Conference: Engaging with an Arab World in Crisis

When the Arab Revolts broke out in late 2010 and early 2011, observers and policy-makers cheered the arrival of an opportunity, however fragile and uncertain, for generating political change in a region that for decades had hosted the world’s most enduring authoritarian regimes.

Almost four years later, the opportunity for political transition seems to have narrowed. With a few but important exceptions such as Tunisia, authoritarian regime practices have been restored, regional competition has increased, contentious politics have been militarized, and in some cases the political arenas have disintegrated.

These recent developments not only present decision-makers in the Arab region with an unprecedented political and social crisis. They also force international actors to reconsider their policy preferences and alliance-buildings, and may prompt immediate security concerns to trump the long-term political development goals that were identified in the early days of the “Arab Spring”.

To take stock of the recent developments in the Arab Region, and to discuss how Denmark and its partners may best engage with the region in the future, the Danish Institute for International Studies organized an international conference in Copenhagen on December 1st, 2014.

The conference was organized in collaboration with JMW Consulting and funded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Speakers

Martin Lidegaard, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark

Jean-Marie Guéhenno, President, International Crisis Group

Steven Heydemann, Vice President, United States Institute for Peace

Lina Khatib, Director, Carnegie Middle East Center

Hazem Kandil, Lecturer, University of Cambridge

Ellen Lust, Professor, Yale University

Mohammed Hafez, Chairman, Naval Postgraduate School

Rasmus Alenius Boserup, Senior Reseacher, DIIS

Helle Malmvig, Senior Researcher, DIIS

Sune Haugbølle, Associate Professor, Roskilde University

Jakob Wichmann, Partner, JMW