Building Pluralistic and Inclusive States Post-Arab Spring

The political and social upheaval ignited by the Arab uprisings shows little sign of abating. U.S. and international policymakers continue to struggle with their response to the turmoil, including state collapse and the rise of radical jihadism in Syria, Iraq and Yemen; the fragmentation of political authority in Libya; fragile transitions in Egypt and Tunisia; and the longer-term economic and political challenges facing oil-rich Arab Gulf states.

Political, socio-religious and economic exclusion and lack of pluralism are among the most significant catalysts of instability throughout the region. Basic grievances that initially triggered the uprisings remain unaddressed, youth are further disenchanted and marginalized, and minority voices remain unheard as Arab states face a rising tide of extremism and economic challenges.

This one-day conference will showcase findings from a two-year study on the state of pluralism and inclusion in the Middle East supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York. Co-hosted by the Baker Institute Center for the Middle East and the Project on Middle East Political Science (POMEPS) at The George Washington University, the conference provides a forum to identify effective and sustainable policy options that foster more inclusive and pluralistic systems in the region.

For registration assistance, contact Sarah Smati at 713-591-0504 or sls15@rice.edu.

Agenda

8:00 am — Breakfast and Registration

9:00 am — Introductory Remarks

A.Kadir Yildirim, Ph.D., Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

9:10 am — Welcome

Marc Lynch, Ph.D., The George Washington University

9:20 am — Morning Keynote Address

The Honorable Susan L. Ziadeh
Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern Affairs

10:00 am — Panel I: Political Inclusion

Chair: Nathan Brown, Ph.D., The George Washington University

Mazen Hassan, Ph.D., Cairo University
Imad Salamey, Ph.D., Lebanese American University
A.Kadir Yildirim, Ph.D., Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

11:20 am — Panel II: Economic Inclusion

Chair: Kristian Coates Ulrichsen, Ph.D., Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

Peter Salisbury, Chatham House
Mohamed Evren Tok, Ph.D., Hamad bin Khalifa University
Karen Young, Ph.D., Arab Gulf States Institute

12:35 pm — Lunch

1:35 pm — Afternoon Keynote Address

Amy Hawthorne
Deputy Director for Research, Project on Middle East Democracy

2:15 pm — Panel III: Socio-religious Inclusion

Chair: A.Kadir Yildirim, Ph.D., Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy

Nathan Brown, Ph.D., The George Washington University
Mirjam Kuenkler, Ph.D., Universtat Göttingen
Mustafa Gurbuz, Ph.D., Arab Center Washington D.C.

3:30 pm — Closing Remarks