This conference focused on empowering political activism in the Arab world, and features scholars and activists discussing the achievements of and challenges facing political activists in Egypt, Tunisia, Yemen, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Morocco, Palestine, and Saudi Arabia
Annual Conference of the Program on Arab Reform and Democracy Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL)
Stanford University May 12-13, 2011 Bechtel Conference Center, Stanford University
Thursday May 12, 2011
8:30-9:00 Welcome
9:00-9:45 Opening Speech Activism in the Middle East: A Framework Ellen Lust, Yale University
9:45-10:15 Break
10:15-12:15 Tunisia and Egypt Chair: Ellen Lust, Yale University Toward a Second Republic in Tunisia Christopher Alexander, Davidson
College Political Activism of Everyday Life: Lessons from the Tunisian Revolution Nabiha Jerad
Tunisia Factors Leading to the Egyptian Revolution; Where are We Now?Ahmed Salah, Egypt
Discussant: Michele Dunne, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
12:15-1:15
Lunch
1:15-3:15
The Gulf Chair: Larry Diamond, Stanford University The 2011 Uprising in Bahrain and its Consequences on the Participative Institutions Laurence Louër, Sciences Po
Activism in Bahrain and the Struggle for Reform? Maryam Al Khawaja, Bahrain Centre for Human Rights
Saudi Arabia: The Impossible Revolution? Stéphane Lacroix, Sciences Po
Challenges to Realistic Political Reforms in Yemen Munir Mawari, Yemen
3:15-3:45
Break
3:45-5:15
Syria and Lebanon Chair: Lina Khatib, Stanford University
Activism and the Orphan Reform in Lebanon, Ziad Majed, American University of Paris
Syria from Political Activism to Popular Uprising: A Roadmap to Democracy Radwan Ziadeh, George Washington University
Discussant: Daniel Brumberg, Georgetown University
Friday May 13, 2011
9:00-10:30
Palestine Chair: Khalil Barhoum, Stanford University
Pretending Palestine is Normal Nathan Brown, George Washington University
Palestine: The Non-violent Popular Struggle for Freedom and the Future of Democracy Mustafa Barghouti, MP, Palestine
10:30-11:00 Break
11:00-1:00
Jordan and Morocco Chair: Hicham Ben Abdallah, Stanford University
A Decade of Struggling Reform Efforts in Jordan: The Resilience of the Rentier System Marwan Muasher, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
Assessing Current Public Perceptions of Political Activism Development in Jordan Amer Bani Amer, Al-Hayat Center for Civil Society Development
Morocco: Activist Revival vs. Autocratic Resilience Ahmed Benchemsi, Stanford University
Discussant: Sean Yom, Temple University
1:00-2:00
Lunch 2:00-4:00
Concluding Roundtable Discussion and Reflections Chair: Larry Diamond, Stanford University
