-
Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- September 17, 2009, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Morocco has often been hailed as a model for democratic reform in an otherwise authoritarian region. In order to understand better the progress Morocco has undergone since the 1990s, when it started on the path of democratic reform, the Saban Center’s Patkin Visiting Fellow in Arab Reform, Maâti Monjib, led a policy luncheon discussion regarding the various advances and obstacles associated with Moroccan democratization.
-
Wed, 19 Aug 2009 16:07:45 GMT
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.
-
Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak recently visited Washington for the first time since 2004. Tamara Cofman Wittes and Michele Dunne examine how he and President Obama can achieve shared goals for the Middle East. Wittes and Dunn analyze areas in which the relationship could be improved and offer suggestions for strengthening the partnership with both the citizens and government of Egypt.
-
Wed, 05 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT
On July 30, notables from all corners of Morocco gathered at the Royal Palace in Tangier to celebrate the tenth anniversary of King Mohammed VI’s ascendance to the throne. Maati Monjib and James Liddell investigate what has changed in the country since King Mohammed first took power with a commitment to an open and democratically ruled society.
-
Tue, 07 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT
In a Saban Center Working Paper, former Todd G. Patkin Visiting Fellow Sameer Jarrah analyzes public freedoms in Jordan and points to the combination of state action and internal deficiencies within civic groups as the reasons for the stalled reform process. Jarrah argues that it is in the security interest of the Jordanian government to enable civic organizations because they can provide a counterbalance to extremist groups and serve as a productive outlet for citizen discontent.
-
Fri, 19 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Moroccans voted in local elections on June 12 and the leading newspaper Almassae characterized it as a "sweeping electoral tsunami" for the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), founded only a few months ago. Patkin visiting fellow Maati Monjib says that while on the surface the elections were a successful exercise in procedural democracy, a deeper look reveals troubling trends for Morocco’s political liberalization.
-
Thu, 11 Jun 2009 10:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- June 11, 2009, 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM
On June 10, Tamara Wittes, senior fellow and director of the Middle East Democracy and Development Project at the Saban Center at Brookings, and Daniel Brumberg, acting director of the Muslim World Initiative at USIP and director of Democracy and Governance Studies at Georgetown University analyzed the significance of the June 7, 2009 parliamentary elections in Lebanon and their impact on U.S. policy in that country and the region.
-
Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT
President Barack Obama delivered a highly anticipated address in Cairo, Egypt on June 4 in an attempt to improve U.S. relations with the Muslim world. Brookings experts offered comments on the President’s speech.
-
Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Tamara Cofman Wittes and Martin Indyk joined a group of Middle East experts, journalists and activists to discuss what should be said by President Obama during his trip to Egypt in June. Wittes argued Obama must redefine how America's role is viewed and Indyk stated that, among other things, a sincere commitment to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is necessary.
-
Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Tamara Cofman Wittes and Andrew Masloski argue that the Obama administration should invest in the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to advance America’s interests in a more stable, progressive and prosperous Middle East. By examining the record of MEPI, Wittes and Masloski show how it has overcome early deficits to create a small-scale, successful model of “democracy diplomacy” that integrates foreign assistance with foreign policy.
-
Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT
Tamara Cofman Wittes writes that the selection of Egypt for President Obama’s long-awaited speech to the Muslim world was not an easy choice, but it is a significant one. Wittes believes Egypt is a crucible for the challenges facing many Muslim societies and it embodies Washington's central dilemmas in the wake of Bush's Freedom Agenda.
-
Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT
President Obama may enjoy a transatlantic honeymoon, but U.S.-European differences over Middle East policy—stemming mainly from the war in Iraq—leave deep scars in the relationship that he must now overcome. In a new Saban Center Analysis Paper, Tamara Cofman Wittes and Richard Youngs look beyond this highly charged deterioration in the transatlantic relationship in order to assess the real prospects for cooperation in promoting democracy in the Middle East.
-
Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Since its explosive beginnings nearly three decades ago, the Islamic Republic of Iran has been the poster child for recalcitrance and misconduct in the international system—the archetype for a new category of rogue or outlaw state. Suzanne Maloney and Ray Takeyh examine how to deal with Iran and its multiple foreign policy challenges.
-
Mon, 10 Nov 2008 13:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 10, 2008, 1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
On November 10, the Wolfensohn Center for Development and the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at Brookings will host a discussion on emerging trends in youth attitudes toward future economic prospects in the Middle East and North Africa. Policy-makers, development experts and business leaders are acknowledging the importance of achieving a better understanding of the needs and aspirations of the Middle East’s youth demographic.
