NDI Releases Report on Tunisian Youth Opinion About Transition
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
Last week, the National Democratic Institute released a report outlining the results of a qualitative study to explore what Tunisia’s youth think and feel about the past, present and future of their country. The information will be used to ensure the Tunisian political elites understand and address the expectations of the youth during the transition process and develop outreach strategies to increase youth involvement. The study, which looks at data compiled from ten focus groups in nine cities across the country, shows that the Tunisian youth are excited about voting and participating in the first free election to be held in their lifetime and hope to play a meaningful role in the unfolding transition. The report also highlights youth fear that the transition will be co-opted by individuals and elite groups ”attempting to profit from the revolution for personal gain,” noting the non-transparent process thus far. Additionally, the findings demonstrate that the political parties and civil society organizations are unknown by the youth today, due to their severe repression under former President Zine Ben Ali.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Islam and Democracy, Protests, Tunisia | Comment »
Prospects for Democratic Transition in Tunisia and Egypt
April 25th, 2011 by Naureen
Alfred Stepan, writing at Democracy Digest, discusses whether Tunisia and Egypt will successfully transition into democracies. Stepan optimistically states that Tunisia will successfully transition to a democracy this year noting the fact that the military is not complicating the transition, that the civilian-led interim government has engaged in interactive negotiations about the democratic rules with virtually all major actors, and that a Constituent Assembly is being formed and will step down following the formation of a government. Additionally, he notes that the Constituent Assembly, which is free to choose the system of government, will likely form a parliamentary government following the model of post-communist European countries. Stepan also points to the inclusion and moderation of Al-Nahda as a reason for the success of Tunisia.
Looking at the case of Egypt, Stepan states that while democratization is probable in the long term, the country does not have the “especially favorable conditions we find in Tunisia.” He points to the fact that every president in Egypt’s history has been military officer and the role of the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces (SCAF) in the transition period as a hindrance for democratic development. He also states that the U.S. emphasis on maintaining strong relations with the army, which receives $1.3 billion of the total $1.5 billion of U.S. aid to the country, may also hurt the the transition.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Foreign Aid, Islam and Democracy, Military, Protests, Reform, Tunisia, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “A Conversation with Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi”
April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen
On Thursday, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace hosted a discussion with Iranian Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi about her new book, The Golden Cage: Three Brothers, Three Choices, One Destiny about the Iranian revolution and the struggle of activists and the human rights movement. Jessica Matthews, President of the Carnegie Endowment made opening remarks and Karim Sadjadpour moderated the event.
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Posted in DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Protests, Reform, sanctions, Tunisia, US foreign policy | Comment »
Sec. Clinton and Former Sec. Kissinger Discuss U.S. Foreign Policy and the Middle East
April 22nd, 2011 by Naureen
Speaking on Charlie Rose series, “Conversations on Diplomacy,” Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and former Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discussed U.S. diplomatic efforts. Clinton highlighted the the new challenges facing U.S. foreign policy as the focus shifts away from state-to-state relationships to networks and multilateral relations and organizations. She also noted the implications of new technologies and new media. Kissinger noted the “huge changes” in state structure taking place across Europe, the Middle East and Asia. Even amongst all these changes, the United States continues to remain a dominant power in the world that countries across the world turn to for leadership and aid. Clinton stated however, that “one of our biggest foreign policy challenges right now is to get our own house in order…we have to consolidate our own economic and political position in order to be able to continue to influence events in the future.”
Discussing the “Arab Spring,” Secretary Kissinger stated that the revolutions are still unfolding, as such we must be cautious of being overly optimistic. He noted, however, that we must not be too hasty in judging the outcome of the uprisings based on the proclamations of a few and ensure real transitions occur. Clinton noted that it is U.S. interest “to see a peaceful, stable transition to a more representative form of government in which institutions are able to democratize over time.” She also noted the lack of economic growth and development in the region as a reason for the people’s frustrations. Clinton and Kissinger also discussed the threat of Iran and the country’s hope to take advantage of the instability in the region. Kissinger also stated that the situation in Libya is peripheral to the events in the broader Middle East.
Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Gulf, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Jordan, Libya, Military, NATO, Protests, Reform, Syria, Tunisia, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »
Secretary General of Génération Tunisie Libre Discusses Role of Al-Nahda in Tunisia
April 21st, 2011 by Naureen
Rajaa Basly, writing at the Arab Reform Bulletin, discusses the role Islamist party, al-Nahda, has played in the revolution thus far and what it’s future contributions look like. Basly states that while the party did not play a role in the uprisings that overthrew President Zine Ben Ali, it has since become an influential player, especially now that it has joined the Committee for the Protection of the Revolution and the Political Reform Committee, which may be granted executive powers. He notes, however, that many Tunisians remain cautious of the party given the accusations of terrorism following incidents in the 1990s when al-Nahda activists attacked a RCD office in Tunis. Basly discusses the party’s “flexible political discourse” which continues its Islamic tradition while making reassurances that its committed to democracy, human rights, non-violence and equality. He also discusses how the party has sided with protesters in its critiques of the current government but notes the threat of fragmentation given the legalization of nearly 50 political parties, some of which are Islamist in orientation and potential competitors for al-Nahda. Basly states that the party will have to clarify its stance on state secularism especially following the rise of the Salafi youth movement, Hizb al-Tahrir.
Posted in Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Protests, Reform, Tunisia, Turkey, Women's Rights | Comment »
POMED Notes: HFAC Hearing on Middle East Transitions
April 18th, 2011 by Ali
On Wednesday, the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia held the first in a proposed series of hearings entitled, “Shifting Sands: Political Transitions in the Middle East.” Testimony was given by a panel featuring, Elliott Cohen, Ph.D, Professor of Strategic Studies at The Johns Hopkins University’s School of Advanced International Studies, J. Scott Carpenter, Keston Family Fellow at Washington Institute for Near East Policy, and Michael Makovsky, Ph.D, Foreign Policy Director at the Bipartisan Policy Center. Statements and questions were issues by Chairman Steve Chabot (R-OH), Ranking Member Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Brian Higgins (D-NY), and Dana Rohrabacher (R-CA). Other committee members in attendance were Dennis Cardoza (D-CA), Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE), Gerald Connolly (D-VA), and Theodore Deutch (D-FL).
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Posted in Civil Society, Committee Meetings, Congress, Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Islam and Democracy, Multilateralism, Neocons, Protests, US foreign policy, US politics | Comment »
POMED Notes: CSID Conference on Egypt and Tunisia
April 18th, 2011 by Ali
On Friday, the Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy (CSID) held their 12th Annual Conference under the theme “Tunisia’s and Egypt’s Revolutions and Transitions to Democracy.” CSID President Radwan Masmoudi opened the conference by giving special attention to discerning real and fake stability and development in Egypt and Tunisia.
The first panel, chaired by George Washington University Visiting Scholar and Program Committee Chair for the event, Radwan Ziadeh, was entitled “The Jasmine Revolution’ and Transition to Democracy in Tunisia: Why and How?” Jaloul Ayed, the Tunisian Minister of Finance, opened the panel following a brief introduction by Tunisian Ambassador Mohamed Saleh Tekaya.
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Posted in Civil Society, DC Event Notes, Diplomacy, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Judiciary, Multilateralism, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Political Parties, Protests, Public Opinion, Reform, Sectarianism, Secularism, US foreign policy, US politics, Youth | Comment »
Egyptian Analyst Discusses Need to Bridge Egypt’s Religious and Secular Public Spheres
April 12th, 2011 by Naureen
In an op-ed in Al-Ahram, Ibrahim El-Houdaiby discusses the emergence and role of the two public spheres fostered by the Mubarak’s regime: the religious and secular-liberal spheres. He notes that these spheres, which had minimal diversity and relatively exclusive, had little influence on the regime’s policies. Rather, Mubarak chose which sphere’s rhetoric to employ to justify his policies. El-Houdaiby also discusses how these regimes changed over time and calls on members of both spheres to reconcile. ”Ousting Mubarak’s regime means the emergence of an all-inclusive polity that reflects societal diversities. That in turn requires the emergence of an inclusive public sphere — one that transforms reconciliatory efforts into a mainstream movement,” he says. He closes by stating that failure to reconcile will “jeopardise long-term national stability for the sake of short-term electoral success.”
