirmed deaths.

Libya

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Labour Market Access for Migrants in Libya and the Impact of COVID-19
International Labour Organization, August 2022
This report aims to advance the understanding of (1) migrants’ access to employment and the role of labor intermediaries, (2) employment characteristics and conditions of migrant workers, and (3) the impact of COVID-19 on migrant’s ability to access the labor market in Libya and to sustain their livelihoods.

Morocco 

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Prevalence and Severity of Gastrointestinal Symptoms in COVID-19 Patients in Casablanca: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Cureus, 9 August 2022
This article aims to determine the prevalence of digestive symptoms among COVID-19 patients in Casablanca and to assess the correlation between these symptoms and disease severity.

Analysis and Dynamics of a Mathematical Model to Predict Unreported Cases of COVID-19 Epidemic in Morocco
Computational and Applied Mathematics, 20 August 2022
This article aims to study the mathematical modeling of undetected cases of the novel coronavirus in Morocco.

Real-world Study of the Effectiveness of BBIBP-CorV (Sinopharm) COVID-19 Vaccine in the Kingdom of Morocco
BMC Public Health, 20 August 2022
This article reports the findings of a retrospective cohort study to determine real-world BBIBP-CorV vaccine (Sinopharm) effectiveness against serious or critical hospitalization of individuals RT-PCR-positive for SARS-CoV-2 during the first five months of BBIBP-CorV use in Morocco.

Phylogeography and Genomic Analysis of SARS-CoV-2 Delta Variant in Morocco
The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 30 August 2022
This article reports on the analysis of a total of 2130 genomes of the delta variant circulating around the world in order to monitor the evolution of these variants in Morocco. Authors also included 164 Moroccan delta variant sequences in their analysis.

Oman

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Assessing COVID-19 Vaccine’s Acceptability amongst Health Care Workers in Oman: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Infection and Public Health, August 2022
This article aims to estimate the acceptability of COVID-19 vaccines among healthcare workers in Oman.

Oman's COVID-19 Publication Trends: A Cross-Sectional Bibliometric Study
Public Health in Practice, August 2022
This article aims to assess the COVID-19 research output in Oman.

Reverse Immigration Effects for Expatriates in Oman During the COVID-19 Pandemic Shock
International Advances in Economic Research, 15 August 2022
This article investigates whether the COVID-19 pandemic shock had a negative impact on expatriates in the host country (Oman), and it identifies heterogeneous effects among different ethnic groups.

COVID-19 WhatsApp Sticker Memes in Oman
Discourse and Society, 31 August 2022
This article examines the form and function of personalized COVID-19 WhatsApp sticker memes created and shared as social laments by citizens in Oman.

Palestine

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The Palestinian Health-Care Providers’ Perceptions, Challenges and Human Rights-Related Concerns during the COVID-19 Pandemic
International Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare, 11 August 2022
This article aims to explore health-care providers’ perceptions, perspectives, challenges, and human rights-related concerns during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Palestine.

Severe Chest Imaging Findings of Coronavirus Disease from March to November 2020 in Palestine
European Journal of Medical and Health Sciences, 16 August 2022
This article aims to provide a thorough analysis of imaging manifestations of patients infected with severe COVID-19 in Palestine.

Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 Antibodies among Vaccinated and Non-Vaccinated Adults in the West Bank: Results of a Repeated Cross-Sectional Study
Vaccines, 17 August 2022
This article aims to assess the seroprevalence rate among a random sample of Palestinians residing in the West Bank region of Palestine, especially among those who were not vaccinated and not diagnosed. The authors also measured the percentage of adult Palestinians who accepted to get vaccinated across gender and age groups.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Beliefs Perception Regarding COVID-19 Vaccination among the General Population of Gaza Strip-Palestine
International Journal of Clinical Science and Medical Research, 22 August 2022
This article aims to assess the knowledge, attitude and the beliefs perception regarding COVID -19 and vaccination among a convenience sample of general Palestinian adults. 

Qatar

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The Association between Tobacco Use and COVID-19 in Qatar           
Preventive Medicine Reports,
August 2022                                                               
This article aims to determine the prevalence of tobacco use among COVID-19 patients in Qatar, and to examine the relationship between tobacco use and hospitalized COVID-19 (non-severe and severe), and quantify its risk factors.

