Young Global Leaders Forum: Democratic Development in the Middle East and North Africa

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Rabat, Morocco Conference:

Conference Report
Policy Recommendations

Cairo, Egypt Conference:

Conference Report
Policy Recommendations

Amman, Jordan Conference:

Conference Report
Policy Recommendations

In the spring of 2008, the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and Americans for Informed Democracy (AID) held their second annual series of Young Global Leaders Forums in Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan. At these conferences, 138 Middle Eastern and American participants jointly drafted, amended, and ratified policy recommendations on how to improve American’s impact on reform in the Middle East. From July 28-30, POMED and AID were honored to host six representatives elected by the conference participants to act as “voices” for the recommendations. These representatives came to Washington to present their conference policy recommendations to government officials, Capitol Hill staffers, and development organization leaders.

Message from the Conference Representatives

As elected delegates from Global Leaders Forums held this spring in Morocco, Egypt, and Jordan, we represent a diverse group of 138 young American and Middle Eastern leaders who came together to discuss U.S. policy in the Middle East, and the challenge of encouraging democratic development in the Middle East and North Africa. We share a common conviction that the U.S. has a positive role to play in supporting political reforms, the democratic process, and the emergence of vibrant civil societies in the Middle East. However, we feel strongly that the U.S. must sharply reform its policies in the region and reconceptualize its approach to supporting democracy, if it is to have a more constructive impact on democratic development.

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This is a moment of great challenge for the Middle East. In their current form, some existing governments are unwilling or unable to respond to their people and to meet their basic economic needs. Elections have been deeply problematic, and have failed to create government accountability or spur reform. Meanwhile, the cost of basic goods, like gas and bread, is rising sharply. Broad swaths of populations are disenchanted with formal politics. Such an environment makes religious fundamentalism and radicalism increasingly likely.

Young people – representing 60% of Middle Eastern societies, and the future leaders of the region – represent a critical part of the solution, but they face serious obstacles that inhibit their capacity to engage in political debates.

First, young people are frustrated and mistrustful of government, but many have also become dissatisfied with opposition parties.
Second, dialogue about political issues is also stymied. Even as new communications technologies proliferate, young people are in effect prohibited from communicating about crucial matters. Online activists are intimidated or jailed, discouraging free speech. People are afraid to discuss politics, and so cannot advance debates, learn from each other, or arrive at consensus opinions. This challenge exacerbates other social divides – such as that between socioeconomic classes.
Third, there is a lack of leadership, and an absence of viable and valued political projects. People demand change, but they do not know where to go. In such a context, a host of negative responses are made likely, including bitter resignation, emigration, or radicalization.

The conference representatives discuss and finalize the language of their joint statement.

U.S. democracy assistance programs have had a positive impact and are appreciated, but a broader set of U.S. policies in the Middle East have made reforms more difficult. After 9/11, the U.S. turned its attention to the Middle East and signaled a desire to partner with Middle Eastern societies to develop their countries and avert the spread of radicalism. Funding for pro-democracy programs, such as USAID, MEPI, Amideast, NDI, and IRI are good programs. Likewise, efforts to help with education and women’s health have been much appreciated. But these have been overshadowed by negative U.S. policies. The invasion of Iraq and U.S. unconditional support for Israel made reform efforts more difficult, because they took the people’s attention away from domestic reforms. At the same time, with the invasion of Iraq, much of what Middle Easterners admired about the U.S. evaporated. The president’s rhetoric, tied to that war, led to disenchantment with democracy.

Instead of pushing Middle Eastern countries to transform quickly into American-style democracies, the U.S. should adopt a new approach to supporting reform in the region. Such an approach would recognize:

First, that issues of political reform are closely linked to other challenges the region faces, including ending the Arab-Israeli conflict, alleviating poverty, enhancing public health and education systems, meeting the needs of refugees, and reducing the threat of conflict. Efforts to support the emergence of representative governance should go side-by-side with efforts to resolve these other challenges.
Second, it would acknowledge the need to approach the region as a willing partner, rather than a demanding power.
Third, it would state clearly that only peaceful means are legitimate and effective for supporting democracy.
Fourth, it would emphasize the role of constructive people-to-people dialogue, and cultural and educational exchange, for fostering better policy solutions and diverse partnerships for promoting reforms.
Fifth, it would recognize the importance of media, including online media, for constructive public dialogue, and would encourage the emergence of free media through assistance programs, skill-building, and public support for reforms.

We believe it is not too late to salvage a productive role for the U.S. in regional reform efforts, but that can only be done in partnership with the region’s people. The first step is listening to Middle Easterners’ policy and reform priorities. Conferences between youth to discuss urgent issues, like this conference, are important ways to amplify Middle Easterners’ voices. Dialogue between the two sides also helps Americans better understand the needs of Middle Easterners while bridging cultural and religious gaps and highlighting common priorities in the future of the U.S.-Middle East relationship.

By developing and ratifying these recommendations, and traveling to Washington to discuss them with government officials, we are taking the initial steps to establish a more respectful and fruitful dialogue about Middle East political reform and the U.S. role in it.

Dina Elshinnawi

Cairo conference representative

Emily Crawford

Amman conference representative

Erika Spaet

Rabat conference representative

Mohamed Sabbah

Cairo conference representative

Sara Ait lmoudden

Rabat conference representative

Tharwat Alazab

Amman conference representative