Project on Middle East Democracy
Encyclopedia
The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization based in Washington, D.C.
dedicated to examining how genuine democracies can develop in the Middle East and how the United States can best support that process. Through dialogue, research, and advocacy, POMED works to strengthen the constituency for U.S. policies that peacefully support democratic reform in the Middle East
.
Dialogue: POMED fosters dialogue between and among Americans and Middle Easterners by organizing young leaders conferences in the region on political reform and U.S. policy, and conducting panel discussions in Washington that bring together experts on reform in the region.
Research: POMED provides accurate, thorough research by writing country and issue background papers and budget analyses; publishing the Weekly Wire, which highlights U.S. legislation and policy toward political reform in the Middle East; and supports innovative research on key issues.
Advocacy: POMED supports a consistent and credible pro-democracy foreign policy toward the Middle East by organizing informational briefings and events for members of the United States Congress
and their staff; discussing the consequences of legislation with lawmakers; working together with our allies to highlight key issues; and empowering advocates of consistent, peaceful U.S. support for democracy in the Middle East.
in order to facilitate the growth of democracy in the Middle East. POMED was formed by young professionals and practitioners with a wide range of professional backgrounds, including policy advocacy, legislative research, political campaigning, and international nonprofit work.
"A Guide to the Tunisian Elections" Daphne McCurdy, October 2011
"The Federal Budget and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012: Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights in the Middle East" Stephen McInerney, July 2011
"Assessing the Pre-election Political Environment in Egypt" Stephen McInerney, April 2011
"For the Common Good: Revitalizing Mutilateral Cooperation for Political Reform in the Middle East" Tuqa Nusairat, June 2010
"After Cairo: From the Vision of the Cairo Speech to Active Support for Human Dignity" Edited by Andrew Albertson, Barak Hoffman, and Tuqa Nusairat, January 2010
"The Federal Budget and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010:Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights in the Middle East" Stephen McInerney, July 2009
"Strategies for Engaging Political Islam" Shadi Hamid and Amanda Kadlec, January 2010
"Looking Forward: An Integrated Strategy for Supporting Democracy and Human Rights in Egypt" Gregory L. Aftandilian, May 2009
"Speaking Clearly: What Should President Obama Say to the Middle East?"
Stephen McInerney, ed., January 2009
"Religion and State Relationships: A Middle East, U.S., and E.U. 'Trialogue'" David M. DeBartolo and Amanda Kadlec, December 2008
"Middle East Reform: Recommendations from the Region" July 2008
"The President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2009: Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights in the Middle East" Stephen McInerney, May 2008
"Perceptions of U.S. Democracy: Middle Eastern and American Views" David DeBartolo, May 2008
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
dedicated to examining how genuine democracies can develop in the Middle East and how the United States can best support that process. Through dialogue, research, and advocacy, POMED works to strengthen the constituency for U.S. policies that peacefully support democratic reform in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
Principles
POMED asserts:- Democracy is an inalienable right. Every political community has the right to govern itself democratically through free, fair and open processes and institutions.
- Democracy functions differently in every country in which it is practiced. This diversity is a central reason why democracyDemocracyDemocracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
is a universal value and can be adopted successfully by any society. Each country’s citizens, through deliberative processes, have the right to determine the specific nature of their democracy.
- America’s fundamental values call for the U.S. to support democracy. America was founded on the principles of democratic governance and freedom of expression, yet its policy towards the Middle East has often sacrificed democracy at the altar of other interests. To be true to its basic principles, America must consistently and credibly support democracy abroad.
- Supporting democracy in the Middle East is in America’s long-term interest. Continued support for the Middle East’s authoritarian status quo will jeopardize American national security and economic interests. While genuinely promoting democracy requires the courage to bear short-term risks, free and open political processes will ultimately reduce incentives to resort to violence.
- The U.S. cannot be neutral on democracy in the Middle East. The billions of dollars the U.S. provides to Middle Eastern governments each year in economic aid and military assistance reflect America’s substantial and enduring interests in the region and preclude any pretense of neutrality on democracy. The U.S. must carefully examine the consequences of its actions on political reform.