Barriers to Practicing COVID-19 Preventive Behaviors among Migrant Workers in Qatar: A Qualitative Study during the First Wave of the Pandemic
International Journal of Public Health, 4 August 2022
This article aims to identify the limitations facing MACWs (Manual and Craft Workers) in Qatar towards practicing the COVID-19 preventive measures and thereby designing behavioral change strategies.

Cardiovascular Risks and Outcome in COVID-19 Positive Patients with Cardiovascular Disease Attending Primary Health Care Corporation in Qatar: A Retrospective Cohort Study
MayoClinic Proceedings - Innovations, Quality & Outcomes Journal, 8 August 2022
This article aims to report whether cardiovascular diseases increase the risk for hospitalization and further complications in COVID-19 patients in Qatar

Protection of Omicron Sub-Lineage Infection Against Reinfection with Another Omicron Sub-Lineage
Nature Communications, 9 August 2022
This article aims to investigate immune protection of infection with one sub-lineage against reinfection with the other sub-lineage in Qatar during a large BA.1 and BA.2 Omicron wave, from December 2021 to March 2022.

Immune Protection Against SARS-CoV-2 Re-Reinfection and Immune Imprinting
medRxiv, 24 August 2022
This working paper from Qatar provides evidence that having two SARS-CoV-2 infections, one with a pre-Omicron variant followed by one with an Omicron subvariant, elicits stronger protection against future Omicron-subvariant reinfection than having had only one infection with an Omicron subvariant.

Dynamics of Anti-S IgG Antibodies Titers after the Second Dose of COVID-19 mRNA and non-mRNA Vaccines in the Manual and Craft Worker Population of Qatar
medRxiv, 25 August 2022
This working paper aims to generate evidence on long-term anti-S IgG antibodies titers and their dynamics in individuals in Qatar who have completed a primary COVID-19 vaccination schedule. 

Saudi Arabia

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Physical Activity Knowledge, Attitude, and Behaviours among Adolescents in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Prior to and during COVID-19 Restrictions
Journal of Obesity, 2 August 2022
This article investigates the factors associated with physical activity (PA) prior to and during the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) among middle school students in Jeddah, KSA.

Outcome after Single Dose of ChAdOx1 Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Infection at 16 Weeks Post-Vaccination among Healthy Adults in Saudi Arabia
Annals of Saudi Medicine, 4 August 2022
This assesses the rate of subsequent infection and immunogenicity of a single dose of ChAdOx1 vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 infections at 16 weeks post-vaccination in a sample of healthy and young participants in Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice of Infection Control Measurement during COVID-19 Pandemic among Dental Assistant in Hafar Al-Batin, Saudi Arabia
International Journal of Innovative Research in Medical Science, 5 August 2022
This article assesses knowledge and awareness about infection control measurement during the COVID-19 pandemic among dental assistants in Hafar Al-Batin in Saudi Arabia.

Transmission and Cleaning Misconception during the COVID-19 Pandemic Time in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Cureus, 7 August 2022
This article aims to investigate the knowledge and attitude of the public in Saudi Arabia toward the concept of surface decontamination during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Attitudes of Public-School Teachers towards E-learning in Saudi Arabia
Arab World English Journal, 10 August 2022                                                           
This investigates the attitudes of Saudi public-school teachers towards e-learning during the COVID-19 pandemic and documents their views concerning its advantages and disadvantages.

Monkeypox Caused Less Worry than COVID-19 among the General Population during the First Month of the WHO Monkeypox Alert: Experience from Saudi Arabia
Travel Medicine and Infectious Disease, 11 August 2022                                      
This article assesses the Saudi public's perception, worries, and vaccine acceptance for Monkeypox and COVID-19 during the first month of announcement by the World Health Organization.

Seroprevalence and Longevity of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Antigen-IgG among Health Care Workers in a Large COVID-19 Public Hospital in Saudi Arabia: A Prospective Cohort Study
PLOS ONE, 12 August 2022
This article aims to describe the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG in healthcare workers in Saudi Arabia and to perform 8 months longitudinal follow-up (FU) to assess the duration of detectable IgG. It also aims to explore the risk factors associated with positive SARS-CoV-2 IgG.

Determinants of Post-COVID-19 Conditions among SARS-CoV-2-Infected Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Web-Based Cross-Sectional Study
Diseases, 23 August 2022                                                                                   
This article describes the incidence of post-COVID-19 conditions among the general population of Saudi Arabia.

Knowledge, Attitude and Barriers toward COVID-19 Vaccine among Adults in Eastern Province, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, 2021, Web-Based Study International Journal of Advanced Research, 26 August 2022
This article aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and barriers toward COVID-19 vaccine among Saudi adults in the Eastern Province.

