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Saturday November 22, 2008

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Featured Book

Save to My Portfolio Freedom's Unsteady March

Tamara Cofman Wittes, May 01, 2008

Tamara Cofman Wittes dissects the Bush administration’s failure to advance freedom in the Middle East and lays out a better strategy for future efforts to promote democracy. Read More

Middle East, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, International Relations, Islamic World

Past event


Reuters/Ali Jarekji - Leaders pose for a group photo before the opening ceremony of the Arab summit in Riyadh

Save to My Portfolio Upgrading Authoritarianism in the Arab World

Thursday, November 29, 2007
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy hosted a policy luncheon launching a Saban Center analysis paper of the same name. The author, Steven Heydemann, presented a summary of the paper’s arguments; Kenneth Wollack, served as the respondent. The event was chaired by Tamara Cofman Wittes. Read More

Middle East, Arab-Israeli Relations, Islamic World

Past event


Reuters/Jack Dabaghian - King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia

Save to My Portfolio Reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Thursday, March 13, 2008
12:30 PM to 2:00 PM
Washington, DC

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy hosted a luncheon roundtable discussion with Visiting Fellow Dr. Mai Yamani, of the Royal Institute of International Affairs. Yamani presented a draft of her forthcoming Middle East Memo entitled “Reform in Saudi Arabia.” Read More

Saudi Arabia, Middle East, Democracy Promotion, Islamic World

past event


Reuters/Raheb Homavandi - An Iranian teacher holds a placard during a protest in front of parliament in Tehran

Save to My Portfolio Internal Politics and Unrest in Iran

Wednesday, July 11, 2007
12:00 AM to
Washington, DC

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy held a luncheon forum on Wednesday, July 11, 2007 with Suzanne Maloney, Senior Fellow at the Saban Center, and Karim Sadjapour, Associate at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. Read More

Iran, Middle East, Islamic World

SPOTLIGHT: Iran


Reuters/Ahmed Jadallah - A policeman stands guard outside a polling station in the city of Qom

Save to My Portfolio Fear and Loathing in Tehran

Suzanne Maloney, September-October 2007

When Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice requested supplemental funding to support democratic movements in Iran during 2006, it was met with unusual bipartisan support. Suzanne Maloney believes that the idea is flawed, and instead causes worry among Iran's current leaders, thanks in part to a "legacy of bungled American involvement" in the past. Read More

Iran, Middle East, Nuclear Weapons, Islamic World, Sanctions

Research and Commentary

Save to My Portfolio Moroccan Roulette: What Happens if You Hold an Election and Nobody Comes?

Tamara Cofman Wittes, August 24, 2007

Tamara Cofman Wittes writes that elections in Morocco are the latest step in a gradual move towards reform under King Mohammed IV. She argues that offering a vote is not enough, and that "he [King Mohammed] will have to strengthen parliament and the mainstream political parties, giving them a real capacity to act on voters' concerns and reducing his own power in the process." Read More

Past Event

Save to My Portfolio The Many Faces of Saudi Arabia

Tuesday, June 19, 2007
12:00 AM to
Washington, DC

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy held a luncheon with Mai Yamani, a research fellow at the Royal Institute of International Affairs in London. Yamani shared her insights concerning the diversity of Saudi society and the implications of this diversity for the future of the Al-Saud dynasty and the Kingdom's place in the region. Read More

Analysis paper

Save to My Portfolio Upgrading Authoritarianism in the Arab World

Steven Heydemann, October 2007

In this Saban Center Analysis Paper, Steven Heydemann says the “after twenty years, Arab regimes have become profi­cient at containing and disarming democracy pro­motion—if not exploiting it for their own purposes.” Read More

Analysis Paper

Save to My Portfolio Assessing the Bush Administration's Freedom Agenda

Sarah E. Yerkes, Tamara Cofman Wittes, September 2006

In this Saban Center Analysis Paper, Tamara Cofman Wittes and Sarah Yerkes assess what the Bush Administration's Freedom Agenda. launched after 9/11, has accomplished in its first few years, and how well the policy shift it represents has become embedded in the institutions and operation of U.S. foreign policy. Read More

In Brief

The Project on Middle East Democracy and Development (MEDD) aims to forge a new consensus on behalf of constructive American engagement for change in the Middle East. Read more.

