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  "authors": [
    "Amy Hawthorne"
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In The Media

Can the United States Promote Democracy in the Middle East?

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By Ms. Amy Hawthorne
Published on Jan 1, 2003
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Program

Democracy, Conflict, and Governance

The Democracy, Conflict, and Governance Program is a leading source of independent policy research, writing, and outreach on global democracy, conflict, and governance. It analyzes and seeks to improve international efforts to reduce democratic backsliding, mitigate conflict and violence, overcome political polarization, promote gender equality, and advance pro-democratic uses of new technologies.

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Source: Carnegie


Current History, January, 2003.

Click here to read view a pdf of the full text.

The Arab world's democracy deficit has finally captured Washington's attention. Despite this high-level interest, the Bush administration has yet to formulate a realistic democracy-promotion strategy for the Middle East. Ambitious plans to replace current regimes with democratic successors have been proposed for some leaders the United States opposes; elsewhere, a more low-key approach seems to be emerging. What is needed is a sustained policy of high-level engagement with Arab governments, along with support for openings that would bolster reformist groups, and a willingness to accept that genuine political change will be bumpy. Even this modest policy would represent a dramatic and difficult shift for the United States, especially as regional tensions increase.

About the Author

Ms. Amy Hawthorne

Former Associate

    Recent Work

  • Commentary
    Egypt: Making the Vote Freer and Fairer?

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    Egypt's Judges Win Public Support but not Government Concessions

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Ms. Amy Hawthorne
Former Associate
Amy Hawthorne
Political ReformDemocracyForeign PolicyUnited StatesMiddle East

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.

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