The Impact of Ramadan during COVID-19 Confinement on Weight, Dietary, and Lifestyle Habits in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study        
BMC Public Health,
30 August 2022                                                                           
This article aims to investigate the influence of COVID-19 lockdown measures during Ramadan fasting on weight change in 481 participants in Saudi Arabia.

Prevalence of Depression and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Confirmed COVID-19 in Makkah, Saudi Arabia
Frontiers in Psychiatry, 30 August 2022
This article aims to evaluate the prevalence of depression and its associated factors among confirmed patients with COVID-19 in Makkah in Saudi Arabia.

Clinical Characteristics, Outcomes and Prognostic Factors for Critical Illness in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients in Saudi Arabia: A Retrospective Cohort Study
International Journal of General Medicine, 31 August 2022                                
This article aims to correlate clinical and laboratory characteristics of hospitalized COVID-19 patients to disease outcome in Saudi Arabia. 

Somalia

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Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Female Sexual Function in Women with Female Genital Mutilation
Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 18 August 2022 
This article evaluates the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on female sexual function in women with female genital mutilation (FGM) in Somalia.

Sudan

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The Impact of COVID-19 on Middle East and North Africa (MENA) Labor Market: The Case of Sudan 
Economic Research Forum, August 2022                                                                   
This article shows how workers in Sudan suffered from temporary or permanent layoffs/suspensions (without pay), delays in wage payment, reduced earnings or delayed payments, and changes in personal net monthly wage during the COVID-19 pandemic. It also provides policy recommendations to increase government support to manage the impact of COVID-19 on the labor market and the provision of social protection for workers in Sudan and MENA countries.

Syria

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Knowledge and Attitudes about Influenza and the Common Cold in Syria Post COVID-19: A Qualitative Study  
Annals of Medicine and Surgery,
August 2022
This article estimates the level of knowledge regarding the common cold and the influenza diseases among the Syrian population during the COVID-19 pandemic. It shows that the public still cannot distinguish between the two diseases.

Another Crisis in the Sorrowland: COVID-19 in Northeast Syria
Journal of Global Health, August 2022
This article discusses the realities of COVID-19 infections and vaccination in the context of the conflict in north east Syria. It shows how refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps and informal settlements have some of the greatest risks for infectious disease spread.

The Quality of Syrian Healthcare Services during COVID-19: A HEALTHQUAL Approach
Frontiers in Public Health, 11 August 2022
This article evaluates the perceived healthcare service quality in Syria during the COVID-19 pandemic based on hospital type (public and private). The authors argue that crowdedness environment, medical staff availability and their low salaries, pricing policies as well as the health insurance system, are to blame for the low perceived quality.

Rare case of Pneumoperitoneum in Nonintubated COVID-19 Patient 
Clinical Case Reports, 19 August 2022
This article reports the rare case of a 50-year-old female patient with COVID-19 presented to the emergency department at Aleppo University Hospital where supplementary oxygen is delivered via noninvasive face mask ventilation and where X-ray imaging confirmed the existence of pneumoperitoneum.

Tunisia

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Navigating through the COVID-19 Pandemic: Unfinished Learning in Primary and Secondary Education in Tunisia
Journal for International Comparative and Multicultural Education, 3 August 2022
This article sheds light on the different measures taken in Tunisia to curb learning loss during the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the challenges facing Tunisian students and the government.

Hospital Bed Capacity Across in Tunisia Hospital during the First Four Waves of the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Descriptive Analysis
medRxiv, 25 August 2022
This working paper aims to analyze bed occupancies for public hospitals and time delay response from the health care system in regard to the epidemiological situation in Tunisia during the first four waves of the COVID-19 pandemic.  

UAE

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The Impact of COVID-19 Pandemic on Customers’ Spending Behavior in the United Arab Emirates
International Journal of Business Management, August 2022                            
This article examines the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer spending behavior in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). It finds that the spending behavior of UAE residents during the pandemic has not changed much compared to the pre-pandemic period, despite that some have lost a portion of their income.

A Review of the Environmental Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the United Arab Emirates
Environmental Challenges, August 2022                                                                  
This article reviews the environmental implications associated with the COVID-19 pandemic at the individual and community levels in the UAE. It found that the positive effects include improved air quality and reduced contamination of public spaces with pollutants, while negative effects include poor disposal of medical plastic waste and facemasks and the rise in unhygienic health practices amongst residents of the UAE.