Posted in Civil Society, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Islam and Democracy, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Protests, Reform, Secularism | Comment »
Is Turkey Backsliding on Democracy?
April 8th, 2011 by Alec
A post at Democracy Digest discusses whether or not Turkey is still a model for democracy in the Arab world. Several commentators and analysts have pointed to Turkey under the rule of the AKP as proof that Islamist based parties can respect and promote democratic norms. This argument is extended to demonstrate that fear of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and other Islamist parties across the Arab world is misplaced. However, that consensus is now eroding. Over the past several years the AKP run government has arrested many journalists, activists, and secular dissidents, and critics accuse the AKP of using anti-democratic methods to silence opposition. Many commentators are openly worrying about Turkish “backsliding on fundamental freedoms,” and what they claim is the increasingly authoritarian nature of the AKP.
Posted in Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Muslim Brotherhood, Turkey | Comment »
Israeli President Calls for Support of Region’s Democratic Transitions
April 8th, 2011 by Naureen
On Tuesday, Israeli President Shimon Peres called on the international community to support a democratic transition in Syria along with the democratic youth movements across the broader Middle East. He also stated that Israel was ready to give up the Golan Heights, as part of a peace deal with Syria, if the country would break ties with Iran and Hezbollah. He called for a peaceful solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict as “a means of supporting and aligning with the wave of revolutions sweeping the Arab world.” Peres also welcomed the opening of political space in Egypt after acknowledging the role Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak played in the peace process. Speaking on the situation in Jordan, however, Peres called for the international community to support King Abdullah II stating, ”He is a responsible leader who is trying to serve his people.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Freedom, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Israel, Jordan, Mideast Peace Plan, Protests, Reform, Syria | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Iran: From Civil Society Protest to Political Alternative?”
April 7th, 2011 by Naureen
On Monday, the Woodrow Wilson Center hosted a discussion on the unsolved “democratic question” in Iran in light of the recent regional developments. Director of the Middle East Program at the Wilson Center Haleh Esfandiari, introduced the speaker, Roberto Toscano, Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center and Former Italian Ambassador to India and to Iran.
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Posted in Civil Society, DC Event Notes, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Protests, Reform, Tunisia | Comment »
Husain Argues U.S. Must Engage the Muslim Brotherhood
April 6th, 2011 by Kyle
Following a trip to Cairo, Ed Husain wrote a piece for Foreign Policy highlighting his belief that the United States must no longer look at the Muslim Brotherhood as a monolith and must instead “attempt to engage progressive and pragmatic strands within” the brotherhood. Husain asserts that the United States must not make the same mistake “it has made so many times in the past” of ignoring the “political reality” on the ground as it did following the Iraq war and the 2006 Palestinian elections. Husain believes: “Unlike other Islamist groups, it (the brotherhood) does not have a fixed political dogma — and this pragmatism may be its saving grace.” In regards to Israel, Husain states that the relationship “Israel enjoyed with Egypt in the past can no longer be taken for granted”, however, he believes that this will not mean war but instead “Egyptians will demand greater justice for Palestinians.” Husain believes that the real threat is not the Muslim Brotherhood, but “will be the Salafi and jihadi groups that attempt to out-Islam and outflank the Muslim Brotherhood.”
