The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED)and the Heinrich Böll Foundation present:
Perceptions of U.S. Democracy Promotion:American and Middle Eastern Views
Most Americans and Middle Easterners agree, according to public opinion polls, that democracy can develop in the Middle East and that only peaceful means of supporting democracy are acceptable. Nevertheless, deep disagreements remain on whether the U.S. should be involved in promoting democracy in the region, and if so, how.
What types of policies and programs do Middle Easterners perceive as permissible and legitimate ways for the U.S. to impact political reform? What actions can the U.S. take to regain credibility on promoting reform in the region? How do Americans view the promotion of democracy abroad compared to other policy priorities, especially when groups likely to come to power through democratic means are opposed to most U.S. policies?
In this discussion, POMED's Director of Dialogue Programs will discuss the findings of two papers using polls to analyze areas of agreement and disagreement about supporting democracy among Americans and Middle Easterners, and the corresponding opportunities and challenges for U.S. policymakers and democracy promotion organizations.
Please join us for a panel discussion with:
Fares Braizat, Deputy Director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the University of Jordan; 2007 Fulbright-American APSA Congressional Fellow
Nader Said, General Director of AWRAD Research and Development; former Director of the Development Studies Program, Birzeit University
Mark Tessler, Professor of Political Science at the University of Michigan; author of the July 2005 article "Gauging Arab Support for Democracy" in the Journal of Democracy
David DeBartolo, Director of Dialogue Programs at the Project on Middle East Democracy; 2006-2007 Fulbright Fellow in Jordan.
Moderated by Andrew Albertson, Executive Director, Project on Middle East Democracy
Friday, May 23, 2008
12:00 - 2:00 pm
Henry L. Stimson Center
1111 19th Street, NW, 12th Floor, Washington, DC 20036
Metro: Farragut North (Red Line) or Farragut West (Blue/Orange Line)
Please RSVP by contacting: rsvp@pomed.org
Lunch will be served.