The Impact of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Physical Therapy Undergraduates and Their Families. A Qualitative Study from the United Arab Emirates
International Journal of General Medicine, 1 August 2022                                   
This article explores the physical activities of advanced undergraduate physical therapy students and their families during the COVID-19 lockdown and discusses how participants helped promote and maintain their own and their family’s physical health during the pandemic. It also identifies what knowledge and skills from their physical therapy studies the students utilized during the lockdown.

Human Albumin Solution Utilization Patterns Prior and During COVID-19 Pandemic in United Arab Emirates: Time to Develop and Implement National Guideline on Prescribing and Utilization                                                                      
Narra Journal,
1 August 2022                                                                                       
This article identifies albumin utilization patterns in a multi-specialty private hospital in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), before and during the COVID-19 epidemic in the country. It demonstrates the importance of reconsidering the prescribing strategies for albumin administration.

Pulmonary Thromboembolism in COVID-19 Patients on CT Pulmonary Angiography - A Single-Centre Retrospective Cohort Study in the United Arab Emirates                                                                                                              
Journal of Surgery and Research,
26 August 2022
This article aims to identify the prevalence and distribution of pulmonary thromboembolism in COVID-19 infected patients at Shiekh Khalifa Medical City in the UAE. 

Genomic Epidemiology and Emergence of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern in the United Arab Emirates                                                                                   
Scientific Reports, 29 August 2022                                                                              
This article aims to characterize the epidemiology, transmission pattern, and emergence of variants of concerns (VOCs) and variants of interests (VOIs) of SARS-CoV-2 in the UAE, followed by the investigation of mutations associated with hospitalized cases.

Yemen

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Detection of Short-Term Side Effects of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 Vaccine: A Cross-Sectional Study in a War-Torn Country                                               
Pragmatic and Observational Research,
25 August 2022                                     
This article identifies the type and frequency of short-term side effects following 48 hours of the first shot of the chAdOx1 nCoV-19 vaccine in Yemen.

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The Program on Arab Reform and Democracy (ARD) at CDDRL is pleased to announce the release of the August 2022 issue of Mofeed Digest, a periodic recap of the most important scholarly and policy publications, reports, and articles investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the politics, economies, and societies of the Arab world.

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Rebuild, Reimagine, and Accelerate: Ukraine

Rebuilding Ukraine will not be easy. Rebuilding Ukraine into a modern market economy, an effective state, and a thriving democracy that can fulfill the requirements of EU membership will be a challenge. Rebuilding Ukraine into a model for sustainable development and sustainable societies in the 21st century for the world to follow will be an uphill battle.

It is a necessary battle.

Guided by past experiences of successes and failures in post-war reconstruction, our goal is to generate innovative, practical ideas for the rebuilding effort. We aim to provide a framework for reconstruction that empowers government policymakers, private sector actors, and non-government leaders to be ambitious and accountable.

This workshop brings together a broad set of experts to define the problem, outline the cornerstones of an effective framework, and lay the foundations for future action. We hope that the conversations we start together at Stanford will serve as a springboard for productive collaborations in the months and years ahead.

Organized by the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies at Stanford University, and Economists for Ukraine.

7:30 - 8:10 am — Arrival and breakfast

8:10 - 8:15 am — Welcoming remarks

Kathryn Stoner (Stanford)
Dmytro Kushneruk (Consulate of Ukraine in San Francisco)

8:15 - 8:30 am — Opening remarks

Anastassia Fedyk (UC Berkeley)
Michael McFaul (Stanford)

8:30 - 9:00 am — Keynote Address

Mustafa Nayyem (State Agency for Restoration and Infrastructure Development of Ukraine), via Zoom

9:00 - 9:45 am — Taking stock: The Scale of Destruction and Scope of Reconstruction so far

Tymofiy Mylovanov (Kyiv School of Economics), via Zoom  
Nataliia Shapoval (Kyiv School of Economics), via Zoom

9:45 - 10:00 am — Coffee break

10:00 - 11:30 am — Getting the Economics Right. The Policies and Sequence of Reform and Reconstruction

Chair: Anastassia Fedyk (UC Berkeley)

Panelists:  
Torbjorn Becker (Stockholm School of Economics)  
Barry Eichengreen (UC Berkeley)  
James Hodson (AI for Good Foundation)  
Marianna Kudlyak (Federal Reserve Bank San Francisco)  
Denis Gutenko (former Head of State Fiscal Service)

