Democracy in the Middle East (Demokratispaning i Mellanöstern)
July 6, 2022, 11:15-12:15, Hästgatan 13 in Visby
The contemporary Middle East and North Africa is populated by authoritarian one-party states, monarchies and sheikdoms, with a few democratic states. What are the necessary conditions needed for a more democratic MENA? And what are the obstacles to achieving it? What are the general trends in democratisation in the region? In which areas can we see an increased social, economic and political mobilisation that supports democratic forces in the region? In this seminar, several MENA experts will discuss possibilities for and obstacles to democratisation in the region. Issues such as authoritarian regimes, large numbers of refugees and migrants, armed conflicts and a rapidly growing population will be discussed in relation to democratisation.
Participants
Robert Rydberg, Swedish Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs
Cecilia Uddén, Foreign correspondent MENA, Radio Sweden
Rouzbeh Parsi, Head of MENA Programme, Swedish Institute of International Affairs
Isabell Schierenbeck, Professor, School of Global Studies, University of Gothenburg
Moderator: Karin Aggestam, Professor and CMES Director, Lund University