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Muslim Brotherhood, US foreign policy | Comment »
POMED Notes: “Duality by Design: The Iranian Electoral System”
April 4th, 2011 by Naureen
On Tuesday, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) held a discussion for the release of the new IFES desk study entitled “Duality by Design: The Iranian Electoral System,” which provides insight to the “rules of the game” for Iran’s electoral politics. The event was moderated by John D. Lawrence, Congressional Affairs Manager at IFES, who made opening remarks and introduced panelists: Yasmin Alem, author of the desk study; Andrew Reynolds, elections expert and associate professor at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and Barbara Slavin, non-resident senior fellow at Atlantic Council.
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Posted in DC Event Notes, Elections, Freedom, Iran, Islam and Democracy, Legislation, Protests, Reform, Sectarianism | Comment »
Saudi Arabia: Women Form Parallel Municipal Councils Following Exclusion from Elections
April 1st, 2011 by Naureen
On Thursday, Human Rights Watch called on Saudi election committees to allow women to vote and run for seats on the municipal councils following a statement made on Monday by Abd al-Rahman Dahmash, president of the general committee for the election of municipal council members, that “[w]e are not prepared for the participation of women in the municipal elections now.” He promised however, that they will be allowed to participate in the future. The exclusion of women in the 2005 elections was justified on the basis that many women lacked identity cards, however, that is no longer the case. The HRW report shows that such policies violate the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Arab Charter for Human Rights, both of which Saudi Arabia is a party to. Activists stated that there is the lack of political will to allow women to participate and called on the government to end sexual discrimination. Dr. Hitoon Ajwad al-Fasi, a Saudi human rights activist and history lecturer at King Saud University, stated that female activists “have decided to create municipal councils paralleling the men-only municipal elections” noting that there is nothing in the Saudi legal system that prevents women from launching their municipal council or to participate in “real elections.”
Posted in Civil Society, Elections, Freedom, Islam and Democracy, Reform, Saudi Arabia, Women's Rights | Comment »
Guirguis Asserts Referendum Could Spell the Beginning of an Un-Democratic Transition
March 29th, 2011 by Kyle
Dina Guirgis, writing for the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, questions why Egyptians were asked to vote on a referendum when the Supreme Military Council (SMC) has announced it will soon issue its own “constitutional declaration,” superseding the existing constitution. Guirguis highlights that the vote was a “positive step,” however, believes that changes to Egypt’s presidential system,which grants the president power to decree laws under Article 112, were needed. This, Guirguis asserts fails to institute a “genuine system of checks and balance among the branches of government.” She also criticized the speed at which the vote was undertaken, which she believes did not uphold a “free, fair, and transparent process” given clarity on what Egyptians were actually voting on and the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood. Additionally, those who opposed the vote, according to Guirguis, were driven by the fear “that early elections would favor antidemocratic forces, including former regime elements and Islamists, and entail a return to the status quo.”
Guirguis states the the Egyptian military following the “yes” vote has returned to its old practices of human rights violations and prohibiting free press. Guirguis argues that the U.S. Government and Pentagon must leverage their aid and relationship with the SMC to ensure that a democratic transition occurs.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Protests, Reform, US foreign policy | Comment »
Analyst Cautions Against Following the “Turkish Model”
March 28th, 2011 by Naureen
Soner Cagaptay, writing at the Wall Street Journal, cautions against calls for post-authoritarian Arab countries to follow the Turkish model. Cagaptay argues that the Justice and Development Party, or the AKP, has slowly been “transforming Turkish society by making religion the moral compass of the country’s body politic.” The problem with this shift is that “once narrowly-defined faith becomes the guiding principle in policy, fundamentalists claiming ideological purity become more competitive politically.” The author outlines the Islamicization of Turkish politics and discusses how newly formed religious groups, such as Kurdish Hezbollah, may become competition for the AKP. Historically, Cagaptay notes, fundamentalists defeat conservatives in the competition for ideological purity. He also discusses what such a shift could mean for the United States and Europe, especially in light of upheavals across the Arab world.
