FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 14, 2005
Contact: Cara Santos Pianesi, csantos@CarnegieEndowment.org, 202/939-2211
“Extremely timely and important…a dispassionate, incisive, and practical analysis of the opportunities and pitfalls of Western democracy promotion in the Middle East. Highly recommended…” Francis Fukuyama
The U.S. policy community has strongly embraced the idea that the lack of democracy in the Middle East is a main cause of the rise of violent, anti-Western Islamic radicalism—making this previously “soft” policy issue a core security priority. A new book from the Carnegie Endowment, Uncharted Journey: Promoting Democracy in the Middle East—edited by leading experts Thomas Carothers and Marina Ottaway—explores the challenge of democratization in the region and how the United States can better support positive political change.
Key conclusions include:
- Credibility and conflicting interests: Due to its conflicting interests in the region and legacy of support for friendly authoritarian regimes, the United States has low credibility among many Arabs as a supporter of democracy. Overcoming this credibility problem is crucial and will require years of sustained effort.
- Arab reform ferment: Democracy is being discussed and debated as never before in the Arab world. To date however the reform steps actually taken in the region are largely superficial measures designed to relieve pressure for change without altering underlying power structures.
- Getting to the core: Promoting civil society, women’s rights, economic reform, and other less assertive paths to political change are worthwhile but not enough. The United States must encourage core democratic processes and values including greater respect for political rights, wider political participation, free and fair elections, and greater limitations on executive power.
- Work better with Europe: The United States and Europe have different strengths and weaknesses in the region – Washington should pursue complementary rather than integrated policy approaches with European partners.
Visit www.CarnegieEndowment.org/Journey for more information.
Thomas Carothers is director of the Democracy and Rule of Law Project at the Carnegie Endowment.
Marina Ottaway is a senior associate with the project. Both have written multiple books on the subject.
January 2005/ 300 pp
$24.95 / paperback: ISBN: 0-87003-211-9 ? $50.00 / cloth: ISBN: 0-87003-212-7
To order: 1-800-275-1447, 202-797-6258 or www.CarnegieEndowment.org/Journey
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