On Friday, the Middle East Institute hosted a discussion with Adel Abdellatif, the chief of the Regional Program Division of the Regional Bureau of Arab States, a division of the United Nations Development Program. Abdellatif focused on the deficiencies of the socio-political system in Arab countries that led to the Arab Spring, as well as the processes that needs to take place to continue the pro-democratic trend that is ...

Senator Patrick Leahy (D-VT) introduced S.1601, the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Act, 2012 and its accompanying report.  The press release noted the committee’s difficult task of funding more with less, including “responding to the turbulent events in the Middle East and North Africa,” with a total budget of $44.64 billion, which is $6.15 billion below the President’s request.  On the Middle East and North Africa:  ...

On Thursday, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce hosted several Tunisian Ministers to discuss the future of U.S.-Tunisian relations and cooperation. Mr. Lionel Johnson, Vice President of Middle East and North Africa Affairs at the US Chamber of Commerce moderated the discussion and expressed his pleasure at the increase of Middle East and North Africa region events recently due to the Arab Spring. For full event notes, continue reading or click here for ...

On Thursday, the Project on Middle East Political Science held a discussion with Sultan al-Qassemi, a columnist based in the U.A.E., well-known for his tracking of the events of the Arab Spring via Twitter, to explore the powers and pitfalls of social media during revolution. Marc Lynch, Director of the Middle East Studies Program at the Elliott School of International Affairs and author of the blog "Abu Aardvark," introduced al-Qassemi. ...

In James Traub's latest article "Twilight in Manhattan, Dawn in Tripoli" he reflects on the evolution of American foreign policy in the Middle East from 9/11 onward. Traub states that the United States has learned many lessons since the initial days of invading Afghanistan and Iraq and he reminds his audience that "one thing we have learned is that no matter how bad things are, they can always get worse."With this ...

On Wednesday, the International Foundation for Electoral Systems held a discussion with Rafael Lopez-Pintor, an IFES elections expert, which was moderated by Michael Svetlik, IFES Vice President of Programs. Lopez-Pintor spent two months in Tunisia this summer as an electoral expert for IFES. For full event notes, continue reading. Or, click here for the PDF.   Lopez-Pintor began the discussion about the set-up of the electoral commission and how the electoral process is ...

The Carter Center released a statement that emphasized how Tunisia's voter registration process was conducted smoothly, but more importantly, "operational challenges remain for the High Independent Authority for the Elections (ISIE), particularly the allocation of voters to polling stations and a campaign to disseminate voter information to the public."  The Carter Center suggests that public outreach should be emphasized by the ISIE and other organizations aimed at assisting Tunisians in the ...

Protests restarted in Tunisia on Monday as several hundred lawyers demonstrated against "continuing corruption in the courts and too-lax verdicts against those in the regime of ousted President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali."  Police fired tear gas in an effort to disperse protesters as they threw stones and smashed storefronts. Samia Fitouri writes in the Guardian on the history of oppression faced by Tunisians until the Arab Spring.  Fitouri emphasizes that ...

About 3.7 million Tunisians registered to vote in the next election, which represents about 52 percent of potential voters in the country.  This number does not include the estimated 700,000 to 800,000 Tunisians that are of voting age abroad.  The independent elections commission is set to release official figures on Tuesday.  Registration had opened on July 11 and was set to close on August 2, but remained opened due to ...

Marina Ottaway writes that Tunisia and Egypt are facing major transitional issues as both countries set up interim governments to organize and manage elections. 'Popular pressure' stemming from continued protests could eventually force the government to give in to street rule if not managed properly. The question of how and when elections will take place has been a topic of concern for Ottaway and others, as both countries have faced setbacks ...