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Europe & Middle East / Comment

The challenges of democratisation and political reform in the Middle East: between autocracy, islamism and liberalism

11/02/2005 By Juan José Escobar Stemmann

The al-Qa’ida led or inspired terrorist offensive, based on a skewed interpretation of international jihad, has pushed political reform in the Middle East to the top of the agenda.

A new consensus has emerged: democracy is necessary in the Middle East to marginalise Islamic extremists and de-legitimise political violence.

Europe’s new Strategy for the Mediterranean and the Middle East and the New Neighbouring Policy, along with the US government’s new Broader Middle East and North Africa (BMENA) initiative, are all intended to facilitate the democratisation of Muslim societies.

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Keywords

BMENA Democratisation EU Foreign Policy Middle East and North Africa

Related publications

• Democracy and Security in the Middle East
• France and the Middle East Crisis
• The EU and the Middle East Peace Process: Re-engagement?

Bio author: Juan José Escobar Stemmann

Juan José Escobar Stemmann has served in the Spanish Diplomatic Service since 1991. Since 2002, Juan José Escobar Stemmann has been posted as the Deputy Head of Mission at the Spanish Embassy in Amman (Jordan).