event
Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Citizenship, Justice, and Political Transitions in Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen

Tue. March 31st, 2015
Beirut

For decades, Arab citizens relinquished their political and civic rights in return for welfare and security. But the popular movements that swept through the Arab world over the past four years have sparked widespread debates on what it means to be a citizen in Arab countries.

With growing political turmoil and identity-based violence in the region, these debates have gained additional urgency. For Arab citizens, the concept of citizenship itself is an essential tool not only in the struggle for justice and socioeconomic equality but also in efforts to rethink the political future of their countries.

The Carnegie Middle East Center hosted Gouda Abdel Khaleq, Jihad Azour, Ridha Saidi, and Houriya Mashour to discuss the key challenges facing the political transitions in Egypt, Tunisia, and Yemen. They examined the intersection between contemporary identity politics and historic or sociopolitical injustices, as well as how concepts such as citizenship, national identity, and social justice aid in understanding unfolding crises and proposing alternative policies. Carnegie’s Maha Yahya moderated.

Gouda Abdel Khaleq

Gouda Abdel Khaleq is the former minister of Solidarity and Social Justice in Egypt.

Jihad Azour

Jihad Azour is the former minister of finance in Lebanon.

Houriya Mashour

Houriya Mashour is the former minister of human rights in Yemen.

Reda Saidi

Reda Saidi is the former minister of economy in Tunisia.

Maha Yahya

Maha Yahya is a senior associate at the Carnegie Middle East Center, where her research focuses on citizenship, pluralism, and social justice in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings.

Political ReformDemocracyNorth AfricaEgyptLibyaMoroccoGulfMaghreb
Carnegie does not take institutional positions on public policy issues; the views represented herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of Carnegie, its staff, or its trustees.
event speakers

Gouda Abdel Khaleq

Professor of Economics in the Faculty of Economics, Cairo University.

Jihad Azour

IMF

Mr. Jihad Azour is the Director of the Middle East and Central Asia Department at the International Monetary Fund where he oversees the Fund’s work in the Middle East, North Africa, Central Asia and Caucasus.

Houriya Mashour

Ridha Saidi

Maha Yahya

Director, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

Yahya is director of the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center, where her research focuses on citizenship, pluralism, and social justice in the aftermath of the Arab uprisings.