Council for a Community of Democracies

POMED Recommendations for US Policy in the Middle East
February 3, 2010
By: Benjamin Russell

After Cairo: From the Vision of the Cairo Speech to Active Support for Human Dignity, the Project on Middle East Democracy’s (POMED) January report on U.S. policy in the Middle East, offers revealing insights into the region’s views of democracy and makes recommendations for a constructive American role in its development.

The report, based on a series of discussions conducted by POMED in Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt with young Arab and American leaders in fall 2009, is framed as a response to President Barack Obama’s Cairo speech from June of that year. The discussions covered democracy, religious freedoms, women’s rights, and human development: the four themes the President described as essential components of the United States’ relationship with the Middle East.

Among its findings, the report found that discussion participants were “more comfortable with active U.S. engagement to support democratic reforms under President Obama than they were under President Bush” and that “the administration would find broad approval if it appeared to demonstrate sustained commitment to helping local actors realize [their] objectives.”

However, American policy and activity in the Middle East was thought to have belied the U.S.’ commitment to democracy and human rights. Despite positive perceptions of democracy in the region, the report suggests that American democracy promotion was viewed unfavorably. Most of the discussion participants believed the U.S. only supported democracy “when it [coincided] with narrow American interests.”

As a way of combating such negative perceptions, the report suggests that the United States increasingly channel financial support directly to Middle Eastern civil society groups through mechanisms like the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI). Discussion participants generally thought that United States’ policy should focus on elections through international observers, districting reforms and counter-terrorism laws. Finally, the report notes that it is important, both for progress and perceptions, not to tilt support toward liberal reformers, but rather to help strengthen Middle Eastern society more generally.

Sources:

POMED – After Cairo: From the Vision of the Cairo Speech to Active Support for Human DIgnity