Colonialism

Al Majalla’s Book Watch

A tour of the latest releases from Arabic publishing houses on topics covering fiction, philosophy, science, history, and politics

Khodr Al Agha 15 October 2025

Panel discussion with Sudanese-British billionaire Mo Ibrahim—patron and organiser of the annual Ibrahim Governance Weekend

X via@BBSimons

Africa’s modern economy: neo-colonialism disguised as development

Far from charity, European investment in Africa could be rightly viewed as reparations owed for centuries of systemic colonial exploitation of the continent

Amgad Fareid Eltayeb 10 August 2025

A man walks past a mural depicting the late Uruguayan writer Eduardo Galeano in Montevideo.

Eitan ABRAMOVICH / AFP

Remembering Eduardo Galeano: the voice of the oppressed

The passion and imagination of the Uruguayan writer remain timeless, not least over Gaza. Ten years since his passing, Al Majalla revisits his works and words.

Antoine Jockey 28 March 2025

The final issue of Algerian French-language daily newspaper "Liberté" is seen at a stand in Algeria's capital Algiers on April 14, 2022.

RYAD KRAMDI / AFP

Why some Algerians wish to bid adieu to the French language

A contentious cultural and political issue can often be oversimplified with crude arguments, but the question of languages and identities is much more nuanced.

Samir Qasimi 02 March 2025

Aliaa Abou Khaddour

Syrian women's century-long fight for sociopolitical change

During the French Mandate, Syria's women's movement went from grassroots protest to established force, setting up schools, helping the poor, and calling for rights and votes

Sawsan Jamil Hasan 12 January 2025

Palestinian artists put the final touches on a wall painting as a protest to mark the 104th anniversary of Britain's Balfour Declaration in Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on November 2, 2021.

AFP

Europe begins to face colonial legacy, but not in the Middle East

It is curious that amid the global attention on the Gaza war, very few commentators have remarked on the way that European imperialism laid the foundations for the Israel-Palestine conflict.

Christopher Phillips 01 January 2024

The Soulless Institution

Although normalized, upon closer inspection, the corporation concept seems to be a strange development. Over the years, they have been given legislative rights of individuals, without a need to be…

Saif Al Abri 29 July 2022

Red Sea Security, 250 Years Ago

A month before the publication of this book, its British author, Nicholas Stephenson Smith, wrote about it in the American “Foreign Policy” periodical which is published by Graham Holding Company,…

Mohammad Ali Salih 06 August 2021

A side street in the suburb of Ma’adi, Cairo, Egypt. The neighborhood is famous for its spacious villas, lush gardens and long history of elite residents.

The Making of Ma’adi

Recently, Annalise DeVries, an American university professor who has been studying and writing about “Al-Ma’adi” as part of her interest in Egyptian history, society and culture, published a book…

Mohammad Ali Salih 21 May 2021

Popular
Editor's Pick

Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and US President Donald Trump at the White House, Washington, on 18 November 2025.

SPA

Politics

Saudi Arabia scores ally upgrade in Washington

19 November 2025

Trump elevates Saudi Arabia to 'major non-NATO ally' status, but bigger issues of normalisation with Israel and a binding security treaty need more time. Nonetheless, this is a huge step forward.

Abdullah F. Alrebh

Lina Jaradat

Business & Economy

Hezbollah money laundering risks sanctions on Lebanon

17 November 2025

Media reports show pro-Hezbollah charities using online platforms to solicit donations via digital wallets to circumvent sanctions. In Lebanon's cash economy, that is a dangerous game to play.

Thuraya Shahin

Al Majalla's Editor-in-Chief Ibrahim Hamidi interviews Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani on 13 November 2025.

Axel Rangel Garcia

Politics

Asaad Shaibani on how Syria untangled its Russian knot

18 November 2025

In Part 1 of a two-part interview with Al Majalla, Syria's foreign minister explains how the Assad regime fell and how President Ahmed al-Sharaa went from a wanted man to a world leader

Ibrahim Hamidi

AL MAJALLA/ AFP

Culture & Social Affairs

50 years on, 'Grendizer' still stirs Arab hearts

23 November 2025

The Arab world's connection to the cartoon series remains uniquely intimate. No other animated comic hero has achieved the same level of fame, resonance, and longevity.

Shadi Alaa Aldin