Oghma Group International is actively involved in the preparation of a cultural exhibition to be held at the United Nations in New York City, USA, in the fall of 2024. Our team has been entrusted with the creation of an annotated catalog for this exhibition, which will spotlight the Maronite cultural contributions from the 16th to the early 20th century. This catalog will illuminate the Maronites' pivotal role in fostering orientalism in Europe and spearheading the renaissance in the Levant.

 

 

Oghma's team is currently translating a substantial book from Arabic into English. Additionally, the team is responsible for editing the English manuscript for publication. The book focuses on the history of the Maronites and their ecclesiastical journey. It is intended to be released in time for a significant event for the entire Maronite nation worldwide scheduled to take place this year.

 

 

Dr. Guita Hourani has been invited by Professor Osamu Ieda of Waseda University in Tokyo to join a collaborative research project spanning four years. This multidisciplinary project involves Japanese and Hungarian scholars and focuses on studying the migration history, policies, and cross-border migration in Lebanon, Hungary, and Japan. The research aims to contribute valuable insights to address Japan's emergence as an immigration state, requiring the formulation of a national immigration policy that effectively balances ethnic and cultural homogeneity with economic and demographic development. Professor Ieda secured a grant from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) to fund this comprehensive and impactful research initiative.

 

 

Amid the intricate geopolitical landscape of South Lebanon, the situation has become markedly complex due to ongoing hostilities in Gaza and confrontations between Hezbollah and Israel since October 2023. The violence has escalated along the Lebanon-Israel border, with Hezbollah engaging in confrontations with Israeli forces. The reverberations of the Gaza conflict extend beyond its immediate theatre, fostering intense confrontations in Southern Lebanon. Residences in this region bear the brunt of these conflicts. These concurrent conflicts significantly contribute to the phenomenon of internal displacement within South Lebanon, where pervasive violence and regional instability imperil the local populace. Dr. Guita Hourani is leading this research which aims to delve into the complexities surrounding the displacement of Christians from border villages in South Lebanon, shedding light on the multifaceted factors at play in this protracted and challenging context.

 

 

Since the escalation of the war in Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Ukrainian diaspora members worldwide have responded with an outpouring of solidarity towards their country and compatriots. Dr. Guita Hourani is conducting a research project titled "Ukrainian Women in Lebanon: Mobilizing Against the Russian Invasion - A Nexus of Gender, Diaspora, and Geopolitics." The research aims to understand the intersectionality between gender dynamics, diasporic experiences, and geopolitical transformations during times of conflict. Dr. Hourani has recently become an affiliate researcher with the Institute of Religion and Society at the Ukrainian Catholic University to work on this project. Members of the Oghma Group International are actively participating in the administration of the fieldwork.

 

 

The research project titled "Homeland Political Parties (HPPs) and the Diaspora in the Case of Lebanon" is an extension of prior academic work by the author, Dr. Guita Hourani. This project aims to investigate the mobilization and communication methods employed by HPPs in their interactions with the Lebanese diaspora. It argues that, given the effects of globalization, significant emigration of HPPs' constituencies, and the evolving role of the diaspora as non-state actors in political transnationalism, HPPs must formulate new strategies for engaging with the diaspora in both homeland and hostland politics.