11:30 - 11:45 am — Coffee break

11:45 am -1:15 pm — Getting Governance Right. Strengthening Democratic Accountability and Expanding Civic Engagement

Chair: Anna Grzymala-Busse (Stanford)

Panelists:  
Francis Fukuyama (Stanford)  
Luis Garicano (University of Chicago), via Zoom  
Ilona Sologoub (Vox Ukraine; Economists for Ukraine)  
Eva Busza (National Democratic Institute)  
Olexandr Starodubtsev (National Agency on Corruption Prevention), via Zoom

1:15 - 2:00 pm — Lunch

2:00 - 4:00 pm — Getting International Financing Right. The Structure, Sources, and Types of International Assistance

Chair: Erik Jensen (Stanford)

General Principles and Problems 
Panelists: Yuriy Gorodnichenko (UC Berkeley); Roger Myerson (University of Chicago)

The View from the U.S. Administration  
Panelists: Erin McKee (Bureau for Europe and Eurasia (E&E), USAID), via Zoom
Dafna Rand (Office of Foreign Assistance (F), Department of State), via Zoom

The View from International Financial Institutions 
Panelists: Vladyslav Rashkovan (IMF), via Zoom; Michael Strauss (EBRD)

4:00 - 4:15 pm — Coffee Break

4:15 - 6:00 pm — Sectoral and Regional Rebuilding. Ukrainian Reconstruction as a New Model for Sustainable Development

Chair: Kathryn Stoner (Stanford)

Panelists:  
Tatyana Deryugina (UIUC; Economists for Ukraine)  
Yulia Bezvershenko (Stanford)  
Andrii Parkhomenko (USC)  
Iryna Dronova (UC Berkeley)  
Eric Hontz (Center for International Private Enterprise) 
Roman Zinchenko (Greencubator), via Zoom

6:00 - 6:30 pm — Takeaways and Next Steps

Moderators: Anastassia Fedyk and Michael McFaul

6:30 - 7:00 pm — Reception

7:00 pm — Working Dinner: Takeaways and Next Steps


By invitation only. Not open to the public.

Workshops
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Workshop on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law in Southeast Asia

This workshop brings together scholars from Asia and the Freeman Spogli Institute at Stanford University to discuss the state of democracy, development, and the rule of law in Southeast Asia. Through these broad lenses, the participants will present research and reflections on various topics and cases from the region, including the monarchy in politics, peace-making in the Philippines, Chinese infrastructure investments in Myanmar, illiberalism in the Philippines, and Islamic law in Indonesia.

Event Co-Chairs:

Marisa Kellam
Associate Professor, Waseda University and Visiting Scholar at CDDRL

Donald K. Emmerson
Director, Southeast Asia Program of Shorenstein APARC

9:30 – 10:00 AM — Coffee and Introductions

10:00 – 10:45 AM — Political and Social Risks of the BRI: China’s overseas infrastructure investment projects in Myanmar
Presenter: Ruosui Zhang, Ph.D. Candidate, Waseda University
Discussant: Mike Bennon, Research Scholar, Global Infrastructure Policy Research Initiative at CDDRL, Stanford University

Developing countries are not passive takers of China’s loans and investments, an oft-overlooked aspect in the political economy of China’s foreign investment. Tracing the changing fate of the Myitsone dam in Myanmar, this presentation will argue that an increase in accountability from military dictatorship to semi-democracy explains the suspension of the project by the Myanmar government in 2011. It will also argue that the change in the leadership’s ideology from the quasi-civilian to a civilian government explains why the project did not encounter further setbacks even though the accountability level increases in Myanmar in 2016. 

10:45 – 11:30 AM — Roundtable discussion on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law in Indonesia
Reza Idria, Assistant Professor, Ar-Raniry State Islamic University
Gita Wirjawan, Chairman, Ancora Group

This roundtable discussion will offer the perspectives of renowned Indonesia scholars on democracy, development and the rule of law in their country. In particular, Reza Idria will discuss the social and political responses to Sharia in Aech, and its broader implications for the rule of law in Indonesia. Gita Wira will speak about prospects and challenges for Indonesian democracy and development, including his expectations for the outcome and impact of elections next year.

