Notions

    Famous is the Spanish government’s offer of granting Spanish residency permits to foreigners who alleviate the country’s economic burdens. Introduced in September 2013, a new law rewards those who buy property worth more than €500,000, invest €1 million or more in shares of publicly traded Spanish companies, deposit at least €1 million in a Spanish bank account or make a major business investment leading to job creation a one year visa, extendable to two years, and renewable thereafter. Spain-lovers from across the world can now buy themselves a residency in the land of fun and sun. The generosity does not stop there. Another interesting gesture, this time orchestrated by the Spanish Justice Minister, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, was drafting a bill that would grant Sephardic Jews the Spanish nationality. The bill, which stills needs ratification by the parliament, aims at righting what the government has called a grievous error when Jews were expelled by the Reye...

Hoy se celebra el aniversario sesenta y ocho de la independencia de Jordania (el 25 de mayo de 1946). En esta feliz ocasión, se presenta una breve presentación de la historia del país y su lucha para la independencia. Visita Histórica Jordania tiene una historia rica y amplia, empezando desde el periodo Paleolítico (500,000-17,000 a.C.) y pasando por el periodo Neolítico (8500-4500 a.C.) y  Calcolítico (4500-3200 a.C.) . En el 3200 a.C., Jordania tuvo un carácter urbanístico muy simple donde hubo algunos asentamientos en el periodo Bronce Antiguo (3200-1950 a. C.) en diferentes partes en Jordania. Jordania fue parte del Imperio Babilónico, el cual a su terminación en el 539 a.C, fue puesto bajo el Imperio Persa. En el 332 a. C, Alejandro Magno estableció  el control griego sobre Jordania y varias ciudades griegas fueron establecidas. Antes de su conquista, una civilización importante formada por la tribu de nabateos, que inmigró de Arabia en el siglo sexto a. C ...

             A rab Nationalism, a romantic concept that moved poets to write ballads, intellectuals to preach volumes, activists to passionately organize and the masses to cheer freedom. A concept introduced by students at the American University of Beirut in the last phases of the ageing Ottoman Empire and studied in secret societies. This concept developed and led, under western planning, to the Great Arab Revolt in 1916. The slogans of Arab revival and freedom from Ottoman tyranny swept the Arab nations, where hopes of independence and self-rule were promised by the restoration of Arab control over the area. Then problems arose. Who are Arabs? What is an Aran nation? How does it extend geographically? Is it an area that encompasses people who speak the same language and share the same history? If so, why did the Lebanese Maronites reject the concept of Arab nationalism and insist on a Lebanese identity? Why did the Egyptians hesitate be...

     I came across an interesting blog today which is mainly dedicated to posting videos of fights in parliaments. These fights - as in fist fights- that erupted in European, Middle Eastern and African parliaments, not only revealed the hidden barbaric aspect of suit-masked gentlemen, but also drew attention to their very poor fighting skills. I mean, if you are going to throw a fist every now and then, you might at least try to improve what little kung-fu skills you have. Maybe start up a fund with member contribution? New taxes perhaps?       In all cases, this was not what most drew my attention in the blog; after all, the diversity in the ideological background of MPs in some parliaments and the wide spectrum of political orientations of its representatives may have added coal to the fiery politician. At some point, and according to the political scholar Khaleel Al Hajjaj, differences between Jordanian partisans led to exchange of fir...

A welfare state is an ideal state model where the welfare of citizens, economic and social, is provided for by a state that not only assumes this responsibility but defends its exclusive right in doing so (although it may share it with other independent institutions). The objective is social protection…a guarantee of conservation of human dignity, fair treatment of citizens and the effort to solve their ordeals in an efficient and effective manner. The developed world has achieved perfection in its design and implementation of such a state, whilst the developing world (or part of it) is improving its systems and institutions for that end. A state where people’s needs are met, where health, education and decent living are responsibilities that the state assumes in full accord with its citizens is the objective. A culture of well-being is the supreme goal.   However, the utopian scenario is, well, utopian. Perfection in a public administration is an unrealistic (and quite arro...

           The Afghan Taliban on Saturday called for an end to violence against Muslims in the Central African Republic, a statement echoed by al-Qaida's North Africa branch. After weeks of atrocities and horrific acts of barbarity committed by the 'anti-balaka' militia against Muslim citizens, along with mutilations, death sentences, beatings, burnings and terrorization, the Muslim salvation group decided to speak out and call on the international community and the Christian leadership in particular to put an end to what is happening. The question is: where are they? They found their way to the US, and Iraq and now in Syria, fighting for the liberty and dignity of Muslim citizens across the world…does the Central African Republic not count? Do Muslim suffering in the African country fall under a second class category of Muslims? Fighters were able to infiltrate into the Middle Eastern region and North Africa, but could not go further south...

The 16 th  century politician and philosopher Niccolo Machiavelli argued in his morally controversial book “The Prince” that the final objective of politics is to conserve and augment political power. He championed absolute monarchy in the chaotic renaissance Italy which was facing a problem of a corrupt and damaged society, arguing that when the necessary virtues disappear from a given society, it is not possible to neither restore such virtues nor form an organized government except via tyrannical power. Such a tyrannical power, he argued, enjoyed a special status in respect to the society. The governor, according to Machiavelli, is above morality; morality that must be adhered to by the group of citizens, but not the governor himself. The only way to measure the success of such a governor is through the policies he applies to augment the power of his state. Machiavelli also recommended despotism in the creation of new states and the reform of a corrupt one, adding that whe...