About Mounir
Mounir Samuel is a political scientist, renowned journalist, award-winning author of more than a dozen books, cultural entrepreneur, and performance artist of Egyptian-Dutch descent. He operates at the intersection of politics, climate change, media, gender, language, art, culture, religion, and so-cial issues. He travels to the most remote places to study and amplify colonized, marginalized, and neglected perspectives and voices on social issues and international affairs.
He is the founder of the initiative Doctors in Need, which provides monthly salaries as well as emotional, mental, and psychological support to more than 30 young Palestinian medical help pro-fessionals in Gaza.
In his work, he addresses the defining questions of our time, offering both visionary insights and concrete strategies for systemic change and public action. In everything he does — both personally and professionally — Mounir embodies transformation, courage, and radical change. The Dutch media outlet Winq magazine named him “Change Maker of the Decade,” recognizing his ground-breaking impact across multiple fields.
© Roger Anis (2024)
A passionate advocate for social justice and sustainable systemic change, Mounir received the Emma Goldman Award in Vienna, Austria, on March 13, 2025. The award honors exceptional scholars based in Europe who demonstrate deep expertise and commitment to feminist and inequality studies. Each year, only five to ten laureates are selected for their outstanding contributions, collaboration, originality, and potential to advance knowledge in their field.
In August 2025, Mounir was further recognized by EU Business News (London) with the Benelux Enterprise Award, where he stood out in the category “Best Cultural Thought Leader 2025 – The Netherlands.” Later that very same year Mounir Samuel was chosen as Political Expert of the Year by the Corporate LiveWire Global Awards 2025/26.
Mounir studied political science, international relations and diplomacy, Middle Eastern studies, and Islamic law at Leiden University and UC San Diego. He is a vocal critic of the rise of the far right, fascism, and authoritarianism. His latest book, Nederland voor de Nederlanders (The Netherlands for the Dutch), deals exclusively with the rise of nationalism and xenophobia in the Netherlands. The book is both deeply personal and profoundly political — and is widely regarded as a must-read.
© Emma Goldman Award (2025)
"Mounir deals with the major questions of the day and advocates social justice and sustainable system change."
In earlier works such as Je mag ook niets meer zeggen (You Can’t Say Anything Anymore) and Jona zonder walvis (Jonah Without the Whale), Mounir explores issues such as the political power of language, the limitations of contemporary notions of diversity and inclusion, and the looming threat of climate collapse.
Through the creation of socially participatory interactions, Mounir researches and reveals systems of inclusion and exclusion — many of which are used in museums, schools, and workplaces. One example is the Privilege Pyramid, which he developed for Wereldmuseum Amsterdam. This public installation makes issues such as privilege and intersectionality visible, if not tangible. It helps deconstruct preconceived notions and (un)conscious biases, serving as a powerful conversation starter.
Mounir continues to challenge socio-political norms, reflecting deeply on the fractured relationships between humanity, the planet, the other, and the self. He is a frequent guest on talk shows and an engaging public speaker and performer who moves his audiences with humor, authenticity, and passion.
For contact and bookings, use the form below.
© Roger Anis (2024)