-
Tue, 02 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani outlines the contours of Egypt’s liberal movement. He concludes that most of Egypt’s liberals are unwilling to pay the price of pushing for real reform in the country.
-
Tue, 19 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani tackles the question of America’s commitment to democracy promotion, and he questions the strength of that commitment, especially when it comes in conflict with American strategic interests.
-
Sat, 16 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani considers the question of the internal practice of democracy among Islamist groups in the Arab world. He concludes that Islamist parties often demonstrate a greater respect for democratic practice than secular and liberal parties.
-
Tue, 12 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani writes about the recent coup in Mauritania and about its ramifications for the Arab world. He argues that the country’s recent political history is proof of the need for the broader region to commit to democracy as the best means of achieving political balance and economic prosperity.
-
Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Brookings expert Tamara Cofman Wittes writes that the usual division of Islamists into “moderate” and “extremist” categories is less helpful than a threefold classification that suggests a distinct policy approach toward each group.
-
Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Tamara Cofman Wittes writes about her recent article in the Journal of Democracy where she outlines three distinct categories of Islamism.
-
Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani writes about the legitimacy of Egyptian leadership and living standards in the country. He argues that new leaders can rebuild legitimacy by embracing reform and opening up.
-
Thu, 10 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani writes that both Barack Obama and John McCain have not yet made spreading democracy in the Arab world a top priority in their campaigns. Al-Anani discusses the importance of spreading democracy in Arab societies to promote stable, more secure governments.
-
Tue, 24 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani discusses the shift from absolute totalitarianism to a liberal autocracy in Egypt since 2005 and what it means for the country's leaders and citizens.
-
Thu, 12 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani says conservatism is on the rise in the Middle East. He notes that by using modern communication technology, groups like the Salafis in Kuwait have spread their conservative ideas to younger generations, thus threatening moderate Islam.
-
Tue, 03 Jun 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani discusses internal elections within the Muslim Brotherhood’s Guidance Office. He writes that although this could have been an opportunity for reformists to come into office, the Brotherhood instead elected conservatives to the positions.
-
Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Tamara Cofman Wittes discusses a new deal announced in Doha between Lebanese factions including Hezbollah. Wittes believes that this decision should force others in the Middle East to recognize that Hezbollah is a regional actor with ambitions outside of Lebanon.
-
Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Khalil Al-Anani discusses the need for new leadership in the Muslim Brotherhood. He argues that the Brotherhood lacks genuine leaders who can deal with the crises and internal problems the group currently faces.
-
Tue, 06 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Andrew Masloski offers insight into the arrest of an Egyptian woman who created on online group calling for a protest through the social networking Web Site Facebook. He argues that the plan to publicize the protest was very effective and that it has exposed a crack in the Egyptian government's ability to prevent demonstrations.
-
Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT
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.
-
Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Tamara Cofman Wittes and Isobel Coleman met with business leaders, academics, journalists, and civic activists in Saudi Arabia. Among their key findings are that many Saudis welcomed the emergence of a more open atmosphere, pointing to King Abdullah’s ascension to the throne, dynamism in neighboring Gulf states, and a new “post-post-9/11” environment as key catalysts for the change. Yet, there was frustration at the unpredictability and arbitrariness of the newly expanded social and political space.
-
Thu, 13 Mar 2008 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- March 13, 2008, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
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.”
-
Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
At a November 26, 2007 Cato Book Forum, Tamara Wittes and Christopher J. Coyne examined the problems with installing democracy.
-
Tue, 19 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Aysha Chowdhry and Andrew Masloski argue that focusing on the "battle of ideas" obscures what the U.S. must do to prevent future terrorist attacks. Instead they say that the U.S. should identify the root causes and partner with Muslims to eliminate them.
-
Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Participants discuss human development in the Muslim World in a paper prepared for the 2008 U.S./Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar.
-
Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Kristin Lord offers ideas for Arab countries to build a knowledge based society in which business can flourish.
-
Thu, 24 Jan 2008 12:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- January 24, 2008, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Often overlooked in the headlines, Lebanon continues to flirt with renewed civil strife that could be devastating to a region that does not need any more. Bilal Y. Saab joined Nadim Shehadi and David Schenker to discuss this critical and delicate region.
-
Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Tamara Wittes and Michael McFaul discuss the Arab world's chance of creating stability by accepting and promoting democratic governments.