11:30 AM – 12:30 PM — Lunch and Informal Discussion 

12:30 – 1:15 PM — Monarchy and Autocratization: Cases in Southeast Asia
Presenter: Kana Inata, Associate Professor, Tokyo Metropolitan University
Discussant: Francis Fukuyama, Professor and Olivier Nomellini Senior Fellow at CDDRL, Stanford University

Focusing on Southeast Asian monarchies, this presentation will highlight monarchs’ involvement in processes of autocratization in the region. The talk will contend that the monarchy intervenes directly as an autocratizer in Malaysia and Brunei, whereas the monarchy is used indirectly to justify autocratization by government actors in Thailand and Cambodia. In making these claims, the talk will clarify the boundaries between monarch’s de jure and de facto interventions in politics and will consider monarchical accountability. 

1:15 – 2:30 PM — Roundtable discussion on Democracy and the Rule of Law in the Philippines
Aya Watanabe (Researcher, Institute of Developing Economies-JETRO)
Lisandro Claudio (Associate Professor, UC Berkeley)
Yuko Kasuya (Professor, Keio University)

This discussion will consider the nature of democracy and its impact on the rule of law in the Philippines. Aya Watanabe will argue that the electoral prospects of politicians have complicated peace-making in the Mindanao conflict given that the negotiated settlements must be approved and implemented within the democratic political system. Both Lisandro Claudio and Yuko Kasuya will offer reflections on the May 2022 Philippine presidential election, and the pervasiveness of illiberalism, corruption, and violence in Philippine democracy more generally.

2:30 – 3:00 PM — Reflections 
Co-chairs and participants
 

Philippines Conference Room
Encina Hall, Third Floor, Central, C330
616 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305

This event is open to Stanford affiliates and invited guests only.

Workshops
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The advent of the “Arab Spring” over a decade ago fell short of addressing popular aspirations for greater economic prosperity and peace. Few of the successes in certain regions were offset by substantial detriments in countries that witnessed conflicts, civil wars, macroeconomic impairments, and socio-economic declines.

This talk will map out the major macroeconomic indices and indicators in the Arab Spring states, before and after the mobilization, in an attempt to shed a comparative light on the repercussions of the Arab Spring. Such indices include those of regulatory environment, competitiveness, corruption, human development, human capital, knowledge and innovation, entrepreneurship, research and development, public finance, financial inclusion, and e-government. The presentation will also highlight major challenges that have confronted the Arab Spring states and other embroiled Arab countries, namely: economic development and growth, fiscal deficits and sovereign-debt sustainability, unemployment, displaced populations, financial exclusion, weak safety-net programs, and informal economy. Finally, based on the events of the last decade, the talk will outline lessons learned regarding participatory democracy and good governance, social equity, independent development, civilizational renewal, and modernizing and institutionalizing the public sectors.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

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Raed Charafeddine

Raed H. Charafeddine was first vice-governor at Banque du Liban, Lebanon’s central bank, from April 2009 till March 2019 and served as alternate Governor for Lebanon at the International Monetary Fund. He is currently a partner and executive board director of Vita F&B Capital, a MEA-focused strategic advisory firm. Charafeddine served as a board member and advisor for several NGOs that focus on alleviating poverty, improving education, healthcare, social justice, and women's empowerment. He was also a volunteer consultant for the United Nations Development Program in Beirut on conflict transformation. He holds a BA and an MBA from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

Encina Ground Floor Conference Room E008
Encina Hall, Ground Floor, East Wing 
616 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305

Raed Charafeddine
Seminars
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CDDRL 20th Conference Memo Header


Memo prepared for The Autocratic Challenge to Liberal Democracy and the Future of Global Development: The World 20 Years After the Founding of CDDRL, a one-day workshop examining the state of democracy and development today held on November 4, 2022, in celebration of CDDRL's 20th anniversary.

Full workshop program »

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Conference Memos
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Katherine Bersch

Encina Hall, C146
616 Jane Stanford Way
Stanford, CA 94305-6055

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CDDRL Visiting Scholar, 2023
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Sheri Berman is a professor of political science at Barnard College, Columbia University. Her research interests include the development of democracy and dictatorship, European politics, populism and fascism, and the history of the left. Her latest book is Democracy and Dictatorship in Europe: From the Ancien Régime to the Present Day. In addition to her scholarly work, she has published in a wide variety of non-scholarly publications, including The New York Times, the Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, Foreign Policy, VOX, The Guardian, and Dissent. She is on the boards of The Journal of Democracy, Political Science Quarterly, Dissent, and Persuasion. 

