The Middle East is at a crossroads, shaped by seismic political shifts and profound uncertainties. The end of the Assad regime in Syria reveals a landscape teetering between renewal and fragmentation, while Gaza’s humanitarian crisis and escalating tensions dominate dystopian imaginaries. Yet, Gaza and Palestine remain central to global futurist thought, offering a lens for reimagining the region’s transformative potential.
This talk explores whether the Middle East is destined for perpetual crisis or can emerge as a site of “pan-progressivism”—a paradigm rooted in revolutionary legacies, cultural innovation, and activism. Juxtaposing Gulf Futurism, as seen in NEOM and other ambitious technological projects, with grassroots movements advocating for feminism, equality, and multi-ethnic solidarity, it proposes a framework for aligning these seemingly divergent forces into a cohesive vision of transformation.
The diaspora, particularly since the 2015–2016 refugee crisis, plays a pivotal role. Millions of immigrants, forging connections beyond national boundaries in Europe and North America, have shaped post-migrant alliances. These transnational exchanges fuel the radical idea of a Middle Eastern Union—uniting diverse histories, cultures, and aspirations into a shared vision for the future.
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