Sawsan Kheir examines how young adult Muslim and Druze university students in Israel navigate the interaction between their religious beliefs and contemporary societal norms.

Valeria Umanets explores women’s participation in Russian municipal politics and their role in stabilizing authoritarian governance by enhancing the delivery of essential welfare services. The research draws on interviews with municipal representatives, fieldwork observations, and electoral data analysis. 

Kamran Hakiman investigates why states use indiscriminate violence against some civilian populations following guerrilla attacks but not others, focusing on Myanmar’s post-coup civil war.

Oleksanda Keudal examines how local authorities in Ukraine have mobilized resources, knowledge, and institutional innovations to handle war-related crises from 2022 to 2024.

Rabbi Jeffrey Myers shares reflections on resilience and his message that love is stronger than hate following the Tree of Life tragedy.

Hasina Jalal (University of Pittsburgh) presents her research on Afghan women’s social movements and resilience under Taliban rule.

Al Mutar will draw on his experiences in his native Iraq during a period of conflict and reflect on the challenges of fostering democracy, education, and civil discourse in Syria and the Middle East.