Middle East and North Africa Research Group

National Network
Belgium
Address

Universiteitstraat 8
9000 Gent
Belgium

Telephone
+32.9.264.69.54
Telephone (other)
+32.9.264.68.33
Fax
+32.9.264.69.97
E-Mail
Sami.Zemni@UGent.be
E-Mail (2)
Koenraad.Bogaert@UGent.be
Mobile Phone
+32.494.92.12.08
Organisation Type
Public Institution
Year of Establishment
2001
Fields of Activity
  1. Research
General Information
The MENARG is a multidisciplinary research group working within the Center for Third World Studies at Ghent University (Belgium). The MENARG is an independent research center as it is not affiliated with any political party. The MENARG’s independence inscribed in its statuses rests on the diversification of its public and private financing sources. Current MENARG staff includes 5 full time researchers. Partners include scientific institutions such as the Center for Islam in Europe, the Conflict Research Group as well as NGO’s (vzw. Vrede,…) and media groups (MO* Magazine). For an overview of activities see: http://www.psw.ugent.be/menarg/activities_seminars.html
Mission and Objectives

• The pursuit of informed and rigorous inquiry into the forces shaping politics, economy, and society in the contemporary Arabo-Islamic world;
• Advancing knowledge about, and understanding of, the social and political challenges faced and posed by Muslim communities in Europe;
• Promoting scholarly publication of research related to these themes.
• The translation of specialist knowledge into policy recommendations, as well as into policy tools for governmental and non-governmental organizations;
• The design of courses and the development of educational materials for the general public.
• Promoting informed public understanding of salient issues through seminars, speaking engagements, and contributions to the media.

Main Projects / Activities

Current Research includes:
- Democratic transitions in the Middle East and North Africa. A comparative study of Morocco and Egypt.
- Globalism and the Problematization of Government in the MENA-region.
- The influence of transnational political mobilization on homeland conflicts.
Other themes of particular interest to MENARG affiliated researchers:
- Social movements and contentious politics (particularly Islamism);
- Conflict and political authority in the MENA-region;
- Discourses on islam worldwide and discourse analysis;
- Cities, “governance” and the politics of resistance in the MENA-region and its periphery.
The MENARG carries out research and consultancy, can act as a partner for research for NGOs, organizes seminars and lectures, informs the general public through participation in public debates and designs educational courses.

Contact (1) Full Name
Prof. Dr. Sami Zemni
Head of the organisation
Prof. Dr. Sami Zemni
Contact (2) Full Name
Koenraad Bogaert