 

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine has heavily affected country’s research and development (R&D) sector. In particular, it has caused considerable damage to research infrastructure and forced researchers to leave their homes, ruined many research teams and paralysed their work, and stopped funding and implementation of many research projects. All these devastating consequences of the full-scale war have piled on top of the existing problems and challenges of Ukrainian science and deepened its long-term crisis.

Recognition and analysis of these systemic challenges implies that the reconstruction of the Ukrainian R&D sector cannot be seen simply as physical rebuilding of the damaged research infrastructure. It is essential to transform the R&D sphere itself and build ways for science to benefit the economy and society. To enable the ‘build back better’ principle of Ukraine’s reconstruction, science, technology and innovation should be the cornerstone of the national reconstruction strategy, and their transformation should be seen as an essential part of the EU accession. This implies that, first, the agency responsible for Ukraine’s reconstruction should have a dedicated unit supervising the R&D sector. And second, Ukraine’s R&D sector should be reformed as early as possible. At the same time, its reforms need to be systemic, accurately designed and appropriately supported. If supported by appropriate resources, the National Council on Science and Technology can start designing these reforms right away.

A crucial and urgent task is helping researchers (who have mostly stayed in Ukraine) remain researchers, that is, ensuring that they do not leave for other sectors. To this end, we suggest that the government, together with international donors, provides stipends to researchers selected on merit-based principles. Furthermore, it is important to support the development of networks and partnerships at different levels - among Ukrainian researchers; among Ukrainian and foreign researchers; among researchers, businesses and local governments. These networks and partnerships will be essential for the future reconstruction of Ukraine.

For the long-term transformation of the science sphere, we suggest the introduction of performance-based funding; the gradual transition of the most capable research teams under the new research societies (created in parallel with existing academies of sciences) with a simultaneous increase in their funding; intensifying European integration of Ukrainian science, including integration of research infrastructure; and data-driven R&D policy development, the foundation for which has been already laid. Closing the gap between education and research is also one of our key recommendations.

ABOUT THE BOOK

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Cover of Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and policies

This book offers a comprehensive analysis of what Ukraine should become after the war and what tools policymakers can use to fulfill these goals. It provides perspectives from leading scholars and practitioners. While each chapter of the book covers a specific sector, there is a natural overlap across the chapters because Ukraine’s reconstruction should involve a comprehensive transformation of the country. The leitmotif of this book is clear: reconstruction is not about rebuilding Ukraine to the pre-war state; it is about a deep modernisation of the country on its path to European Union accession. All critical elements of the economy and society will have to leapfrog and undergo reforms to help Ukraine escape its post-Soviet legacy and become a full-fledged democracy with a modern economy, strong institutions and a powerful defence sector. Ukraine’s ownership of the reconstruction will be key to its success.

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A chapter in Rebuilding Ukraine: Principles and policies, edited by Yuriy Gorodnichenko, Ilona Sologoub, and Beatrice Weder di Mauro.

Authors
Yulia Bezvershenko
Book Publisher
CEPR Press, London
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REDS Steve Fish

Over the past decade, illiberal demagogues around the world have launched ferocious assaults on democracy. Embracing high-dominance political styles and a forceful argot of national greatness, they hammer at their supposed superiority as commanders, protectors, and patriots. Bewildered left-liberals have often played to the type their tormentors assign them. Fretting over their own purported neglect of the folks’ kitchen-table concerns, they leave the guts and glory to opponents who grasp that elections are emotions-driven dominance competitions.

Consequently, in America, democracy’s survival now hangs on the illiberal party making colossal blunders on the eve of elections. But in the wake of Putin’s attack on Ukraine, a new cohort of liberals is emerging in Central and Eastern Europe. From Greens to right-center conservatives, they grasp the centrality of messaging, nationalism, chutzpah, and strength. They’re showing how to dominate rather than accommodate evil. What can American liberals learn from their tactics and ways?

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

 

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Steven Fish

Steve Fish is a professor of political science at the University of California, Berkeley. He is the author of Democracy from Scratch, Democracy Derailed in Russia, and Are Muslims Distinctive? and coauthor of The Handbook of National Legislatures. He is currently working on a book manuscript entitled Comeback: Crushing Trump, Burying Putin, and Restoring Democracy’s Ascendance around the World.

REDS: RETHINKING EUROPEAN DEVELOPMENT AND SECURITY


The REDS Seminar Series aims to deepen the research agenda on the new challenges facing Europe, especially on its eastern flank, and to build intellectual and institutional bridges across Stanford University, fostering interdisciplinary approaches to current global challenges.

REDS is organized by The Europe Center and the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law, and co-sponsored by the Hoover Institution.

