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Wednesday July 9, 2008

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Featured Book

Save to My Portfolio Freedom's Unsteady March

Tamara Cofman Wittes, May 01, 2008

Tamara Cofman Wittes dissects the Bush administration’s failure to advance freedom in the Middle East and lays out a better strategy for future efforts to promote democracy. Read More

Middle East, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, International Relations, Islamic World

Past event


Reuters/Ali Jarekji - Leaders pose for a group photo before the opening ceremony of the Arab summit in Riyadh

Save to My Portfolio Upgrading Authoritarianism in the Arab World

Thursday, November 29, 2007
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy hosted a policy luncheon launching a Saban Center analysis paper of the same name. The author, Steven Heydemann, presented a summary of the paper’s arguments; Kenneth Wollack, served as the respondent. The event was chaired by Tamara Cofman Wittes. Read More

Middle East, Arab-Israeli Relations, Islamic World

Past event


Reuters/Jack Dabaghian - King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Save to My Portfolio Reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Thursday, March 13, 2008
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy hosted a luncheon roundtable discussion with Visiting Fellow Dr. Mai Yamani, of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Yamani presented a draft of her forthcoming Middle East Memo entitled “Reform in Saudi Arabia.” Read More

Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Democracy Promotion, Islamic World

past event


Reuters/Raheb Homavandi - An Iranian teacher holds a placard during a protest in front of parliament in Tehran

Save to My Portfolio Internal Politics and Unrest in Iran

Wednesday, July 11, 2007
12:00 AM to
Washington, DC

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy held a luncheon forum on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 with Suzanne Maloney, Senior Fellow at the Saban Center, and Karim Sadjapour, Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Read More

Iran, Middle East, Islamic World

SPOTLIGHT: Iran


Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah - A policeman stands guard outside a polling station in the city of Qom

Save to My Portfolio Fear and Loathing in Tehran

Suzanne Maloney, September-October 2007

When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice requested supplemental funding to support democratic movements in Iran during 2006, it was met with unusual bipartisan support. Suzanne Maloney believes that the idea is flawed, and instead causes worry among Iran's current leaders, thanks in part to a "legacy of bungled American involvement" in the past. Read More

Iran, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Islamic World, Sanctions

Research and Commentary

Save to My Portfolio Moroccan Roulette: What Happens if You Hold an Election and Nobody Comes?

Tamara Cofman Wittes, August 24, 2007

Tamara Cofman Wittes writes that elections in Morocco are the latest step in a gradual move towards reform under King Mohammed IV. She argues that offering a vote is not enough, and that "he [King Mohammed] will have to strengthen parliament and the mainstream political parties, giving them a real capacity to act on voters' concerns and reducing his own power in the process." Read More

Past Event

Save to My Portfolio The Many Faces of Saudi Arabia

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
12:00 AM to
Washington, DC

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy held a luncheon with Mai Yamani, a research fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. Yamani shared her insights concerning the diversity of Saudi society and the implications of this diversity for the future of the Al-Saud dynasty and the Kingdom's place in the region. Read More

Analysis paper

Save to My Portfolio Upgrading Authoritarianism in the Arab World

Steven Heydemann, October 2007

In this Saban Center Analysis Paper, Steven Heydemann says the “after twenty years, Arab regimes have become profi­cient at containing and disarming democracy pro­motion—if not exploiting it for their own purposes.” Read More

Analysis Paper

Save to My Portfolio Assessing the Bush Administration's Freedom Agenda

Sarah E. Yerkes, Tamara Cofman Wittes, September 2006

In this Saban Center Analysis Paper, Tamara Cofman Wittes and Sarah Yerkes assess what the Bush Administration's Freedom Agenda. launched after 9/11, has accomplished in its first few years, and how well the policy shift it represents has become embedded in the institutions and operation of U.S. foreign policy. Read More

In Brief

The Project on Middle East Democracy and Development (MEDD) aims to forge a new consensus on behalf of constructive American engagement for change in the Middle East. Read more.

Recent Research and Commentary

Middle East Liberal Autocracy in Egypt

Khalil Al-Anani, June 24, 2008

Middle East Salafists Ascendant in the Arab World

Khalil Al-Anani, June 12-18 Issue

Middle East The Muslim Brotherhood’s Internal Elections

Khalil Al-Anani, June 03, 2008

Middle East Lebanon Rivals Agree to Deal

Tamara Cofman Wittes, May 21, 2008

More Recent Research and Commentary »

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Spotlight

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers. Read More

ExpertBenjamin Wittes

Benjamin Wittes, a New Republic online columnist, focuses on the Supreme Court; judicial nominations and confirmations; and legal issues surrounding the war on terrorism.

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ExpertMartin Neil Baily

Martin Baily, a former chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers, focuses on issues of globalization, productivity and competitiveness, Social Security reform and U.S. economic policy.

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  Her current projects focus on the politics of federal judicial selection and the consequences of partisan polarization.

ExpertRebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank is an expert on the interaction between the macroeconomy, government anti-poverty programs, and the behavior and well being of low-income families. She has just been named the Robert V. Kerr senior fellow at Brookings.

Policy CenterWolfensohn Center for Development

The Wolfensohn Center seeks effective solutions to key development challenges in order to create a more prosperous and stable world with a focus on aid effectiveness, early childhood development and Middle East youth.

ExpertAlice M. Rivlin

Alice Rivlin, the first director of the Congressional Budget Office, is an expert on urban issues as well as fiscal, monetary and social policy. She directs the Greater Washington Research project. 

ExpertDavid B. Sandalow

A former assistant secretary of state and White House staffer, Sandalow is author of "Freedom from Oil" and an expert on energy policy and global warming.

ExpertWilliam Galston

Bill Galston, the Ezra K. Zilkha Chair in Governance Studies, is an expert on domestic policy, political campaigns and elections. His research focuses on designing a new social contract and the implications of political polarization.

ExpertBruce Katz

Bruce Katz, vice president and founding director of the Metropolitan Policy Program, regularly advises national, state, regional and municipal leaders on policy reforms that advance the competitiveness of metropolitan areas.

ExpertWarwick J. McKibbin

An international economics expert based in Australia, Warwick McKibbin focuses his research on global climate change; the emergence of China and India into the world economy; and global economic modeling.

Research ProjectManaging Global Insecurity

MGI provides recommendations to the next U.S. president, the UN and key international partners to launch a strategic effort to build global partnerships and international institutions to meet twenty-first century trans-border challenges.

ExpertHugh B. Price

Former president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League, Hugh Price is an expert on education, civil rights, equal opportunity and criminal justice. His 40-year career spans journalism, philanthropy, the law, and social advocacy.