This is seen in the crushing depoliticisation of Arab universities that used to be a hub of political activism – now gone silent. The unusual silence of the Arab world has even left Francesca Albanese flabbergasted, as lulled acedia found root in sporadic protests across the region, ...

In his latest book, Melancholy Act: Defeat and Cultural Critique in the Arab World, academic Nouri Gana explains the chronic exposure to the collusion of despotism, neocolonialism, and Zionism in the Arab world leads to ‘subjective impasses’ that are morphed by sentiments of shame, guilt, and fear.

The never-ending imperial violence in the Middle East has not only devastated Palestine, but also shaped the Arab pysche, creating a dangerous sense of fatigue, helplessness, and silence.