Brookings: Experts - Tamara Cofman Wittes

Democracy In Egypt: Necessary Ingredient in a U.S.-Egyptian Partnership

Mon, 17 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak recently visited Washington for the first time since 2004. Tamara Cofman Wittes and Michele Dunne examine how he and President Obama can achieve shared goals for the Middle East. Wittes and Dunn analyze areas in which the relationship could be improved and offer suggestions for strengthening the partnership with both the citizens and government of Egypt.

Reactions to President Obama's Speech to the Muslim World

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Barack Obama delivered a highly anticipated address in Cairo, Egypt on June 4 in an attempt to improve U.S. relations with the Muslim world. Brookings experts offered comments on the President’s speech.

Obama in Egypt and His Speech to the Muslim World

Sun, 31 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Cofman Wittes and Martin Indyk joined a group of Middle East experts, journalists and activists to discuss what should be said by President Obama during his trip to Egypt in June. Wittes argued Obama must redefine how America's role is viewed and Indyk stated that, among other things, a sincere commitment to the Israeli-Palestinian dispute is necessary.

Democracy Promotion Under Obama: Lessons from the Middle East Partnership Initiative

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Cofman Wittes and Andrew Masloski argue that the Obama administration should invest in the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) to advance America’s interests in a more stable, progressive and prosperous Middle East. By examining the record of MEPI, Wittes and Masloski show how it has overcome early deficits to create a small-scale, successful model of “democracy diplomacy” that integrates foreign assistance with foreign policy.

Obama Chooses Egypt for His Muslim World Speech

Thu, 14 May 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Cofman Wittes writes that the selection of Egypt for President Obama’s long-awaited speech to the Muslim world was not an easy choice, but it is a significant one. Wittes believes Egypt is a crucible for the challenges facing many Muslim societies and it embodies Washington's central dilemmas in the wake of Bush's Freedom Agenda.

Global Trends and Security in the Muslim World: Dilemmas for U.S. and Regional Policy

Mon, 16 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

In this U.S.-Islamic World Forum discussion paper, Stephen Grand, Tamara Wittes, Thomas Fingar and Jamal al Suwaidi investigate new and non-traditional security challenges and how they are likely to affect U.S.-Muslim world relations.

Europe, the United States, and Middle Eastern Democracy: Repairing the Breach

Fri, 23 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

President Obama may enjoy a transatlantic honeymoon, but U.S.-European differences over Middle East policy—stemming mainly from the war in Iraq—leave deep scars in the relationship that he must now overcome. In a new Saban Center Analysis Paper, Tamara Cofman Wittes and Richard Youngs look beyond this highly charged deterioration in the transatlantic relationship in order to assess the real prospects for cooperation in promoting democracy in the Middle East.

Islamist Parties and Democracy

Thu, 31 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Brookings expert Tamara Cofman Wittes writes that the usual division of Islamists into “moderate” and “extremist” categories is less helpful than a threefold classification that suggests a distinct policy approach toward each group.

Categories of Islamism

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Cofman Wittes writes about her recent article in the Journal of Democracy where she outlines three distinct categories of Islamism.

Lebanon Rivals Agree to Deal

Wed, 21 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Cofman Wittes discusses a new deal announced in Doha between Lebanese factions including Hezbollah. Wittes believes that this decision should force others in the Middle East to recognize that Hezbollah is a regional actor with ambitions outside of Lebanon.

Freedom's Unsteady March : America's Role in Building Arab Democracy

Thu, 01 May 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Wittes dissects the Bush administration’s failure to advance freedom in the Middle East and lays out a better strategy for future efforts to promote democracy.

Economic and Political Development Report: Riyadh and Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

Wed, 09 Apr 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Cofman Wittes and Isobel Coleman met with business leaders, academics, journalists, and civic activists in Saudi Arabia. Among their key findings are that many Saudis welcomed the emergence of a more open atmosphere, pointing to King Abdullah’s ascension to the throne, dynamism in neighboring Gulf states, and a new “post-post-9/11” environment as key catalysts for the change. Yet, there was frustration at the unpredictability and arbitrariness of the newly expanded social and political space.

Secularism & Theology: Islam & Politics

Wed, 19 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Across the Muslim world, religious parties and candidates are claiming victory over secular governments with increasing frequency. From Iraq to Egypt to Turkey, Islamic influence is on the rise in politics. Tamara Wittes joins Kojo Nnamdi and guests to explore this trend and examine why these Islamic movements are winning public support.

Can We Export Democracy?

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

At a November 26, 2007 Cato Book Forum, Tamara Wittes and Christopher J. Coyne examined the problems with installing democracy.

Reform in the Muslim World

Sat, 09 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Participants discuss governance in the Muslim World in a paper prepared for the 2008 U.S./Islamic World Forum in Doha, Qatar.

Middle East Democracy: The Limits of Limited Reform

Wed, 16 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Wittes and Michael McFaul discuss the Arab world's chance of creating stability by accepting and promoting democratic governments.

Can the Middle East Sustain Democracy?

Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT

Charles Issawi was a leading economic historian of the Middle East and an astute commentator on history, politics, and human nature. In 1956 he published an article on the foundations of democracy and their absence from the Middle East. MESH member Adam Garfinkle offers a half-century retrospective on Issawi’s views. In the comments to this post Tamara Cofman Wittes and other members weigh in.

Preview of the Annapolis Middle East Peace Talks

Wed, 21 Nov 2007 12:51:43 GMT

President Bush will host a meeting of international leaders to help revive the Arab-Israeli peace process. Research fellow Tamara Wittes says the talks are critical for the future of the entire middle east.

