The Layalina Review: Volume VI No. 26 | Layalina Productions, Inc.

The Layalina Review

	The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media. Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors. Published 26 times per year, the review is free to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats. The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks in part to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation of Illinois.
Statistic of the Week The UAE is the 'most connected' Arab country, followed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in a new study. PDF RSS Twitter Facebook Recent Issues Vol. VI No. 25: 12/03-12/16, 2010 Vol. VI No. 24: 11/19-12/02, 2010 Archives Subscribe to our Publications Layalina Review Staff Leon Shahabian Senior Editor Anne Hagood Managing Editor Jessica Simon Contributor Lorraine Jablonsky Contributor The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.	VOL. VI NO. 26, December 17-December 30, 2010 WikiLeaks Takes 2010 by Storm The cavalcade of WikiLeaks documents that were released over the course of the past year catalyzed heated debates throughout the world. The self-proclaimed whistle blowing website raised several questions as to the nature of security on the one hand and free speech on the other. Obama’s Uneasy Relationship with the Middle East President Obama’s overall popularity declined in the Middle East despite several popular initiatives, largely because citizens in the region did not perceive any immediate change. Yet, some groups remain hopeful that the President will make a difference in the region in good time. The Year of Living Dangerously This past year revealed growing confusion and contention in the United States with regard to the Islamic community. From the controversy over the Islamic community center to the Florida pastor’s threat to sponsor a Qu’ran burning day, couple with several other factors, have pointed out that Islamophobia is a real and painful issue. Islamists on the Rise in the Arab World Religious groups throughout the Middle East seeking to establish a solid platform for their beliefs and values via media outlets have been competing with one another over the pan-Arab satellite platforms. Yet, according to some, the chief problem with this strategy is that it often results in some rather serious political ramifications and cultural misunderstandings. The Evolution of American Public Diplomacy: 2010 Despite growing efforts by the State Department to ensure that public diplomacy is brought up to date in terms of technology, the debate remains among experts as to whether or not this new approach is truly effective. Al-Qaeda’s PR Extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have been harnessing social media and publications in 2010 as a means of connecting to their followers; the most telling example of this trend being the magazine Inspire, a hip magazine designed to portray terrorist acts as glamorous. Censorship and Public Diplomacy via New Media The growing discrepancy between the notion that social media serves as the ultimate conduit of freedom and democracy and the reality on the ground are hampering some public diplomacy initiatives in the Arab world. While many laud the internet a harbinger of free speech, many citizens are put under arrest for voicing their beliefs online, notably in Egypt.

The Layalina Review on Public Diplomacy and Arab Media

The Layalina Review is a peerless bi-weekly source for monitoring developments in the spheres of public diplomacy and Arab media.

Its readers include academics, Foreign Service Officers, students, members of Congress and their staffs, foreign diplomats, and professionals in both the private and public sectors.

Published 26 times per year, the review is free to subscribers and available in PDF, HTML, and RSS formats.

The Layalina Review is brought to you thanks in part to a grant from The Dr. Scholl Foundation of Illinois.

Statistic of the Week
The UAE is the 'most connected' Arab country, followed by Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, in a new study.

Recent Issues

Vol. VI No. 25: 12/03-12/16, 2010

Vol. VI No. 24: 11/19-12/02, 2010

Archives

Layalina Review Staff

Leon Shahabian
Senior Editor

Anne Hagood
Managing Editor

Jessica Simon
Contributor

Lorraine Jablonsky
Contributor

The views expressed here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of Layalina Productions, Inc.

VOL. VI NO. 26, December 17-December 30, 2010

WikiLeaks Takes 2010 by Storm
The cavalcade of WikiLeaks documents that were released over the course of the past year catalyzed heated debates throughout the world. The self-proclaimed whistle blowing website raised several questions as to the nature of security on the one hand and free speech on the other.

Obama’s Uneasy Relationship with the Middle East
President Obama’s overall popularity declined in the Middle East despite several popular initiatives, largely because citizens in the region did not perceive any immediate change. Yet, some groups remain hopeful that the President will make a difference in the region in good time.

The Year of Living Dangerously
This past year revealed growing confusion and contention in the United States with regard to the Islamic community. From the controversy over the Islamic community center to the Florida pastor’s threat to sponsor a Qu’ran burning day, couple with several other factors, have pointed out that Islamophobia is a real and painful issue.

Islamists on the Rise in the Arab World
Religious groups throughout the Middle East seeking to establish a solid platform for their beliefs and values via media outlets have been competing with one another over the pan-Arab satellite platforms. Yet, according to some, the chief problem with this strategy is that it often results in some rather serious political ramifications and cultural misunderstandings.

The Evolution of American Public Diplomacy: 2010
Despite growing efforts by the State Department to ensure that public diplomacy is brought up to date in terms of technology, the debate remains among experts as to whether or not this new approach is truly effective.

Al-Qaeda’s PR
Extremist groups such as Al-Qaeda and the Taliban have been harnessing social media and publications in 2010 as a means of connecting to their followers; the most telling example of this trend being the magazine Inspire, a hip magazine designed to portray terrorist acts as glamorous.

Censorship and Public Diplomacy via New Media
The growing discrepancy between the notion that social media serves as the ultimate conduit of freedom and democracy and the reality on the ground are hampering some public diplomacy initiatives in the Arab world. While many laud the internet a harbinger of free speech, many citizens are put under arrest for voicing their beliefs online, notably in Egypt.