MERG

The Middle East Research Group (MERG) is a collaborative research group studying the Middle East and North Africa. MERG is a non-polemical, student think...

The Middle East Research Group

The Middle East Research Group (MERG) is a collaborative research group studying the Middle East and North Africa. MERG is a non-polemical, student think-tank and outreach initiative devoted to producing dialogue, scholarship, and nuanced explorations of the region. The group is designed to cultivate future leaders and to inspire students to realize the powerful results of its multi-perspectival model of thinking and acting.

Founded as the New Initiative for Middle East Peace (NIMEP) in 2003, MERG works to foster understanding of the MENA region in the Tufts community through sharing the outcomes of its research projects and bringing various experts in fields such as political science, history, religion, art, journalism and humanitarian aid to campus. Topics for events held in the 2018-2019 year included conflict and intervention in Yemen, refugee settlement in Jordan, religion in North Africa and war photography in Iraq. MERG’s annual fact-finding trip provides its members an opportunity to conduct independent research in the MENA region. Past trips have been to Egypt, Iraqi Kurdistan, Israel/Palestine, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

MERG’s latest trip was to Morocco in Spring 2019. Students participating in the trip conducted interviews with a number of experts in the cities of Rabat, Fez, Tangier, Marrakesh and Casablanca on topics including migration trends in Morocco, youth disenchantment post-Arab Spring, Orientalism and Moroccan art, and the promotion of Sufism as a counter-extremism strategy.

Research from the yearly trip and the initiative culminate with the publication of MERG’s Insights journal, a research publication featuring the original work of Tufts students. Each volume of Insights is the culmination of months of research and preparation, carefully planned and executed fact-finding missions abroad, and immense dedication to discourse and learning on behalf of MERG’s members and supporters, who include Tufts faculty members, foreign government officials, and IGL alumni working in the field.

If you are interested in getting involved in one of NIMEP’s programs, please contact us at MERG@tufts.edu.

Program At-a-Glance

Areas of Study

Program Size

=35/yr

Year Founded

2003

Locations

NIMEP Trip to Jordan

MERG Projects & Events

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NIMEP 2019 Fact-finding Trip to Morocco

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Kai, Taylor, Josh and Vinicius met Mohamed Zaari, the director general of the Zakoura Foundation, an educational NGO working to ameliorate the poor learning conditions in rural areas
Professor Et-tibari Bouasla, the director of the Center for Cross Cultural Learning (CCCL) in Medina, spoke with NIMEP students, offering another incredible perspective on migration in Morocco.
NIMEP students were able to visit the Museum of African Contemporary Art Al Maaden (MACAAL), a museum dedicated to the promotion of African contemporary art through its continuous support for leading artists from Morocco and neighbouring countries and the public display of their works.
Students took in a local art exhibit while visiting Morocco.
Arjun Padalkar (left) and Conor Doyle (right) went for a morning run and were able to take in the beautiful Moroccan view along the way.
Students ventured inside Rabat’s ancient ruins for a closer look.
Built in 1913, Gran Teatro Cervantes is a historic theatre in Tangier, Morocco.
NIMEP students visited Rabat’s ancient ruins in Morocco as part of their Fact-finding Trip.
NIMEP students stopped to take a picture in Rabat before.
NIMEP students captured a picture of the beautiful and bustling Fes Medina.
Students walked through many markets in Morocco and were able to haggle with local vendors.
"Outside of the city borders, the massive snow-capped Atlas Mountains become clear and juxtapose the typically hot, desert climate of Al Haouz.” - Connor Doyle
Arjun Padalkar (left) and Atrey Bhargava (right) are both sophomores on the leadership council for NIMEP.
Students took a break to admire Rabat’s ancient ruins.
Plenty for NIMEP students to see in Morocco’s beautiful beach towns.
Atrey Bhargava (’21) lead the NIMEP group as they toured the city before starting their research.
NIMEP co-leader Uzair Suttar (’21) did his research while enjoying the warm Moroccan weather.
After a full day of exploration, NIMEP students watched the sunset on one of Morocco’s beautiful beaches.
NIMEP students treated themselves to dessert as they took in the beautiful sights of Morocco.
Students enjoyed making breakfast before beginning a long day of research and travel.