Original news, features, opinions from Chicago to Jerusalem
President Macron’s Pragmatic Maghreb Foreign Policy France’s foreign policy has been known for its pragmatism and steadfastness under all the Presidents of the Fifth Republic. By Abennour Toumi President Emmanuel Macron has many challenges ahead in his five-year term in office. One of them is foreign policy, a domain that is directly related to his…
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Lalla Fatma N’Soumer: Misunderstood Symbol of modern Algerian Feminism Lalla N’Soumer, the mother of modern Algerian feminism, still lives in the songs and depiction of mothers and grand-mothers, mainly Berbers, and secularist women elite. By Abdennour Toumi The Algerian legislative election on Thursday was marked by a high-scored sentiment of abstention and reluctance, what many…
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Something for everyone at La Grande-Poste Garden Vendor Books Walking up to the la Grande-Poste Garden, one encounters joyful and excited faces of so many people, who gather at the book-vendor’s tables. By Abdennour Toumi Passers-by rush for books, confirming that used-book merchants have broken the myth that Algerians do not read unless they need…
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Is Islam compatible with Democracy? Is Islam compatible with Democracy? Echoura-cracy, Democracy and Islamic Economy Toward the Emerging Neo-bourgeoise. The moderate Islamists seem to be seeking a realistic economic strategy to adjust between Sharia, martini and bikini like in Qatar, Morocco and Turkey. By Abdennour Toumi Is Islam compatible with Democracy? This is a question…
Algeria: Aging Power, Longevity and Credibility Too many old Guard, no Young replacements on the horizon — and the people remain in misery – but will they act? will collective action on the part of the people make for change? By Abdennour Toumi One measures a nation by its natural resources, military power, political system…
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Interview with historian Benjamin Stora The transcript of The Arab Daily News story interview with Historian Prof. Benjamin Stora By Abdennour Toumi Bio: Prof. Benjamin Stora is Professor of History at the University of Paris, Saint Denis. He is the author of a dozen books on North Africa and the Arab communities of France. October…
The Algerian Political Impasse Creates Societal Disorder. A political imperative can only produce and question the weakness or the absence of the State and with it the society that is participating in a national suicide. By Abdennour Toumi For politicians, it’s a mistake to bet on pessimism; however, when leaders become unavailable and people don’t have…
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UEFA Euro 2016: Fraternity, Unity and Diversity. France’s squad footballers cultural and ethnic origin, particularly for second and third generation football stars immigrants are victims of institutionalized racism. By Abdennour Toumi The UEFA Euro 2016 championship edition is one of world soccer’s most watched events. France is the hosting country and the most favored to win…
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The future of Algeria lays on its education system, it should put excellence the main demand from its students, then make sure this demand applies on its leaders as well By Abdennour Toumi Algeria’s latest melee in political incorrectness has struck the nation’s education system directly in its to mach. As a result a million Baccalaureate…
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There are three elements in the power structure of the Algerian state: oil, religion and politics — these elements are to maintain the intra-clan interests, social order and keep the institutions functioning. By Abdennour Toumi These days in Algeria the regime’s machine is busy paving the road to el-Mouradia Palace for the former Energy Minister…
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Ideas of democracy and political liberalization have recently become central to political debate within and about the Middle East. Is Algeria able to respond to the challenge and be a unique case in North Africa? By Abdennour Toumi Algeria’s first pluralist Constitution emerged as a real imperative of change in the country and eventually in…
Algerians salute Palestinian football team Algerian football players and fans salute the struggle of the Palestinian people during a soccer match between the Algerian Olympic football team and the Palestinian Football team, played in Algeria. By Mohammed Asad Palestinians in the Gaza Strip watch on big screens a friendly football (soccer) match between the Palestinian…
Algeria — Political systems that demagogically restrict ethnic politics to a single dimension destabilize democracy in the long run, whereas systems that enrich multiple dimensions of ethnic identity can sustain it By Abdennour Toumi After years of political discussion, President Bouteflika and his team laid their cards on the table during a press conference led…
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By Abdennour Toumi They changed their political identity, that is to say, their strategy and political doctrine. While the Islamists across the Maghreb were gaining power in Morocco, Tunisia — even in Libya before the end of the political consensus through general sections — they emerged as a significant alternative to the authoritarian regimes. Their…
By Abdennour Toumi Paris, France — As the social season in Algeria heats up, so does the political one. However, President Bouteflika is intelligently focussing on a strategy to move his pawns into his rivals’ zone, in this case the Generals in Ali Khodja Castle He has been using tactics to overcome Algeria’s political turmoil of the 90’s…
M’zab Valley: Neither Sectarian nor Ethnic By Abdennour Toumi Algiers, Algeria — The recurring quarrels between the Mozabite and Cha’amba communities are not necessarily limited to historic facts related to the Islamization process throughout the Maghreb. A few Arab families who migrated from el-Hijaz in the middle of the eleventh century, particularly the Beni Salam, found an…
After fighting for the independence of Europe, Arabs and Muslims in the Middle East were massacred by the military forces of their alleged Western nation allies, such as on May 8, 1945 when French soldiers clased with Muslims who were celebrating the collapse of the Nazi regime in Germany By Abdennour Toumi Ankara, Turkey — One…
When the West created the Arab States after their colonization and occupation of the Middle East region after World War I, did they abandon their promises of implementing Democracies? Today’s Arab countries are not Democratic and have never been in a large part because of the failures of the Democratic West. By Abdennour Toumi Ankara, Turkey…