-
Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT
Charles Issawi was a leading economic historian of the Middle East and an astute commentator on history, politics, and human nature. In 1956 he published an article on the foundations of democracy and their absence from the Middle East. MESH member Adam Garfinkle offers a half-century retrospective on Issawi’s views. In the comments to this post Tamara Cofman Wittes and other members weigh in.
-
Thu, 29 Nov 2007 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 29, 2007, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
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.
-
Tue, 06 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Bilal Y. Saab and Elie D. Al-Chaer look at the similarities between Lebanon's political system and world politics. In this context, they suggest next steps for domestic political players to take the country down the path towards full-fledged democracy.
-
Mon, 15 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT
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.”
-
Thu, 13 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Daniel L. Byman argues that “Tehran's abuse of Esfandiari and other scholars casts a pall on many people's plans to travel to Iran for research.”
-
Sat, 01 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Article by Suzanne Maloney, The National Interest (September-October 2007)
-
Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT
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."
-
Wed, 11 Jul 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- July 11, 2007 at 12:00 AM
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.
-
Tue, 19 Jun 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- June 19, 2007 at 12:00 AM
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.
-
Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- March 27, 2007, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
-
Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- March 22, 2007 at 12:00 AM
-
Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT
Article by Shibley Telhami, Dissent Magazine (Spring 2007)
-
Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy's Project on Arab Democracy and Development hosted a day-long symposium on January 16, 2007 entitled "Arab Elections: Progress or Peril?" The project is headed by Tamara Cofman Wittes, a Saban Center Fellow and the Brookings Institution's leading expert on U.S. democracy promotion policy in the Middle East.
-
Wed, 07 Feb 2007 12:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- February 07, 2007, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
-
Fri, 26 Jan 2007 10:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- January 26, 2007, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
-
Tue, 12 Dec 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- December 12, 2006 at 12:00 AM
-
Fri, 17 Nov 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Should the United States engage with Syria? The renewed interest in this question derives from concerns about Syria's alliance with Iran and Hizballah following the recent war between Israel and Hizballah, and a widespread view that the Arab-Israeli peace process needs to be revived.
-
Mon, 23 Oct 2006 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 23, 2006, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Ammar Abdulhamid debated Joshua Landis about U.S. policy towards Syria. Abdulhamid argued that signals from Syrian President Bashar al-Asad are in essence a diversionary tactic. Landis, disagreeing, urged the United States to engage with Syria and assist Syria in the recover if the Golan Heights from Israel., Saban Center Director, Martin S. Indyk, chaired the luncheon.
-
Thu, 05 Oct 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- October 05, 2006 at 12:00 AM
-
Mon, 18 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- September 18, 2006 at 12:00 AM
-
Wed, 13 Sep 2006 16:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- September 13, 2006, 4:00 PM to 5:30 PM
-
Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Three years ago, in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Bush Administration launched what is now known as the Freedom Agenda. In a Saban Center Analysis Paper, Tamara Cofman Wittes assesses what the Bush Administration's Freedom Agenda 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.
-
Sat, 22 Jul 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Article by Kenneth M. Pollack, Blueprint Magazine (7/22/06)
-
Thu, 11 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
On May 11, 2006, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy held a policy luncheon with Marwan Muasher, a Senator in the Jordanian Parliament and the main architect of Jordan's domestic reform plan, the National Agenda. Tamara Cofman Wittes, Research Fellow in the Saban Center, chaired the discussion. A former Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Muasher provided his thoughts on why the pace of reform in Jordan and elsewhere is so slow, and what recent trends mean for the future of Arab democracy.
-
Mon, 06 Mar 2006 09:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- March 06, 2006, 9:00 AM to 10:30 AM
The Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution hosted Lebanese Member of Parliament and Druze leader Walid Jumblatt to discuss the prospects and challenges for wholesale political reform and state re-building in Lebanon. The talk was chaired by Martin Indyk, Director of the Saban Center.
-
Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Difficult choices abound following Hamas's election victory. European governments, well aware that Palestinian society is but a few weeks away from utter poverty and near-starvation, feel pressured to find some arrangement whereby they can continue to provide financial and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian Authority.
-
Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Article by Tamara Cofman Wittes, Arab Reform Bulletin (February 2006)
-
Tue, 31 Jan 2006 10:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- January 31, 2006, 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM
Winning the support of the Iraqi people has become a crucial aspect of the overall strategy to defeat the violent insurgency in Iraq. To examine Iraqi public opinion and to discuss the results of an in-depth poll conducted by the Program on International Policy Attitudes (PIPA), the Saban Center hosted a group of leading experts. Steven Kull, director of PIPA and editor of WorldPublicOpinion.org presented the findings of the recent poll (conducted January 2-5, 2006) and the study of the poll: What the Iraqi Public Wants. Kenneth M. Pollack, the Saban Center's Director of Research, and Shibley Telhami, Saban Center Nonresident Senior Fellow and the University of Maryland's Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, provided their insights into the findings.
