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Friends and colleagues,
On October 6, 2023, I was at a conference on peacebuilding in post-conflict societies. I study political violence, repression, and misinformation in the Middle East and North Africa. The challenges to justice and peace in the MENA region loom large in my academic work and it’s easy to feel hopeless and cynical. But on the 6th, I allowed myself to feel optimism as I heard presentations about how human connections across lines of conflict and difference can form delicate networks of mutual understanding that, with time, grow into strong roots nourishing reconciliation, justice, and non-violence. Humanizing each other—treating each person as worthy of understanding and attention—is a powerful force for peace.
The next day was October 7. As chaotic, conflicting reports of the Hamas attack first filtered in, I found myself weeping for what was happening and for the dehumanization that violence against civilians represents. I felt despair, and have felt it many times since; it’s easy to ask what good peace-building efforts are now.
Forging connections for peace amid polarizing conflict can feel naive and ineffective. But I believe the way to live in hard times is through attention to our values. At MIT, that means encouraging excellence and curiosity, openness and respect, and belonging and community.
My hope is that MENA/MIT can foster connections that align with MIT’s values:
• Connecting MENA-related research, teaching, and initiatives across MIT
• Connecting thinkers and doers
• Connecting MENA to other regions in scholarship and in practice
• Connecting academic research to economic growth, stability, and peace
Forging connections becomes more difficult as the conflicts roiling the region threaten us and those we love, but it remains essential. I hope to connect with you and whatever you’re doing to make a difference in the world. I believe MIT has an impactful role to play in solving the world’s most desperate challenges, including intractable conflict and horrific violence. This includes, for example, our recent minicourse for the MIT community titled “Israel, Palestine, Gaza before and after October 7: Understanding historical context and contrasting narratives,” taught by Professor Peter Krause, and we have another one planned. Those details and other activities that you may find of interest are provided below.
MIT has been host to important initiatives in the MENA region for a long time, and my hope is to amplify and connect those initiatives with the resources of MIT’s Center for International Studies. With only ten years of experience at MIT, and as a professor, I’m a relative newcomer. I’ll be learning as I go—bear with me.
With this inaugural issue of the M3 MENA/MIT newsletter, my MENA/MIT co-lead David Dolev and I are inviting you to be a part of this mission. I would greatly appreciate your input through this survey. Please also share this opportunity with faculty, students, staff and those in the region who would find value in our MENA-focused community.
Sincerely,
Professor Rich Nielsen
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