On Thursday, the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) and the Brookings Institution cosponsored a speech by Representative Howard Berman (D-CA) that outlined the draft of The Global Partnerships Act of 2011which aims to streamline, direct, and accurately measure the success of US foreign assistance. Paul Wolfowitz of AEI gave the introductory remarks and Noam Unger of the Brookings Institution moderated the question and answer session. For full event notes, continue reading. Or, ...

The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) is currently accepting applications for two paid, full-time positions. We are looking for a Development and Communications Coordinator with at least 2 years of relevant professional experience, as well as a Program Assistant who is fluent in Arabic. We plan to begin reviewing applications immediately. The complete details for the positions, as well as application instructions, can be found on our website, available here.

The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) is currently accepting applications for its fall internship program. We are looking for Policy Interns, Research Interns, and an Egypt Programs Intern to begin in September and intern full-time (or mostly full-time) through December. We plan to begin reviewing applications immediately. The complete details for the internships and application instructions can be found on our website, available here.

The U.N. Security Council issued a statement today condemning the Syrian regime's crackdown and calling for an immediate end to the violence. The presidential statement, read by Ambassador Hardeep Singh Puri of India, concluded: " stresses that the only solution to the current crisis in Syria is through an inclusive and Syrian-led political process, with the aim of effectively addressing the legitimate aspirations and concerns of the population which will allow the full exercise of fundamental ...

Women have played a central role in the uprisings sweeping the Middle East and North Africa, and now, as some of these countries undergo transitions, women’s rights must be incorporated into broader demands for social, economic, and political reform. In the latest POMED policy brief, Isobel Coleman examines the women’s movements in Tunisia and Egypt in the context of the Arab Spring. A transition to an inclusive, authentic democracy will ...

POMED’s Weekly Wire for July 5 is now available. This week’s edition includes coverage of a large meeting of Syrian opposition figures, as well as ongoing government attacks against protesters. The King of Bahrain ordered an independent investigation into the events of February and March, Moroccans held a referendum to approve constitutional changes, and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton confirmed the U.S. government is talking with ...

Rached Ghannouchi, leader of the Islamist al-Nahda movement, fears violence will erupt if the election is delayed. He said "we have real misgivings that those who have decided to postpone the date of the first election can do it for a second time." He fears that postponing the election "may drag the country into a spiral of violence." The election was due to take place on July 24 but has ...

POMED’s Weekly Wire for June 6 is now available. This week’s edition includes coverage of  President Saleh's ambiguous departure from Yemen, as well as the lifting of the State of Public Safety in Bahrain and continued crackdowns there.  International pressure increased on Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad to cease violence or step down, and the U.S. House of Representatives voted to authorize the use of ...

Maria Otero, Under Secretary for Democracy and Global Affairs, spoke at event at the National Press Club commemorating World Press Freedom Day. "Today we recognize the ongoing struggle of journalists across the globe who underwrite the strength of democracy. By keeping the public informed and officials accountable, the role of an active, vibrant media is crucial in the pursuit of responsive governance", she said. She presented the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom prize ...

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan called for Libyan leader Muammar Gadhafi to step down "for the future of Libya, its peace and prosperity." Turkey initially opposed military action in Libya, but led aid efforts and participated in the arms embargo as part of its NATO responsibilities. Prior to the uprising, Turkish companies had billions of dollars invested in Libya's commercial construction boom. United Nations High Commission for Refugees  spokesman Adrian ...

The Babylon & Beyond blog at the LA Times website spoke with an Iranian foreign ministry official about the continued government crackdown in Syria.  The official stated that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad was "an educated and soft spoken politician.  At the end of the day, people in Syria will appreciate the wise role of the incumbent regime."  Hardliner members of the Iranian parliament have also reiterated their support for the ...

The European Union is seeking U.N. approval for a plan to send 1,000 troops to Libya to undertake the delivery of aid supplies to besieged civilians.  The plan, dubbed "Eufor Libya", was decided on at the beginning of April by all 27 member states of the union.  The 61-page "Concept of Operations" document outlines the humanitarian role of troops and states that forces would not be engaged in combat.  However, ...

On Thursday, Senator John Kerry (D-MA) warned President Bashar Al Assad to refrain from using violence against protesters. He urged that Assad "should insist that his police and military refrain from using violence against peaceful demonstrators and instead he should seize the opportunity to open a process of real discussion to address the aspirations of the Syrian people" and warned, "the world will be watching very closely." ...

An image from the Wall Street Journal showing up close a police crackdown on a student demonstration in Algiers on Tuesday. Source: Associated Press  

Daniel W. Drezner, posting at Foreign Policy, considers whether a government shutdown would, "tarnish the brand image of democracy in general and America in particular across the globe."  Drezner cites Nicholas Kristoff's argument that a shutdown would actually make a powerful case for autocracy in places where activists are fighting for democratic change, but questions if this is really so.  He speculates that whether or not American foreign policy is ...

The rebels in Libya are struggling to advance past Brega and Al Dabiya in the absence of sufficient air support from NATO. While critics are talking of a stalemate, one analyst argues that the Gadhafi regime's self-implosion is close at hand. Another claims that public ambiguity over the mission's end game is necessary to maintain US domestic support while holding the international coalition together.

The International Crisis Group released a new report entitled "Popular Protests in North Africa and the Middle East (III): The Bahrain Revolt." It offers a concise overview of Bahraini political history, political actors and recent events. It calls for a political compromise, not only on humanitarian grounds but argues that protracted confrontation is exacerbating the conflict from an internal democracy movement to a a regional sectarian one.

Brian Whitaker, writing at his blog, discusses whether Syrian President Bashar Al Assad will be able to convince Syrians that "the reforms on offer will be far-reaching and genuine and not just a ploy to quieten discontent." One indication of how genuine his desire for reform will be the announcement of the new cabinet.  Whitaker argues, however, that such tactics were previously employed by Tunisian President Zine Ben Ali, Egyptian ...

On Tuesday, Bahrain's parliament announced that they had accepted the resignation of 11 lawmakers from the Shiite opposition; according to the Associated Press this is "a sign that the political and sectarian crisis in the island nation is deepening."