Posted in Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Islam and Democracy, Kurds, Muslim Brotherhood, Political Islam, Political Parties, Tunisia, Turkey | Comment »
POMED Notes: “How Should the U.S. Respond to the Prospect of Islamist Governments?”
March 25th, 2011 by Kyle
On Friday, the Hudson Institute hosted an event focused on the transitional government processes taking place in Egypt and Tunisia as well as the unrest in the region and the role that Islamists will play, entitled, “How Should the U.S. Respond to the Prospect of Islamist Governments?” The event was moderated by Nina Shea, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center for Religious Freedom at the Hudson Institute. The panel of speakers consisted of: Ed Husain, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations; Hedieh Mirahmadi, President of the World Organization for Resource Development; and Hillel Fradkin, Senior Fellow and Director of the Center on Islam, Democracy and the Future of the Muslim World at the Hudson Institute.
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Posted in al-Qaeda, Civil Society, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Military, Pakistan, Palestine, Political Islam, Protests, Reform, Turkey | Comment »
Report on the Egyptian Referendum
March 25th, 2011 by Naureen
Writing at the New York Review of Books, Yasmine El Rashidi discusses the Egyptian referendum which took place last weekend. She states while many laud the fact that 77.2 percent of the population voted for the amendments, they ignore the fact that only 18 million of Egypt’s eligible 45 million voters participated. She also notes that many activists who played a leading role in the revolution have dismissed the referendum as cosmetic with amendments failing to deliver on many of the protesters’ demands. El Rashidi also discussed the additional victories the revolution has achieved in the weeks leading up to the referendum such as the closure of the Sate Security Investigation Service. She also notes, however, the fragmentation of the protest movement as religious cleavages surface and reassertion of the security apparatus as seen by crack downs on protesters on March 8th. El Rashidi also discussed the referendum voting campaigns by the Muslim Brotherhood, the NDP, and activists and points to how elements of the Muslim Brotherhood prevented people from voting against the referendum. El Rashidi also made note of the seeming lack of awareness by voters and the early organization of parliamentary election campaigns by members of the Brotherhood and former members of the NDP. The battle for Egypt is just beginning.
Posted in Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Freedom, Islam and Democracy, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, Protests, Reform | Comment »
POMED Notes: “The Role of Civil Society in a New Egypt”
March 25th, 2011 by Naureen
On Thursday, the Brookings Institution hosted a discussion on the path ahead for Egypt and the role civil society can play in supporting the country’s development in its democratic transition. John Page, Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution made opening remarks and introduced the following panelists: Shadi Hamid, Director of Research at the Brookings Doha Center; Hisham Fahmy, CEO of the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt; Jackie Kameel, Managing Director of Nahdet El Mahrousa; Awais Sufi, Vice President of the International Youth Foundation; and Amira Maaty, Program Officer for Middle East and North Africa at the National Endowment for Democracy.
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Posted in Civil Society, Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Egypt, Elections, Foreign Aid, Islam and Democracy, Legislation, Military, Muslim Brotherhood, Protests, Reform | Comment »
Report: “Yemen: The Final Days of Saleh?”
March 25th, 2011 by Kyle
On Thursday, the Project on Middle East Political Science released a series of articles compiled into a report discussing the unrest that has taken place in Yemen along with the regional and U.S. foreign policy implications. “The thirty-three year reign of Ali Abdullah Saleh as President of Yemen appears to be in serious jeopardy. Protests continue to spread through the country, even in the face of harsh repression. A wave of resignations from Saleh’s government suggests serious splits at the heart of the regime. The President’s offers to step down at the end of the year and to commence wide-ranging political reforms seem to be falling on deaf ears with a society which has grown skeptical after years of unmet promises. While nobody can predict how long the struggle will continue or how bloody it might become, it is becoming increasingly likely that major political change is coming sooner rather than later.”
Posted in al-Qaeda, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Foreign Aid, Freedom, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Islamist movements, Protests, Reform, US foreign policy, Yemen | Comment »
