Policy and People at Egypt’s Global University
A Better Citizen
By Rozina Ali /
Winter 2015
Mahmoud El-Gamal will be forever nostalgic about his days as an economics undergraduate at the American University in Cairo. In July, he became the university’s provost and vice president for academic affairs.
Candygirl
Mohamed Tawfik is the Egyptian ambassador to the United States. Literature, as much as diplomacy, is Tawfik’s passion.
Oriental Hall, etc.
Happenings, speakers, and events at the American University in Cairo.
Arab World on the Precipice
By Nabil Fahmy /
Winter 2015
Now more than any time in recent memory, the Arab World as a political entity is confronted with ominous threats and hair-raising domestic and regional challenges.
Barack Obama’s Lost Promise
By Magda Shahin /
Winter 2015
Without a more consistent and effective implementation of the policy, the promise of a better American relationship with the Muslim World will remain elusive.
Reflections of a Media Critic
The American political system is broken, and political journalism has played a part in that failure.
Architecture for All
Magda Mostafa, an architecture professor at the American University in Cairo, is a pioneer in practical solutions to the challenges of living with autism.
Oriental Hall, etc.
Happenings, speakers, and events at the American University in Cairo.
Back to the Future
I have to wonder if we Egyptians are traveling backwards in a time capsule. Lately, we seem to have arrived in the 1960s.
Reimagining Limits
By Rozina Ali /
Summer 2014
Since Ezzedine Choukri Fishere began publishing fiction in 1995, he has come out with six novels exploring themes from freedom and destiny to identity; critics have viewed his work as indictments against repression, injustice and suffering in Egypt.
Oriental Hall, etc.
Happenings, speakers, and events at the American University in Cairo.
Theory Y and Egypt’s Bureaucracy
If employees are treated with respect, fairness and equity, they will become committed to the organization. In the real world, it turned out not to be that simple, especially in our Egyptian public service organizations.
A Street Called Mohammed Mahmoud
The walls of Mohammed Mahmoud Street, with their vibrant murals portraying the unflinching gaze of blinded protesters, or the serene smiles of winged martyrs, are witness to the wounds of Egypt’s ongoing revolution.
An Egyptian in Space
By Aaron T. Rose /
Spring 2014
Omar Samra is reaching for the moon. He was the first Egyptian to ascend to the summit of Mount Everest. He was also the first of his countrymen to climb the highest peaks on the other six continents. Soon, he plans to go even higher. In 2015, Samra is set to become the first Egyptian in space.
Oriental Hall, etc.
By Rozina Ali /
Spring 2014
Happenings, speakers, and events at the American University in Cairo.
Tahrir Tech
By Deena Refai /
Spring 2014
Over the past three years, Tahrir Square has become a symbol of revolt, the scene of countless political protests and, too often, violence and bloodshed. If a bold new vision succeeds, the neighborhood around the square will soon be buzzing with innovators and entrepreneurs, a symbol of Egyptian economic progress.
Desert Flowering
Saudi Arabia made its first-ever submission of a film for an Oscar at the 86th Academy Awards in Hollywood. Wadjda, which was submitted in the Best Foreign Film category, failed to earn a nomination, but it made history as the first feature movie to be filmed entirely in the country.
The Government and the Ostrich
Rather than working on clearly identifying and recognizing problems, many Egyptians seem to prefer a different approach based on denial, and pointing fingers at others. This reminds us of the proverbial tale of the ostrich burying its head in the sand.
Comic Relief
In the tumultuous three years since the Tahrir Square uprising, a number of young Egyptian cartoonists have persevered to defend a crack of space for free expression and dissent.