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CONFERENCE
Dilemmas of Democratization - a view from the
Middle East
Internal and external challenges to democratization in the contemporary
Middle East
Copenhagen, 4-5 February 2005
Sponsered
by the Plum Foundation
The Plum Foundation hereby has
the pleasure to invite you to the conference
Dilemmas of Democratisation - a
view from the Middle East
- Internal and external challenges to
democratisation in the contemporary Middle East
Time:
4-5 February 2005
Venue:
Danish Design Centre, HC Andersens
Boulevard 27, DK-1553 Copenhagen V
Background
The
countries of the Middle East are undergoing a period of political
transformation. But the current reform processes face a number of challenges.
Internally,
political opposition parties and factions, dissidents and NGOs are subject to
varying degrees of control and containment at the hand of regimes whose popular
legitimacy remains limited. Whereas some of these regimes have entered into
dialogue with reform-oriented organisations and political factions, it remains
to be seen whether this will result in comprehensive and enduring reforms and
popular participation.
Furthermore,
external actors – particularly the United States and to a lesser extent Europe
– seek to yield influence on the political landscape of the Middle East based
on the notion that promoting democracy is key to ensuring stability and
prosperity in the region. However, these efforts are viewed with suspicion by
large sections of the Arab public, not least in the wake of the US-led invasion
of Iraq. The question therefore remains whether the approach represented by
initiatives such as the US “Broader Middle East and North Africa Initiative”
and the Danish “Wider Middle East Initiative” is appropriate, and, if not, what
alternatives are at hand.
Focusing
on conveying ‘a view from the Middle East’, this conference brings together a
number of scholars and opinion makers from countries such as Iraq, Saudi
Arabia, Syria and Palestine, who will discuss the challenges and possibilities
arising from the latest developments in the region (please see the attached
conference programme for more information).
Practical information
Registration
is required by e-mail to secretariat@plumfoundation.dk
no later than Thursday 27 January 2005. Please include name, title and organisation
(in English) in your registration. The conference fee will
be 300,00 DKK for both days (including lunch and refreshments). Payment instructions will
follow by e-mail upon registration. For further information, please contact:
Sune
Segal, coordinator, The Plum Foundation
Tel. + 45 33 91 88 98, secretariat@plumfoundation.dk, www.plumfoundation.dk
CONFERENCE PROGRAMME
(as of 3 January 2005)
Friday 4th February 2005
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09.00 AM –
09.30 AM
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Registration
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09.30 AM –
09.35 AM
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Welcome by moderator Jørgen Bæk Simonsen,
professor, dr.phil., Director of the Danish Institute in Damascus
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09.35 AM –
10.05 AM
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The UNDP’s Arab Human Development Reports and their Readings
Nader
Fergany, Director, al-Mishkat Center
for Research and Training, Cairo
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10.05 AM –
10.20 AM
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Questions from the audience
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10.20 AM –
10.50AM
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Political Reform in the
Middle East - Internal Obstacles and Facilitators
Raymond Hinnebusch, Professor of International
Relations and Middle East Politics, University of St. Andrews
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10.50 AM –
11.05 AM
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Questions from the audience
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11.05 AM –
11.20 AM
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Break
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11.20 AM –
12.35 PM
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US and European Support to Democratic Reform: the
Intentions and Practices as Seen from the Middle East
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A Saudi view (25 min.)
Fowziyah Abu-Khalid, sociologist,
Riyadh
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A Saudi view (25 min.)
Mai Yamani, Research Fellow, Royal Institute of International
Affairs, London
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A Palestinian view (25 min.)
Hanan Rabbani, Consultant, Amnesty International, Amman
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12.35 PM –
01.35 PM
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Lunch
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01.35 PM–
02.25 PM
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US and European Support to Democratic Reform: the
Intentions and Practices as Seen from the Middle East
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A Palestinian view (25 min.)
Yezid Sayigh,
Academic Director, Centre for International Studies,
University of Cambridge
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A Syrian view (25 min.)
Samir Aita, President Director General,
A Concept/Mafhoum
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02.25 PM –
02.40 PM
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Break
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02.40 PM –
03.40 PM
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Questions
to the panel (Nader Fergany, Raymond Hinnebush, Fowziyah Abu-Khalid, Mai
Yamani, Hanan Rabbani, Yezid Sayigh, Samir Aita) from:
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Lone Johnsen, director,
Esrum Abbey Foundation
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Lasse Ellegaard, fm.
Middle East correspondent, Jyllandsposten
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Jørgen Steen Nielsen, journalist, Dagbladet
Information
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Saturday 5th February 2005
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09.30 AM –
09.35 AM
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Summary of the previous day by moderator Jørgen
Bæk Simonsen, professor, dr.phil., Director of the Danish Institute in
Damascus
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09.35 AM –
10.10 AM
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Islamophobia in Europe and its impact on the push
for democratisation in the Arab world
Jørgen S. Nielsen, professor of Islamic studies, University of Birmingham
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10.10 AM –
10.25 AM
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Questions from the audience
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10.25 AM –
10.40 AM
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Break
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10.40 AM –
11.40 AM
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Democratization in Future Iraq
Huda Al-Nu’aimi, director, Palestine Studies Center,
University
of Baghdad (30 min.)
Amal Shlash, professor
of economics, University of Baghdad, and director of Beit Al-Hikmah Research
Center, Baghdad (30 min.)
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11.40 AM –
12.00 PM
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Questions from the audience
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12.00 PM –
01.00 PM
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Lunch
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01.00 PM –
01.30 PM
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Greater Middle East Map as Seen from Ramallah
Mustafa Barghouti, PNA presidential candidate,
Palestinian National Initiative (to be confirmed)
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01.30 PM –
01.45 PM
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Questions from the audience
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01.45 PM –
02.15 PM
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The
crisis in the Palestinian national movement and the struggle for Palestinian
democracy
Graham Usher, author and journalist, correspondent for Middle
East International and Economist
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02.15 PM –
02.30 PM
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Questions from the audience
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02.30 PM –
02.45 PM
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Closing remarks by moderator Jørgen Bæk Simonsen,
professor, dr.phil., Director of the Danish Institute in Damascus
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