- The U.S. has the potential to make a positive impact on democratization in the Middle East. America has a credibility gapCredibility gapCredibility gap is a political term that came into wide use during the 1960s and 1970s. At the time, it was most frequently used to describe public skepticism about the Lyndon B. Johnson administration's statements and policies on the Vietnam War...
on democracy because it often tolerates authoritarian behavior by friendly regimes while calling for democracy and regime change in unfriendly ones. By consistently supporting democracy, America will begin to overcome this legacy and repair its credibility gap.
- The U.S. must respect democratic outcomes. In the short term, free and fair elections may result in some governments that are less favorable to U.S. interests. Regardless, America must respect democratic processes. The long-term benefits of improved credibility and democracy outweigh the short-term costs.
- Democracy cannot be imposed. Engagement through peaceful means, such as dialogue and diplomacyDiplomacyDiplomacy is the art and practice of conducting negotiations between representatives of groups or states...
, is the only legitimate and effective way to promote democracy in the region. The U.S. can and will help but, ultimately, stable and secure democracies in the Middle East can only be built from within.
Programs
POMED seeks to fulfill its mission through three major outreaches:Dialogue: POMED fosters dialogue between and among Americans and Middle Easterners by organizing young leaders conferences in the region on political reform and U.S. policy, and conducting panel discussions in Washington that bring together experts on reform in the region.
Research: POMED provides accurate, thorough research by writing country and issue background papers and budget analyses; publishing the Weekly Wire, which highlights U.S. legislation and policy toward political reform in the Middle East; and supports innovative research on key issues.
Advocacy: POMED supports a consistent and credible pro-democracy foreign policy toward the Middle East by organizing informational briefings and events for members of the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and their staff; discussing the consequences of legislation with lawmakers; working together with our allies to highlight key issues; and empowering advocates of consistent, peaceful U.S. support for democracy in the Middle East.
Leadership
The Project on Middle East Democracy consists of an ideologically diverse staff brought together by a shared desire for change in American foreign policyForeign policy
A country's foreign policy, also called the foreign relations policy, consists of self-interest strategies chosen by the state to safeguard its national interests and to achieve its goals within international relations milieu. The approaches are strategically employed to interact with other countries...
in order to facilitate the growth of democracy in the Middle East. POMED was formed by young professionals and practitioners with a wide range of professional backgrounds, including policy advocacy, legislative research, political campaigning, and international nonprofit work.
- Stephen McInerney, Executive Director
- Cole Bockenfeld, Director of Advocacy
- Daphne McCurdy, Senior Research Associate and Editor of the POMED Policy Brief series
- Anna Newby, Program Associate
- Nada Zohdy, Program Assistant
Board of Advisors
- Nathan BrownNathan BrownNathan Brown may refer to:* Nathan Brown , American religious leader* Nathan J. Brown , political scientist & academic...
, Director, Institute for Middle East Studies, George Washington UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityThe George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States... - Daniel Brumberg, Associate Professor of Government and Co-Director of Democracy and Governance Studies, Georgetown UniversityGeorgetown UniversityGeorgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
- Thomas CarothersThomas CarothersThomas Carothers is one of the most noted international experts on international democracy support, democratization, and U.S. foreign policy. He serves as vice president for studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, where he founded and currently directs the Democracy and Rule of...
, Vice President of Studies, Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceCarnegie Endowment for International PeaceThe Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States... - Wendy ChamberlinWendy ChamberlinWendy Chamberlin is a veteran diplomat who has served in the United States Department of State and USAID, worked for the UN High Commissioner on Refugees , and now serves as President of the Middle East Institute.- US Department of State :...
, President, Middle East InstituteMiddle East InstituteThe Middle East Institute is a non-partisan think tank and cultural center in Washington, DC. Founded in 1946, MEI is the oldest institution in Washington dedicated exclusively to the study of the Middle East. Its founder, architect and philanthropist George Camp Keiser, assembled a team of... - Lorne W. Craner, President, International Republican InstituteInternational Republican InstituteFounded in 1983, the International Republican Institute is an organization, funded by the United States government, that conducts international political programs, sometimes labeled 'democratization programs'....
- Larry DiamondLarry DiamondLarry Diamond is a leading contemporary scholar in the field of democracy studies. He is presently a professor of Sociology and Political Science at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution, a conservative policy think tank...
