About
The primary mission of Maghreb to Mashriq is to cultivate a better understanding of and appreciation for the Arab World through providing historical and regional context for current events and trends with a focus on people. The Middle East is often misunderstood for myriad reasons including inaccurate depictions in entertainment media, limited exposure to the region , and sometimes just plain bigotry. Where ever you are at with your understanding of the Arab World, Maghreb to Mashriq aims to provide content that is of value. Producing content that is accessible to those with a passing interest with enough insight for avid follower’s of the region’s politics, culture, and history. While the majority of the content focuses on politics and history, there is something for everyone including reporting on music, literature, and film.
My Background
I started my career as a high school social studies teacher before my interest in the Arab World pushed me in another direction. I later studied Arabic at BYU and received an MA in Middle East Studies from The American University in Cairo. I currently teach Middle East History at BYU-Idaho. Between grad school and my current position I worked in various capacities in the non-profit and government world including:
Political analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency
Subject Matter Expert in the Middle East supporting the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency
Internships at Middle East Institute, Atlantic Council, and the Middle East Democracy Center (formerly POMED)
- Daniel W. Stoker