Project on Middle East Democracy
Former UN Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali and Prince Hassan bin Talal of Jordan at POMED-sponsored conference in Amman.
Bahey/Michele Photo (Feb 3 2011)
Dr. Michele Dunne and Bahey ElDin Hassan discuss developments in Egypt at a POMED-Carnegie panel in February 2011.

The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to examining how genuine democracies can develop in the Middle East and how the United States can best support that process.  Through dialogue, research, and advocacy, we work to strengthen the constituency for U.S. policies that peacefully support democratic reform in the Middle East.

POMED believes that democratic reform in the Middle East should be viewed not merely as a goal aligned with American values and human rights, but also as an important strategic priority.  U.S. interests are best served by a strong relationship with the people of the Middle East, and that requires a basic recognition of their legitimate aspirations for democratic rights. 

As the Middle East undergoes a transformation sparked by uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt, there is a compelling need to rigorously examine how the U.S. can best support transitions to genuine democracy.  This involves fostering constructive dialogue among academics and activists, policymakers and practitioners, Americans and Middle Easterners; identifying clearly the parameters of legitimate, constructive support for democracy; and empowering the diverse coalition of actors that support policies consistent with those principles.

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