Welcome

Photos by Marta Bogdanska
Heinrich Böll Foundation – Regional Office Middle East

The Heinrich Böll Foundation, associated with the German Green Party, is a legally autonomous and intellectually open political foundation.
Our foremost task is civic education in Germany and abroad with the aim of promoting informed democratic opinion, socio-political commitment and mutual understanding. In addition the Heinrich Böll Foundation supports cultural and scholarly projects, and co-operation in the development field. The political values of ecology, democracy, gender democracy, solidarity and non-violence are our chief points of reference. Heinrich Böll’s belief in and promotion of citizen participation in politics is the model for the foundation’s work.

Our programme areas in the Middle East are:
  • Statehood & Participation
  • Conflict and International Politics
  • Environmental Justice
  • Culture & Dialogue

Statehood & Participation

Analysis

The Kurds and the Syrian Revolution

Despite endemic discrimination and oppression, Syria's Kurds have been hesitant to join the Syrian uprising against the Assad regime. A larger Kurdish participation would significantly impact the course of events, but the various Kurdish political actors have had diverging reactions to the revolution, the role of Turkey and the fate of Kurdish interests in a free Syria. By Bakr Sidki more»
The Syrian Shabiha and Their State by Yassin al-Haj Salih as PDF

Commentary

The Syrian Shabiha and Their State

 -

Yassin al-Haj Saleh, dissects the functioning, motivations, funding and ideology of the Syrian 'shabiha', from their appearance in the 1970s until their reemmergence during the revolution. Saleh shows their central role in maintaining a regime in power that has long lost touch with people’s interests, morality and reality.

By Yassin al-Haj Salih more»

Study

The Discourse and Performance of the Syrian Opposition Since the Beginning of the Revolution

 - This study attempts to understand various issues connected with the political and media discourse, as well as the political performance and achievements, of the Syrian opposition.

Moving beyond the various flaws that plague the opposition, it seeks to sketch out possible alternatives that could allow these political forces to elevate their discourse and performance to levels that benefit the revolution.

By Dr. Hazem Nahar more»

Conflict & Intl. Politics

Analysis

Is it Winter or Spring for Christians in Syria?

Following the popular uprisings, there has been much amount of debate on the future of minority Christians sects in the region. Is the new Arab world hostile to Christians? Is it wise for them to fear the downfall of the Assad regime? By Doreen Khoury more»

Environmental Justice

Policy Support

Follow up on Climate Change Negotiations

The Lebanese Commission for Environment and Development (LCED) has been, for several years, working on climate change issues, including mainly research and awareness. The Heinrich Böll Foundation Middle East supported the participation of members of the LCED in several United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Conferences of the Parties from Bali to Poznan, Copenhagen, Cancun and Durban. more»

Culture & Dialogue

Beirut - Cologne Artist Residency Program

Art and Archive. Open Call for Proposals

The City of Cologne and the City of Beirut with their partners welcome art practitioners to apply for a residency in all art disciplines including visual arts, writers, musicians, curators, film makers, art researchers etc. The duration of the residency is 3 months. The applicants are expected to present a project to be inspired by archival practices related to contemporary art creation.
more»

Cultural Magazine

Kalamon

- Kalamon is an Arabic quarterly magazine published in Lebanon. It seeks to provide a free space for articles, essays, studies and literary texts pertaining to the Arab world and aims at stimulating dialogue among intellectuals and academics, artists and critics from the region and the world. more»

International Conference

Social Sciences in Arab Countries Facing a Scientific Multi-Versalism: Pathways, Challenges and Constraints

 -

8-9 July 2011 at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon. The emergence of a multi-polar science world with many emerging and strong science communities in East-Asia, India and Latin America and, last but not least, in the Arab countries, indicate the end of the exclusive reign of Western social sciences and the beginning of a new era of international social science collaborations.

more»

Public Discussion and Presentation

Global Prayers – Redemption and Liberation in the City

 -

21 June 2011 6pm to 9pm at Hangar/Umam, Beirut, Lebanon. Holy Ghost services which feel like pop concerts; cinemas and theatres converted into churches; the Koran and the Bible as rap songs. New religious movements have arrived on the urban scene across the world – be it in Lagos, Rio de Janeiro, Istanbul, Mumbai, Berlin, London, or Beirut.

more»
Perspectives #3: Syria's Revolution - Society, Power, Ideology
Latest Issues
Perspectives #3 February 2012 - Syria's Revolution: Society, Power, Ideology
Perspectives #2 May 2011, Special Issue: People's Power - The Arab World in Revolt
Perspectives #1 April 2011: Nuclear Energy and the Arab World - Ambition and Peril
Reaching Boiling Point? Global Perspectives on the 2011 UN Climate Summit 100 years of international women's day
Latest Articles & Publications
The Kurds and the Syrian Revolution
Despite endemic discrimination and oppression, Syria's Kurds have been hesitant to join the Syrian uprising against the Assad regime. A larger Kurdish participation would significantly impact the course of events, but the various Kurdish political actors have had diverging reactions to the revolution, the role of Turkey and the fate of Kurdish interests in a free Syria. By Bakr Sidki more»
The Syrian Shabiha and Their State

Yassin al-Haj Saleh, dissects the functioning, motivations, funding and ideology of the Syrian 'shabiha', from their appearance in the 1970s until their reemmergence during the revolution. Saleh shows their central role in maintaining a regime in power that has long lost touch with people’s interests, morality and reality.

By Yassin al-Haj Salih more»
The Discourse and Performance of the Syrian Opposition Since the Beginning of the Revolution
This study attempts to understand various issues connected with the political and media discourse, as well as the political performance and achievements, of the Syrian opposition.

Moving beyond the various flaws that plague the opposition, it seeks to sketch out possible alternatives that could allow these political forces to elevate their discourse and performance to levels that benefit the revolution.

By Dr. Hazem Nahar more»
Beneath the Liberation Monument all that is Solid Vanishes into Air
A personal account of the motives and dynamics of the Iraqi protest movement that found inspiration in the Arab revolutions. By Saad Salloum more»
Heinrich Böll Stiftung