Arab Political Reform: Civil Society’s Role

In March, 150 Arab intellectuals and activists met in Alexandria, Egypt and produced a stirring call for political, economic, and social reform in their countries. The “Alexandria document” is now cited widely as evidence of a growing pro-democracy movement within the Arab world, and the Bush Administration’s proposal for a Greater Middle East Initiative also relies on the Alexandria document’s conclusions. Yet questions remain regarding how widespread the support is for such home-grown reformers, what attitudes Arab governments will take toward them, and whether and how the United States and other outside actors can support them. To address these questions, the Saban Center for Middle East Policy is honored to host the convener of the Alexandria reform conference, Dr. Ismail Serageldin, for a special breakfast forum.

Saban Center Event