, Director, Center for Democracy, Development, and Rule of Law, Stanford UniversityStanford UniversityThe Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San... - Michele Dunne, Editor, Arab Reform Bulletin, Carnegie Endowment for International PeaceCarnegie Endowment for International PeaceThe Carnegie Endowment for International Peace is a foreign-policy think tank based in Washington, D.C. The organization describes itself as being dedicated to advancing cooperation between nations and promoting active international engagement by the United States...
- Haleh EsfandiariHaleh EsfandiariHaleh Esfandiari is an Iranian American academic and the Director of the Middle East Program at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, D.C. Her areas of expertise include Middle Eastern women's issues, contemporary Iranian intellectual currents and politics, and...
, Director, Middle East Program, Woodrow Wilson International Center for ScholarsWoodrow Wilson International Center for ScholarsThe Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars , located in Washington, D.C., is a United States Presidential Memorial that was established as part of the Smithsonian Institution by an act of Congress in 1968... - Noah FeldmanNoah FeldmanNoah Feldman is an American author and professor of law at Harvard Law School.-Education and career:Feldman grew up in Boston, Massachusetts, where he attended the Maimonides School....
, Professor of Law, Harvard UniversityHarvard UniversityHarvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
and Adjunct Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign RelationsThe Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs... - Mary Gray, Chair, Board of Directors, AmideastAmideastAMIDEAST is a U.S. non-profit organization that works to strengthen mutual understanding and cooperation between Americans and the peoples of the Middle East and North Africa...
- Saad Eddin Ibrahim, Founder, Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies, exiled Egyptian human rights activist
- Jim KolbeJim KolbeJames Thomas "Jim" Kolbe is a former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives for Arizona's 8th congressional district, serving 11 terms from 1985 to 2007.-Early life:...
, Former Congressman (R-AZ) - Jim MoodyJim MoodyJames Powers "Jim" Moody is an American economist, and former member of the U.S. Congress. Moody represented Milwaukee, Wisconsin in Congress from 1983 to 1993.- Background :...
, Former Congressman (D-WI) - Mark PalmerMark PalmerRobie Marcus Hooker Palmer is a former United States Ambassador to Hungary . He is a member of the American Academy of Diplomacy and the Committee on the Present Danger, Vice Chairman of Freedom House and the Council for a Community of Democracies. He is also the co-founder of the National...
, Vice President, Council for a Community of DemocraciesCouncil for a Community of DemocraciesCouncil for a Community of Democracies is a Washington, D.C. based NGO which was established in order to promote global interest in and support for the Community of Democracies, improved relationships among democracies, and democratic transitions in general... - Kenneth Wollack, President, National Democratic Institute for International AffairsNational Democratic Institute for International AffairsThe National Democratic Institute for International Affairs is an organization created by the United States government by way of the National Endowment for Democracy to channel grants for furthering democracy in developing nations. It was founded in 1983, shortly after the U.S. Congress created...
Publications
"Summary and Highlights of the FY12 State and Foreign Operations Appropriations Bills" Cole Bockenfeld, October 2011"A Guide to the Tunisian Elections" Daphne McCurdy, October 2011
"The Federal Budget and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2012: Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights in the Middle East" Stephen McInerney, July 2011
"Assessing the Pre-election Political Environment in Egypt" Stephen McInerney, April 2011
"For the Common Good: Revitalizing Mutilateral Cooperation for Political Reform in the Middle East" Tuqa Nusairat, June 2010
"After Cairo: From the Vision of the Cairo Speech to Active Support for Human Dignity" Edited by Andrew Albertson, Barak Hoffman, and Tuqa Nusairat, January 2010
"The Federal Budget and Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2010:Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights in the Middle East" Stephen McInerney, July 2009
"Strategies for Engaging Political Islam" Shadi Hamid and Amanda Kadlec, January 2010
"Looking Forward: An Integrated Strategy for Supporting Democracy and Human Rights in Egypt" Gregory L. Aftandilian, May 2009
"Speaking Clearly: What Should President Obama Say to the Middle East?"
Stephen McInerney, ed., January 2009
"Religion and State Relationships: A Middle East, U.S., and E.U. 'Trialogue'" David M. DeBartolo and Amanda Kadlec, December 2008
"Middle East Reform: Recommendations from the Region" July 2008
"The President's Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2009: Democracy, Governance, and Human Rights in the Middle East" Stephen McInerney, May 2008
"Perceptions of U.S. Democracy: Middle Eastern and American Views" David DeBartolo, May 2008
External links
- Project on Middle East Democracy (official website)