The Power of Narrative: A Reflective Piece on the Middle East Through a Humanist Lens

By Thailynn Glover, Fulbright Canada Student and Volunteer with the Observatory on Human Rights at the United Nations

"Being universal is the closest you get to being fair." – Dr. Bessma Momani

On November 12, 2025, I had the privilege of attending The Power of Narrative: Communicating Events in the Middle East from a Humanist Perspective, a conversation hosted by Dr. Michael Hawes, President and CEO of Fulbright Canada, and featuring Dr. Bessma Momani, Professor of Political Science at the University of Waterloo.

Dr. Momani is a distinguished scholar of Middle East politics, international political economy, and global governance, and a Fulbright alumna. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Toronto, a Master of Arts in International/Global Studies from the University of Guelph, and a PhD in Political Science from Western University. Her body of work includes more than 90 publications, among them Arab Dawn (2015), which examines the political aspirations and agency of Arab youth.

Revisiting the Arab Spring Through a Humanist Lens

During the conversation, Dr. Momani revisited the origins and narratives surrounding the Arab Spring, widely traced to the self-immolation of Mohamed Bouazizi, a Tunisian street vendor, on December 17, 2010, in Sidi Bouzid, Tunisia [1]. Bouazizi's act stemmed from repeated police harassment, confiscation of his produce, fines, and the broader climate of economic exclusion and corruption that shaped daily life. His story resonated deeply across the region, helping ignite protests in Egypt, Libya, Yemen, Syria, Bahrain, and beyond.

Yet, as Dr. Momani noted, these uprisings—rooted in calls for dignity, accountability, and democratic reform—were often reframed through Western media narratives that relied on dehumanizing or alarmist language. Terms such as "jobless youth," "bulges," "booms," and "bombs" circulated widely in headlines and commentary, flattening complex experiences into oversimplified stereotypes [2]. In Arab Dawn, she challenges such portrayals by highlighting the intelligence, creativity, and political engagement of Arab youth—innovators, activists, and leaders demanding more from their governments.

Dr. Momani reflected on how difficult it can be to speak publicly about events in the Middle East when the lived experiences of protesters are so textured and human. She emphasized that those who fill the streets are not abstractions but three-dimensional people whose stories deserve to be told with nuance and respect. Narrative, she argued, is a moral responsibility.

A Fulbright Conversation on Global Understanding

Dr. Hawes, whose career spans foreign policy, international economic relations, political culture, and regional integration [3], spoke about the founding of the Fulbright Program in 1946 by Senator J. William Fulbright. The program emerged from the devastation of World War II, with the mission of fostering international understanding and peaceful collaboration. Today, as President and CEO of Fulbright Canada, Dr. Hawes continues to champion that mission.

He recalled his early experiences living in Japan, describing the kindness and generosity of young people who guided him through language and cultural barriers. In different ways, both he and Dr. Momani underscored the role of youth as bridges across divides—embodying empathy, openness, and global citizenship in their everyday interactions.

Narrative, Prediction, and the Limits of Understanding

One of the most compelling themes of the event was the centrality of communication in cultivating empathy. Dr. Momani stressed that political science requires examining multiple perspectives and resisting reductive or one-dimensional explanations. She also reflected on the limitations of predictive models—whether political commentary or artificial intelligence tools—that can generate confident-sounding answers while missing the nuance and humanity of real people.

She spoke candidly about the dangers of tokenization and simplification in media coverage, noting that news outlets often reproduce narratives that dehumanize the very individuals whose lives and struggles they aim to describe. To be informed, she argued, we must remain alert to the power of language and intentional in seeking out complexity.

Reflecting as a Black American in 2025

As I listened to the dialogue, I found myself reflecting on my own experience as a Black American living through the current political and economic climate in the United States. I thought of the recent 43-day federal government shutdown, now the longest in American history, which ended only when President Donald Trump signed the latest funding bill [4]. During this period, political gridlock between Republicans and Democrats left millions of Americans vulnerable.

I thought of my former colleagues at the National Institutes of Health and countless other federal employees who worked without pay throughout the shutdown [5]. I thought of the disruption of SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits—a critical lifeline for low-income families—which left many households facing food insecurity as negotiations stalled [6]. Food banks across the country struggled to keep up with demand, with some experiencing surges of up to 1,800% after SNAP benefits were halted [7].

I also thought about how U.S. media portrayals of Black Americans often rely on narrow or negative frames. A 2023 PBS study found that the majority of Black Americans report seeing racist or harmful depictions in news coverage [8]. These portrayals mirror, in another context, the dehumanizing narratives Dr. Momani described in the coverage of events in the Middle East.

And I thought of the Americans—of all races and backgrounds—who continue to protest for civil rights, transgender protections, immigration reform, and economic stability. At their core, their demands echo the same universal aspirations: dignity, fairness, and the ability to shape their futures.

A Shared Struggle for Dignity

This conference made me realize that, despite vast differences in geography and circumstance, there are profound connections between the stories Dr. Momani shared and the experiences unfolding in my own country. Whether in the Middle East or the United States, people are fighting for many of the same fundamental things:

1. The ability to work and live with dignity

2. Economic stability and opportunity

3. Freedom from corruption

4. A peaceful and just society

5. A voice in shaping their futures

When media narratives distort or dehumanize, they shape public misunderstanding. But when we approach stories with empathy, nuance, and care, we begin to see that many of us—across borders and identities—are fighting parallel battles grounded in universal human aspirations.

At the heart of all these struggles lies a simple truth: regardless of race, nationality, or background, we are human. And as Dr. Momani reminds us, fairness begins with striving to see our shared humanity.

References

1. Al Jazeera English. What is the Arab Spring, and how did it start? [Internet]. 2020 Dec 17 [cited 2025 Nov 13]. Available from: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/12/17/what-is-the-arab-spring-and-how-did-it-start

2. The Guardian. Jobless youth: bulges, booms and bombs. 2013 Jun 7. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/

3. Fulbright Canada. Dr Michael Hawes bio [Internet]. [cited 2025 Nov 13]. Available from: https://www.fulbright.ca/about-us/secretariat/michael-hawes-bio.html

4. Wang A, Kornfield M. Longest government shutdown in U.S. history ends after Trump signs funding bill. The Washington Post [Internet]. 2025 Nov 12 [cited 2025 Nov 13]. Available from: https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/2025/11/12/government-shutdown-vote-end/

5. Rodriguez K, Morgan E. Federal workers question whether shutdown was worth their sacrifice [Internet]. AP News; 2025 Nov 12 [cited 2025 Nov 13]. Available from: https://apnews.com/article/government-shutdown-federal-workers-health-care-b05ab519c57743ae2da10424f8fb50b6

6. CNBC. SNAP benefits may run out as government shutdown drags on [Internet]. 2025 Nov 12 [cited 2025 Nov 13]. Available from: https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/12/snap-benefits-government-shutdown-negotiations.html

7. Kekatos M. Some food banks see up to 1,800% surge in demand since SNAP benefits were halted [Internet]. ABC News; 2025 Nov 13 [cited 2025 Nov 13]. Available from: https://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/food-banks-1800-surge-demand-snap-benefits-halted/story?id=127410295

8. Murphy B. Majority of Black Americans see racist or negative depictions in news media, new study finds [Internet]. PBS NewsHour; 2023 Sep 27 [cited 2025 Nov 13]. Available from: https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/majority-of-black-americans-see-racist-or-negative-depictions-in-news-media-new-study-finds