Back to Balancing

Thu, 01 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Martin Indyk and Tamara Cofman Wittes argue that the United States must strengthen its international partnerships, use diplomacy, and offer security guarantees to advance U.S. interests in the Middle East and Gulf regions. Those U.S. interests include: stabilizing Iraq, revitalizing the Israeli-Palestinian peace process, and encouraging moderate Arab nations to enact political and economic reforms.

Moroccan Roulette: What Happens if You Hold an Election and Nobody Comes?

Fri, 24 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Tamara Cofman Wittes writes that elections in Morocco are the latest step in a gradual move towards reform under King Mohammed IV. She argues that offering a vote is not enough, and that "he [King Mohammed] will have to strengthen parliament and the mainstream political parties, giving them a real capacity to act on voters' concerns and reducing his own power in the process."

U.S. Assuring Arab States It Will Remain a Force in Mideast Post-Iraq

Wed, 01 Aug 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Interview with Tamara Cofman Wittes, CFR.org (8/1/07)

American Hegemony: Myth and Reality

Thu, 22 Mar 2007 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Tamara Cofman Wittes, Today's Zaman (3/22/07)

Back to Balancing in the Middle East: A New Strategy for Constructive Engagement

Wed, 28 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

A new Sunni-Shi'a fault line and a significant decline in U.S. influence frame the challenge to the next President's Middle East policy. That challenge requires both a return to balance-of-power diplomacy and a better balancing of interests and values to contain the Iraq civil war, strengthen the forces of moderation, prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear power, and promote democratic reform.

Elections in the Arab World: Progress or Peril?

Mon, 12 Feb 2007 00:00:00 GMT

The Saban Center for Middle East Policy's Project on Arab Democracy and Development hosted a day-long symposium on January 16, 2007 entitled "Arab Elections: Progress or Peril?" The project is headed by Tamara Cofman Wittes, a Saban Center Fellow and the Brookings Institution's leading expert on U.S. democracy promotion policy in the Middle East.

What Price Freedom? Assessing the Bush Administration's Freedom Agenda

Fri, 01 Sep 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Three years ago, in response to the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the Bush Administration launched what is now known as the Freedom Agenda. In a Saban Center Analysis Paper, Tamara Cofman Wittes assesses what the Bush Administration's Freedom Agenda has accomplished in its first few years, and how well the policy shift it represents has become embedded in the institutions and operation of U.S. foreign policy.

Dual Dilemmas: U.S. Policy Options for the Israeli-Palestinian Predicament

Fri, 19 May 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Saban Center Middle East Memo #9

Democracy Means Difficult Choices

Sun, 19 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Difficult choices abound following Hamas's election victory. European governments, well aware that Palestinian society is but a few weeks away from utter poverty and near-starvation, feel pressured to find some arrangement whereby they can continue to provide financial and humanitarian assistance to the Palestinian Authority.

United States: Progress of the "Freedom Strategy" in the Middle East

Wed, 01 Feb 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Tamara Cofman Wittes, Arab Reform Bulletin (February 2006)

Still Splitsville: Israeli-Palestinian Disengagement, Post Sharon

Fri, 13 Jan 2006 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Tamara Cofman Wittes, Slate (1/13/06)

The 2005 Egyptian Elections: How Free? How Important?

Wed, 24 Aug 2005 00:00:00 GMT

On September 7, 2005, for the first time in their history, Egyptians will have a choice of candidates in a presidential election. When President Hosni Mubarak, who was elected to four previous terms in 'yes-or-no' referendums, announced this historic change in February 2005, even some members of his ruling National Democratic Party (NDP) were taken aback. Yet by the time the constitutional amendment authorizing other candidates to run was voted on in late May 2005, many democracy advocates in Egypt had grown disillusioned, characterizing the competitive election scheme as a sham. Now, with voting less than one month away, ten candidates have qualified to stand but many opposition activists are calling for an election day boycott.

A Better Model Than Beirut

Thu, 31 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Tamara Cofman Wittes, The Washington Post (3/31/05)

Hosni Mubarak: Elections Or No, He's Still Pharaoh

Thu, 03 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Tamara Cofman Wittes, Slate (3/3/05)

Seizing the Moment in Israeli-Palestinian Relations: How to Sustain the Cease-Fire and Revitalize the Road Map

Wed, 02 Mar 2005 00:00:00 GMT

Middle East Memo by Martin S. Indyk and Tamara Cofman Wittes (February 2005)

Arab Liberalism and Democracy in the Middle East: A Panel Discussion

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Barry Rubin, Tamara Cofman Wittes and Laith Kubba, Middle East Review of International Affairs (MERIA) Journal (December 2004)

Promoting Democracy in the Arab World: The Challenge of Joint Action

Wed, 01 Dec 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Tamara Cofman Wittes, The International Spectator (October - December 2004)

The Middle East Partnership Initiative: Progress, Problems, and Prospects

Mon, 29 Nov 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Tamara Cofman Wittes and Sarah E. Yerkes, Middle East Memo (11/29/04)

The Promise of Arab Liberalism

Thu, 01 Jul 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Tamara Cofman Wittes, PolicyReview (June & July 2004)

Seize the Moment for Arab Reform

Thu, 17 Jun 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Opinion by Tamara Cofman Wittes, The Daily Star (6/17/04)

The New U.S. Proposal for a Greater Middle East Initiative: An Evaluation

Mon, 10 May 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Paper by Tamara Cofman Wittes, Middle East Memo (5/10/04)

Arab Democracy, American Ambivalence: Will Bush's rhetoric about transforming the Middle East be matched by American deeds?

Mon, 23 Feb 2004 00:00:00 GMT

Article by Tamara Cofman Wittes, The Weekly Standard (2/23/04)