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Brookings Institution event: Robin Wright discusses The Future of the Middle East
March 4, 2008
By Zainab Abdul-Rahim
The Brookings Institution held a forum on Tuesday to discuss the book Dreams and Shadows: The Future of the Middle East by Washington Post correspondent Robin Wright. The discussion was moderated by Martin Indyk, senior fellow and director for the Saban Center for Middle East Policy at the Brookings Institution. In addition, Dr. Shibley Telhami, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, served as a discussant.
The discussion began with Indyk describing Wright’s book, which he said “holds up a microphone…to those hopeful voices of change in the Middle East.” He added that Wright has done “immense service” to those hopeful voices.
Wright said that she has witnessed many transformations since first coming to the Middle East in 1973. She described her shock at the change that occurred in 2005, as the region witnessed peaceful protests and Iraq’s landmark democratic elections.
She recalled that the spring of 2005 was “replaced by a sobering realism” because there was a widespread recognition that it is the people themselves that will cause positive change, not the regimes.
In her book, Wright gives specific examples featuring individuals she has interacted with, further proving Indyk’s point that she gives voice to the people of the Middle East. One specific example is of and Egyptian-based group called “We’re Watching You” that has been documenting election fraud and violations.
She also said that religion is at the heart of change inside the Middle East.
Wright concluded her speech by stressing that the region does not produce only bad news.
Telhami, who is also the Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development at the University of Maryland, College Park, discussed Wright’s book.
Telhami talked about the region’s youth, describing the new elites as “more astute,” and saying that it can be expected that they will be a force in the future that “will have an impact on change.” However, he expressed concern that the gap has grown between the rich and poor, and that “almost all of that wealth is tied to the governments.”
Telhami also brought up the topic of education, calling it a human resource. The Middle East, he said, needs a “skilled force that is able to compete with everyone else on a global scale.” He shared the example of how Egypt once boasted the best educational system in the Middle East, but now has fallen to twenty-eighth in Africa.
During the question and answer session, an audience member asked what role outsiders played in encouraging positive trends in the Middle East. Wright responded that the “Iraq experience made it impossible for us to engage in any countries.” In response to another question, Wright made the point that “changes in any society have to be homegrown,” suggesting that outsiders can only do so much to improve the Middle East.
Towards the end of the discussion, Wright declared that “Muslims were embarrassed after 9/11” and that “violence is not what the majority of people want.” Telhami added that Muslims do not view 9/11 as an event committed by Muslims.
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