 

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CDDRL, TEC, Hoover, and CREEES logos
Kathryn Stoner
Kathryn Stoner

Perry Conference Room
Encina Hall, Second Floor, Central, C231
616 Jane Stanford Way, Stanford, CA 94305

Steve Fish, University of California, Berkeley
Seminars
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Catherine Thomas seminar

Every year, millions of low-income households around the world receive over $100 billion in anti-poverty aid. This research shows how psychologically savvy and culturally attuned narratives of anti-poverty policies can both improve recipients’ economic outcomes and build public support. This research suggests that status quo narratives of aid that are focused on recipients’ neediness and helplessness may paradoxically maintain cycles of stigma, prejudice and poverty. However, a series of experiments in East and West Africa demonstrate that these cycles can be interrupted when narratives represent aid as an opportunity for recipients to realize their agency and aspirations in culturally resonant ways. Lab and field experiments with low-income recipients of aid in East and West Africa demonstrate how such narrative-based interventions can enhance the cost-effectiveness of large-scale anti-poverty programs. Online experiments in the US show how such narratives can mitigate welfare-related prejudice and build support for policies like universal basic income.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

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Catherine Thomas
Catherine Thomas is a Postdoctoral Scholar at Social Psychological Answers to Real-World Questions (SPARQ). She assesses psychological drivers of cycles of poverty and inequality through lab and field experiments in the US and low-income countries. With a focus on agency and dignity, she tests culturally attuned psychological interventions for reducing poverty, attenuating inequality, and mitigating prejudice against people living in poverty. She received her Ph.D. in Social Psychology from Stanford University and an M.Sc. in Global Mental Health from the University of London. 

Virtual to Public. Only those with an active Stanford ID with access to E008 in Encina Hall may attend in person.

Didi Kuo

Virtual to Public. Only those with an active Stanford ID with access to E008 in Encina Hall may attend in person.

Catherine Thomas Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University's Social Psychological Answers to Real-World Questions (SPARQ) Postdoctoral Scholar at Stanford University's Social Psychological Answers to Real-World Questions (SPARQ)
Seminars
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Yuko Kasuya seminar

Increasingly, disinformation, a type of fake news with malicious or manipulative intentions, has become common in elections worldwide. However, a few survey-based studies have been conducted to understand how disinformation influences voter attitudes. We address this question in the case of the 2022 Philippine presidential election, where disinformation was rampant during the campaign. Allegedly, various types of disinformation contributed to the victory of Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. (hereafter BBM). In this project, we focused on the disinformation about BBM’s father, the late dictator Ferdinand Marcos Sr. and conducted two survey-based studies. Study 1 examined the association between BBM support and belief in disinformation about Marcos Sr., and we found they were highly correlated. Study 2 tested the direction of causality by an experimental survey. Contrary to our expectations, those exposed to disinformation reduced support for BBM. At the same time, Study 2 showed that fact checks help correct respondents’ evaluation of disinformation. We conclude that although disinformation played a role in the 2022 presidential election, more research is needed to understand how exactly voter behavior and disinformation are related.

ABOUT THE SPEAKER

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Yuko Kasuya
Yuko Kasuya is a Professor of Comparative Politics at the Department of Political Science, Faculty of Law, Keio University, Tokyo, Japan. Her research interests include regime transition, political institutions, measurement of democracy, Southeast Asia (especially the Philippines), and East Asia (especially Japan). She is the author and/or editor of Decolonization and Regime Change in Asia: Historical Origins of Democracy and Dictatorship (Hakusuisha, in Japanese, 2022), Comparative Politics (Minerva Publishing, in Japanese, 2014) and Presidential Bandwagon: Parties and Party Systems in the Philippines (Anvil, 2008). Her articles can be found in journals such as Electoral Studies, The Pacific Affairs, and Party Politics, among others. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of California, San Diego, an M.A. from the Institute of Social Studies (Netherlands), and a B.A. from Keio University. She was a visiting scholar at CDDRL from 2009 to 2010 and Vice President of the International Political Science Association from 2018 to 2021. She currently serves as President of the Japan Association of Comparative Politics and Director of the V-Dem East Asia Regional Center.

 

Virtual to Public. Only those with an active Stanford ID with access to E008 in Encina Hall may attend in person.

Didi Kuo

Virtual to Public. Only those with an active Stanford ID with access to E008 in Encina Hall may attend in person.

Yuko Kasuya
Seminars
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