Dana El Kurd
Biographic Data
| ID | 4122204 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Dana El Kurd |
| GIVEN NAMES | Dana |
| FAMILY NAME | El Kurd |
| SIGNATURE | EL KURD D |
| AFFILIATIONS | University of Richmond |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-7546-2731 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 15 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 20 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 15 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2014 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 3 |
Moral Shocks and (De)mobilization: The Case of the Palestinian Liberation Movement
What are the organizational consequences of moral shocks? Moral shocks are events or critical junctures that spark “visceral reactions against a reprehensible reality” (Pearlman 2013). They help individuals overcome fear, enabling them to engage in political mobilization despite heightened risks. This phenomenon has often been used to explain how political protests arise, but the mechanisms linking moments of moral shock to their outcomes remain …
Arab–Israeli Normalization, Repression, and Impunity
Diplomatic normalization between Israel and Arab states, most recently in the 2020 Abraham Accords, has been hailed as a mutually beneficial form of peacemaking. But these “peace deals” often result in repression of Arab public support for the Palestinian cause, while reinforcing authoritarianism in both Israel and the Arab world
Elusive decolonisation of IR in the Arab world
Arab social science scholarship, and IR in particular, has been systematically underfunded and sidelined by governments across the region. As such, IR scholars in the Arab world have struggled to produce scholarship in hostile and authoritarian environments, let alone address efforts to decolonise. Of the few initiatives of indigenising social science that exist in the Arab world, the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DI) and its founding inst…
The Paradox of Peace: The Impact of Normalization with Israel on the Arab World
How can peace initiatives facilitate authoritarian practices? Peace initiatives that do not address the root causes of conflict, and maintain structural violence, can facilitate authoritarian practices through both material and discursive mechanisms. I use the recent steps towards normalization and, in some instances, peace agreements between Israel and a number of Arab states to make this argument. I examine this dynamic across Gulf Cooperation …
Is Graduate School Worth It? Harassment and Graduate-Student Satisfaction in Political Science
This article investigates the dynamics of discrimination in political science PhD programs with a survey of current political science graduate students in the top 50 departments. The study focuses on mentorship, funding, sexual harassment, racism, homophobia, and labor exploitation: 20% of respondents reported labor exploitation, 19% experienced racial discrimination, 9% reported sexual harassment, and 6% experienced homophobia. Discrimination is…
Gateway to dissent: The role of pro-Palestine activism in opposition to authoritarianism
Pro-Palestine activism in the Arab world has historically been one of the few tolerated avenues for political expression. Such activism is not an innocuous display of humanitarian concern for the plight of Palestinians, but rather a major driver of opposition to authoritarianism – particularly in highly repressive environments. In this article, I argue that pro-Palestine activism in the region has three impacts: 1) introducing activists in their …
Support for Violent Versus Non-Violent Strategies in the Palestinian Territories
What determines support for violent versus nonviolent strategies? I argue that strategy preference is motivated by an individuals’ assessment of their society’s cohesion. Perception of strong social cohesion, as existing literature argues, should increase individual support for nonviolence, as it gives people confidence that their society will be able to carry out that strategy effectively. I build on this work to show that perception of social c…
Mental Health and Fieldwork
Researchers discuss the logistics of successful fieldwork but not the mental health considerations that fieldwork and the research process introduce. Successful fieldwork and fruitful academic careers hinge on acknowledging and managing our mental health. We discuss peer-support networks, secondary trauma, coping skills, therapy, and researchers’ mental health options before, during, and after fieldwork
Polarized and Demobilized: Legacies of Authoritarianism in Palestine
After the 1994 Oslo Accords, Palestinians were hopeful that an end to the Israeli occupation was within reach, and that a state would be theirs by 1999. With this promise, international powers became increasingly involved in Palestinian politics, and many shadows of statehood arose in the territories. Today, however, no state has emerged, and the occupation has become more entrenched. Concurrently, the Palestinian Authority has become increasingl…
The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank: The theatrics of woeful statecraft
In The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank: The Theatrics of Woeful Statecraft, authors Michelle Pace and Somdeep Sen explore the motivations of various stakeholders in engaging with Palestinian
The Impact of American Involvement on National Liberation: Polarization and Repression in Palestine and Iraqi Kurdistan
What is the effect of international involvement on national liberation movements? In the last few decades, movements transforming into states have increasingly operated in a globalized context and have had to contend with international pressures. However, the effects of international involvement on the internal dynamics of these movements should be more centrally considered. This paper thus examines the role of international involvement in the Ku…
Strategic Autocracy: American Military Forces and Regime Type
What effect do American military forces have on domestic regimes where they are hosted? America's unparalleled global position is well studied, but less attention has been paid to the effect of its global military presence on governance. We argue that American forces have an autocratizing effect on host nations in strategically valuable regions. In ambiguous or unfavorable information environments, the key driver of American policy is the strateg…