Recent Research and Commentary

Egypt The Dilemma of Egypt’s Liberals

Khalil Al-Anani, September 02, 2008

Democracy Promotion The United States and the Democracy Delusion

Khalil Al-Anani, August 19, 2008

Islamic World Islamist Movements: The Uses of Democracy

Khalil Al-Anani, August 14-20, 2008

Islamic World Are Arabs Fit for Democracy?

Khalil Al-Anani, August 12, 2008

More Recent Research and Commentary »

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Spotlight

ExpertMauricio Cárdenas

Mauricio Cárdenas is a senior fellow and director of the Latin American Initiative. Formerly minister of Economic Development and Transportation, and director of National Planning of Colombia, his research focuses on international and development economics. He is also the president of the Latin American and Caribbean Economic Association (LACEA).

Policy CenterEngelberg Center for Health Care Reform

The Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform provides practical solutions to achieve high-quality, innovative, affordable health care with particular emphasis on identifying opportunities on the national, state and local levels.

ExpertSarah A. Binder

Sarah Binder is an expert on Congress and legislative politics.  She is completing a project on the politics of advice and consent, and is at work on the politics of how Congress responds to financial crises.

ExpertRebecca Blank

Rebecca Blank is an expert on the interaction between the macroeconomy, government anti-poverty programs, and the behavior and well being of low-income families. She has just been named the Robert S. Kerr senior fellow at Brookings.

ExpertJulia B. Isaacs

Julia Isaacs focuses on public investments in children and how children are affected by national budgetary policies. A former federal budget analyst, she also researches the economic mobility of children and families across the income spectrum.

ExpertSuzanne Maloney

Suzanne Maloney studies Iran, the political economy of the Persian Gulf and Middle East energy policy. A former U.S. State Department policy advisor, she has also counseled private companies on Middle East issues.

ExpertMark B. McClellan

A medical doctor and economist, Mark McClellan works on promoting high-quality, innovative and affordable health care. Once commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration and administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, Dr. McClellan now directs the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform.

ExpertCarlos Pascual

Carlos Pascual is a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine. As vice president and director of Foreign Policy, he focuses on post-conflict stabilization and international security policy.

TOPICThe Presidential Transition

During the 77 days from the election to the Inauguration, Brookings experts will offer 12 "Memos to the President" on top policy priorities across the spectrum of domestic and global challenges, plus additional advice on transitioning from campaigning to governing.

ExpertDouglas W. Elmendorf

Doug Elmendorf, whose government posts have included the Federal Reserve, Treasury, Council of Economic Advisors, and CBO, focuses his research on macroeconomics and fiscal policy. He is co-editor of the Brookings Papers on Economic Activity and director of The Hamilton Project, which develops proposals for shared growth.

ExpertEswar Prasad

Eswar Prasad, the Tolani Senior Professor of Trade Policy at Cornell University, is a senior fellow in Global Economy and Development. He was previously head of the Financial Studies Division and the China Division at the IMF.

ExpertHugh B. Price

Former president and chief executive officer of the National Urban League, Hugh Price is an expert on education, civil rights, equal opportunity and criminal justice. His 40-year career spans journalism, philanthropy, the law, and social advocacy.

ExpertDarrell M. West

Darrell M. West is the vice president and director of Governance Studies at Brookings. His studies include campaigns and elections, political advertising, mass media, public opinion, technology policy and electronic government.

Research ProjectThe Hamilton Project

The Hamilton Project produces research and policy proposals on how to create a growing economy that benefits more Americans. Their agenda also focuses on enhancing individual economic security and effective public investments. 

ProgramGovernance Studies

Governance Studies explores political institutions of the United States and other democracies to assess how they govern, how their practices compare and how citizens and public servants can advance sound governance.

Research ProjectLatin America Initiative

The Latin America Initiative provides high-quality, in-depth, and independent research across a range of economic and political issues, and offers policy recommendations aimed at U.S. and Latin American policymakers.