Democracy in the Middle East: Inevitable or Impossible?

Democracy in the Middle East: Inevitable or Impossible, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
It is claimed that states no longer have a sovereign right to be undemocratic. The entire globe has a stake in insuring that basic rights are provided for all human beings. Increasingly threats know no borders. The right of every...

Nigâr Göksel

Interview with Süleyman Demirel: Turkey and Democratization in the Middle East, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
Turkey’s 9th President Süleyman Demirel was in active politics for over 35 years, serving as prime minister for almost 12 years in total and finally as president before his retirement in 2000. His vast experience in Turkey’s own...

Süleyman Demirel

Democratization Process in Iraq, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
Decades of tyranny, wars and oppression have left the Iraqi society divided, lackinginitiative and vulnerable to various sensitivities. Describing the challenges facedin Iraq's ongoing transition due to the recent history of the nation, the author...

Ayad Allawi

The Future of Democratization in the Black Sea Region, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
The vast democratic transformation of the Black Sea region presents new opportunitiesfor U.S. policy, as well as a number of challenges. The author outlines the stateof democracy in the region, explaining why the developments there command...

Bruce Pitcairn Jackson

Promoting Political and Economic Reform in the Mediterranean and the Middle East, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
The EU has a major interest in the reform process of its neighbors. However, theEU is not entitled to “impose” the ground rules of political, economic and socialbehavior that it requires from member countries upon its southern neighbors...

Fraser Cameron

Are the Winds of Change Blowing in Azerbaijan?, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
The author presents an opposition viewpoint to the current government of Azerbaijan,pointing out the alleged repression and corruption. Arguing that the Azerbaijanisociety has, in fact, a history of democracy as well as a cultural preparedness for...

Ali Kerimli

Syrian-Turkish Relations: At What Price?, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
If Turkey continues to support Arab dictatorships, especially Syria, not only will Arab democracies like Iraq and Lebanon distance themselves from Turkey, but so will the U.S. and European countries. Pointing out some recent moves of Turkey, the...

Farid Ghadry

Iraq: A Perspective from the Economic Analysis of Civil War, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
The author, with expertise both on the economics of civil war and on the functioning of democracy in oil economies, analyzes the case of Iraq from these perspectives.The article assesses the role international actors can play, pointing out that...

Paul Collier

Democracy in the Greater Middle East: Inevitable, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
The author argues that expanding democracy to the Greater Middle East is becomingthe most daring and exciting political undertaking of the next decades. He examinesthe resistance towards and the controversy regarding the democratization initiativeof...

Cengiz Çandar

The Secular Roots of Radical Political Islam, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
The author examines the interactions between the West and the Muslim world overtime, trying to trace the development of political Islam and discovering how theWest played a central role in this evolution. Critically analyzing the debate in theU.S....

Mahmood Mamdani

Thoughts on a New Security Arrangement: Focusing on the Middle East Case, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
International security structures and arrangements have not yet been adapted tothe geopolitical and economic shifts that have taken place over the last two decades.The wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have taught valuable lessons to various globalactors...

Ümit Kumcuoğlu

From Divergent Views to a Common Policy: US and EU Approaches to Promoting Democratization in the Middle East, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
The Transatlantic “Partnership for Progress and a Common Future with the Region of the Broader Middle East and North Africa” (BMENA) bears the potential to revolutionize Western policies towards the Middle East. However, the chances that...

Martin Beck

A Fourth Alternative to Turkey: A Democratic Middle East, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
In this article the author argues that Turkey can be a positive catalyst for democratic change in the Middle East. In its evaluation of the potential success of thedemocratization process, the article analyzes eight indicators of the...

Emre Erdoğan

Israel and Democratization of the Arab World, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
This article explains that contrary to common assumptions, the democratization of the Arab world is in the interests of Israel. Recognizing the dangers on the onehand, the author concludes that even if democratization efforts fail, they will render...

Hillel Frisch

Turkey and North Africa: Challenge and Opportunity, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
This article aims to give an overview on Turkey's improving relations with the countries of North Africa, a region that is increasingly important for bilateraltrade, energy relationships and increasingly important for the U.S. and Europe.It...

Kaan Nazlı

Reflection on the Road to Iraqı Democracy, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
Yethrib is a town in the heart of the Sunni Triangle in Iraq. Ahmet Shauket lives under constant threat but is avowed to build the institutions to support democracy,peace and human rights in his town. This piece reflects one man’s struggle...

Ahmet Shauket

US-Iran Relations within the Framework of Democratization in Iran, Summer 2005Monday, September 5, 2005
This article assumes that the U.S. is intent on the democratization of the Middle East, and at this stage places a priority to Iran. However, it should be noted that instead of promoting current democratic trends within Iran, the U.S....

Bayram Sinkaya

Democracy in the Middle East: Inevitable or Impossible?Vol. 4 No. 2 - Summer 2005

Democracy in the Middle East: Inevitable or Impossible?
Vol. 4 No. 2 - Summer 2005