Palestinian Protests: Jerusalem’s Shifting Fortunes
This paper argues that both the institutions and the social cohesion of Palestinians in Jerusalem were dealt a heavy blow following the creation of the Palestinian Authority in 1994. The Palestinian Authority increasingly demobilized Palestinians within Jerusalem and eroded traditional institutions. Nevertheless, the Israeli occupation’s intention to repress Jerusalemites by shutting down their organizations has inadvertently opened up new opport…
Policing Expression: A Survey Experiment on the Efficacy of Repression in Saudi Arabia
What is the effect of repression on public and private expression in Saudi Arabia? Previous studies have been inconclusive as to whether repression inhibits expression, or whether repression actually pushes citizens to even more anti-regime dissidence. The case of Saudi Arabia presents us with a useful case to assess this question, as it features substantial within-state variation in terms of the use of its coercive apparatus. This paper seeks to…
The Jordanian Military: A Key Regional Ally
Jordan has weathered a number of political challenges inspired by the Arab Spring in a way that has preserved the regime's control. The Jordanian military's role in these developments has been neglected but is critical to understand, particularly as the United States and its coalition partners continue to deal with violent extremist threats in the region. ********** Since early 2011, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has weathered a number of polit…
Gateway to dissent: The role of pro-Palestine activism in opposition to authoritarianism
Pro-Palestine activism in the Arab world has historically been one of the few tolerated avenues for political expression. Such activism is not an innocuous display of humanitarian concern for the plight of Palestinians, but rather a major driver of opposition to authoritarianism – particularly in highly repressive environments. In this article, I argue that pro-Palestine activism in the region has three impacts: 1) introducing activists in their …
Mental Health and Fieldwork
Researchers discuss the logistics of successful fieldwork but not the mental health considerations that fieldwork and the research process introduce. Successful fieldwork and fruitful academic careers hinge on acknowledging and managing our mental health. We discuss peer-support networks, secondary trauma, coping skills, therapy, and researchers’ mental health options before, during, and after fieldwork
The Paradox of Peace: The Impact of Normalization with Israel on the Arab World
How can peace initiatives facilitate authoritarian practices? Peace initiatives that do not address the root causes of conflict, and maintain structural violence, can facilitate authoritarian practices through both material and discursive mechanisms. I use the recent steps towards normalization and, in some instances, peace agreements between Israel and a number of Arab states to make this argument. I examine this dynamic across Gulf Cooperation …
Palestinian Protests: Jerusalem’s Shifting Fortunes
This paper argues that both the institutions and the social cohesion of Palestinians in Jerusalem were dealt a heavy blow following the creation of the Palestinian Authority in 1994. The Palestinian Authority increasingly demobilized Palestinians within Jerusalem and eroded traditional institutions. Nevertheless, the Israeli occupation’s intention to repress Jerusalemites by shutting down their organizations has inadvertently opened up new opport…
Support for Violent Versus Non-Violent Strategies in the Palestinian Territories
What determines support for violent versus nonviolent strategies? I argue that strategy preference is motivated by an individuals’ assessment of their society’s cohesion. Perception of strong social cohesion, as existing literature argues, should increase individual support for nonviolence, as it gives people confidence that their society will be able to carry out that strategy effectively. I build on this work to show that perception of social c…
The Impact of American Involvement on National Liberation: Polarization and Repression in Palestine and Iraqi Kurdistan
What is the effect of international involvement on national liberation movements? In the last few decades, movements transforming into states have increasingly operated in a globalized context and have had to contend with international pressures. However, the effects of international involvement on the internal dynamics of these movements should be more centrally considered. This paper thus examines the role of international involvement in the Ku…
Strategic Autocracy: American Military Forces and Regime Type
What effect do American military forces have on domestic regimes where they are hosted? America's unparalleled global position is well studied, but less attention has been paid to the effect of its global military presence on governance. We argue that American forces have an autocratizing effect on host nations in strategically valuable regions. In ambiguous or unfavorable information environments, the key driver of American policy is the strateg…
The Jordanian Military: A Key Regional Ally
Jordan has weathered a number of political challenges inspired by the Arab Spring in a way that has preserved the regime's control. The Jordanian military's role in these developments has been neglected but is critical to understand, particularly as the United States and its coalition partners continue to deal with violent extremist threats in the region. ********** Since early 2011, the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan has weathered a number of polit…
Policing Expression: A Survey Experiment on the Efficacy of Repression in Saudi Arabia
What is the effect of repression on public and private expression in Saudi Arabia? Previous studies have been inconclusive as to whether repression inhibits expression, or whether repression actually pushes citizens to even more anti-regime dissidence. The case of Saudi Arabia presents us with a useful case to assess this question, as it features substantial within-state variation in terms of the use of its coercive apparatus. This paper seeks to…
Palestinian Protests: Jerusalem’s Shifting Fortunes
