Newswise — As demonstrations continue in the Middle East and North Africa, Florida State University experts are available to answer media questions and provide historical perspective on these unprecedented events.
* Paul Beaumont, associate professor of economics, (850) 644-7085 or (850) 567-2022; [email protected]Beaumont, an expert on the economics of the Middle East and North Africa and Islamic finance, can address the ways in which the unrest is affecting oil prices and financial markets: “Although each Middle Eastern and North African country is unique, economic conditions are playing an important role in the current unrest in the region. Libya, for instance, is a fairly well-off nation in the region but the one in three Libyans living in poverty have not shared in the prosperity. Yemen is a poor country and, with a median age of 18, the population is impatient for change. Tunisia and Egypt are somewhere in between but have large populations of disaffected and well-educated young people who finally reached a tipping point for change.”
* Jeanette Castillo, assistant professor of digital media, (850) 644-8773 or (812) 272-3307; [email protected]Castillo researches the Internet and democracy and can discuss the role comedy plays in democratic movements and systems as well as the intersection of old and new media. For example, Al Jazeera’s role in spreading word of Facebook- and Twitter-organized demonstrations and the importance of the network in countries where Internet penetration is less than 20 percent:“Young people are organizing demonstrations using social media and cell phones, but the older generations are watching on Al Jazeera and mobilizing in response to the images they see. I would argue that what we are seeing is not attributable to the Internet alone but represents a kind of convergence of mediums at a critical moment. In addition, comedy can be a powerful tool for oppressed peoples, expressing resistance without violence, creating solidarity and maintaining morale. The Internet is very good at facilitating this type of mockery, providing a medium for the clever citizen to have his or her say.”
* Will Hanley, assistant professor of history, (850) 644-5888 or (850) 728-6582; [email protected]Hanley, whose research focuses on Egypt, can discuss the recent protests in a broad historical context, with particular reference to the colonial background of the Middle East. He also can address the legal dimension of the regime changes: “Western public opinion has struggled to interpret these Middle Eastern revolutions because they have little to do with the issues we are told dominate the Middle East: Islam, Israel, and hate of America. In fact, the revolutions are an expression of quite universal impulses: the wish for freedom of expression, good government, justice, an end to corruption, and economic opportunity. We in the West should recognize our own politics in these impulses, and take pride in the accomplishments of these brave protesters.”
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