-
Tue, 31 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT
Abdel Monem Said Aly, the director of the Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies in Cairo was a Visiting Fellow at the Saban Center during 2004. In this paper he argues that the U.S.-Egyptian relationship is going through a period of crisis and uncertainty. The two countries have long shared common strategic goals and interests. From the Egyptian perspective, the difficulties stem from the recent shift in U.S. policy, in particular since September 11. The problems in the relationship, while serious, have not made sustaining the alliance between Egypt and the United States irretrievable. However, action does need to be taken to restore both political and public confidence in this critical alliance.
-
Mon, 12 Dec 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- December 12, 2005 at 12:00 AM
Past SABAN Center Event, January 31, 2006
-
Mon, 28 Nov 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- November 28, 2005 at 12:00 AM
Saban Center Event--November 28, 2005
-
Thu, 01 Sep 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Dr. Abdelwahab El-Affendi, a leading expert on democratization in the Muslim world, provides an outside vantage point on the recent enthusiasm in U.S. policy circles for engagement with and reform in the Muslim world. He lays out the perspective that, in general, the renewed U.S. interest is certainly a welcome development, even when it comes about for the wrong reasons. However, he cautions that the difficulties faced so far by the United States are not just a matter of technique or style. When the country which commands unchallenged hegemony in both the technology and the art of communication appears unable to get its message across, it can only be a symptom of a deeper concern.
-
Wed, 24 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT
On September 7, 2005, for the first time in their history, Egyptians will have a choice of candidates in a presidential election. When President Hosni Mubarak, who was elected to four previous terms in 'yes-or-no' referendums, announced this historic change in February 2005, even some members of his ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) were taken aback. Yet by the time the constitutional amendment authorizing other candidates to run was voted on in late May 2005, many democracy advocates in Egypt had grown disillusioned, characterizing the competitive election scheme as a sham. Now, with voting less than one month away, ten candidates have qualified to stand but many opposition activists are calling for an election day boycott.
-
Tue, 26 Jul 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- July 26, 2005 at 12:00 AM
Saban Center Event--July 26, 2005
-
Tue, 31 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Saban Center Middle East Memo #7
-
Thu, 26 May 2005 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- May 26, 2005, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Saban Center Event--May 26, 2005
-
Thu, 19 May 2005 00:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
Saban Center Event--May 19, 2005
-
Wed, 09 Mar 2005 12:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- March 09, 2005, 12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Saban Center Event--March 9, 2005
-
Tue, 15 Feb 2005 10:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- February 15, 2005, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
Saban Center Event--February 15, 2005
-
Mon, 29 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT
Paper by Tamara Cofman Wittes and Sarah E. Yerkes, Middle East Memo (11/29/04)
-
Fri, 01 Oct 2004 00:00:00 GMT
U.S. Policy Towards the Islamic World, Working Paper by Ezzat Ibrahim (October 2004)
-
Thu, 30 Sep 2004 12:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- September 30, 2004, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Saban Center Event--September 30, 2004
-
Wed, 29 Sep 2004 12:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- September 29, 2004, 12:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Saban Center Event--September 29, 2004
-
Wed, 01 Sep 2004 00:00:00 GMT
U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, Analysis Paper #6 by Steven A. Cook (September 2004)
-
Tue, 11 May 2004 08:30:00 GMT
Event Information:
- May 11, 2004, 8:30 AM to 11:00 AM
Saban Center Event--May 11, 2004
-
Mon, 10 May 2004 00:00:00 GMT
Paper by Tamara Cofman Wittes, Middle East Memo (5/10/04)
-
Mon, 29 Mar 2004 14:00:00 GMT
Event Information:
- March 29, 2004, 2:00 PM to 3:30 PM
Saban Center Event--March 29, 2004
-
Fri, 01 Aug 2003 00:00:00 GMT
Analysis paper by Omer Taspinar
-
Sun, 01 Jun 2003 00:00:00 GMT
Analysis Paper by Graham E. Fuller for the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World (June 2003)
-
Tue, 01 Oct 2002 00:00:00 GMT
Paper by Peter Singer, Olin Fellow, the Brookings Institution, for the Brookings Project on U.S. Policy Towards the Islamic World, October 2002