This paper argues that both the institutions and the social cohesion of Palestinians in Jerusalem were dealt a heavy blow following the creation of the Palestinian Authority in 1994. The Palestinian Authority increasingly demobilized Palestinians within Jerusalem and eroded traditional institutions. Nevertheless, the Israeli occupation’s intention to repress Jerusalemites by shutting down their organizations has inadvertently opened up new opport…
Strategic Autocracy: American Military Forces and Regime Type
What effect do American military forces have on domestic regimes where they are hosted? America's unparalleled global position is well studied, but less attention has been paid to the effect of its global military presence on governance. We argue that American forces have an autocratizing effect on host nations in strategically valuable regions. In ambiguous or unfavorable information environments, the key driver of American policy is the strateg…
Polarized and Demobilized: Legacies of Authoritarianism in Palestine
After the 1994 Oslo Accords, Palestinians were hopeful that an end to the Israeli occupation was within reach, and that a state would be theirs by 1999. With this promise, international powers became increasingly involved in Palestinian politics, and many shadows of statehood arose in the territories. Today, however, no state has emerged, and the occupation has become more entrenched. Concurrently, the Palestinian Authority has become increasingl…
The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank: The theatrics of woeful statecraft
In The Palestinian Authority in the West Bank: The Theatrics of Woeful Statecraft, authors Michelle Pace and Somdeep Sen explore the motivations of various stakeholders in engaging with Palestinian
The Impact of American Involvement on National Liberation: Polarization and Repression in Palestine and Iraqi Kurdistan
What is the effect of international involvement on national liberation movements? In the last few decades, movements transforming into states have increasingly operated in a globalized context and have had to contend with international pressures. However, the effects of international involvement on the internal dynamics of these movements should be more centrally considered. This paper thus examines the role of international involvement in the Ku…
Mental Health and Fieldwork
Researchers discuss the logistics of successful fieldwork but not the mental health considerations that fieldwork and the research process introduce. Successful fieldwork and fruitful academic careers hinge on acknowledging and managing our mental health. We discuss peer-support networks, secondary trauma, coping skills, therapy, and researchers’ mental health options before, during, and after fieldwork
Gateway to dissent: The role of pro-Palestine activism in opposition to authoritarianism
Pro-Palestine activism in the Arab world has historically been one of the few tolerated avenues for political expression. Such activism is not an innocuous display of humanitarian concern for the plight of Palestinians, but rather a major driver of opposition to authoritarianism – particularly in highly repressive environments. In this article, I argue that pro-Palestine activism in the region has three impacts: 1) introducing activists in their …
Support for Violent Versus Non-Violent Strategies in the Palestinian Territories
What determines support for violent versus nonviolent strategies? I argue that strategy preference is motivated by an individuals’ assessment of their society’s cohesion. Perception of strong social cohesion, as existing literature argues, should increase individual support for nonviolence, as it gives people confidence that their society will be able to carry out that strategy effectively. I build on this work to show that perception of social c…
Elusive decolonisation of IR in the Arab world
Arab social science scholarship, and IR in particular, has been systematically underfunded and sidelined by governments across the region. As such, IR scholars in the Arab world have struggled to produce scholarship in hostile and authoritarian environments, let alone address efforts to decolonise. Of the few initiatives of indigenising social science that exist in the Arab world, the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DI) and its founding inst…
The Paradox of Peace: The Impact of Normalization with Israel on the Arab World
How can peace initiatives facilitate authoritarian practices? Peace initiatives that do not address the root causes of conflict, and maintain structural violence, can facilitate authoritarian practices through both material and discursive mechanisms. I use the recent steps towards normalization and, in some instances, peace agreements between Israel and a number of Arab states to make this argument. I examine this dynamic across Gulf Cooperation …
Is Graduate School Worth It? Harassment and Graduate-Student Satisfaction in Political Science
This article investigates the dynamics of discrimination in political science PhD programs with a survey of current political science graduate students in the top 50 departments. The study focuses on mentorship, funding, sexual harassment, racism, homophobia, and labor exploitation: 20% of respondents reported labor exploitation, 19% experienced racial discrimination, 9% reported sexual harassment, and 6% experienced homophobia. Discrimination is…
Arab–Israeli Normalization, Repression, and Impunity
Diplomatic normalization between Israel and Arab states, most recently in the 2020 Abraham Accords, has been hailed as a mutually beneficial form of peacemaking. But these “peace deals” often result in repression of Arab public support for the Palestinian cause, while reinforcing authoritarianism in both Israel and the Arab world
Moral Shocks and (De)mobilization: The Case of the Palestinian Liberation Movement
What are the organizational consequences of moral shocks? Moral shocks are events or critical junctures that spark “visceral reactions against a reprehensible reality” (Pearlman 2013). They help individuals overcome fear, enabling them to engage in political mobilization despite heightened risks. This phenomenon has often been used to explain how political protests arise, but the mechanisms linking moments of moral shock to their outcomes remain …
Political science (13 works) · Sociology (11 works) · Law (10 works) · Politics (10 works) · Political economy (9 works) · Jewish and Middle Eastern Studies (8 works) · Law (8 works) · Political Conflict and Governance (6 works) · Authoritarianism (5 works) · Democracy (5 works)