Featured Publications
The Trilateral Bond: Mapping a New Era for Latin America, the United States, and Europe
Egypt's Litigious Transition: Judicial Intervention and the Muddied Road to Democracy
A New Deal: Reforming US Defense Cooperation with Egypt, Libya, and Tunisia
The Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership: Ambitious but Achievable
Time to Move from Tactics to Strategy on Iran
Lowering the Price of Russian Gas: A Challenge for European Energy Security
Does Beijing Have a Strategy? China's Alternative Futures
Council News
Rudolph Atallah Testifies before House Panel on Crisis in the Sahel
Rudolph Atallah, senior fellow in the Atlantic Council’s Michael S. Ansari Africa Center, testified at a House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs hearing on “The Growing Crisis in Africa’s Sahel Region.”
Mihaela Carstei on the US-Canada Keystone Pipeline Project (CTV)
On the heels of Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper’s visit to the United States, Energy & Environment Program Associate Director Mihaela Carstei joins CTV to discuss the Keystone Pipeline project that would transport tar sands oil from Canada and the northern United States to refineries in the Gulf coast of Texas.
Frederic Hof on US Position in Syria Crisis (BBC World Service)
Hariri Middle East Center Senior Fellow Frederic Hof speaks with the BBC’s Tim Franks about the cautious US position with respect to resolving the Syria crisis.
Shuja Nawaz Response to Pakistan Election Results (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
South Asia Center Director Shuja Nawaz joins a live Google Hangout organized by RFE/RL to discuss Pakistan’s historic elections.
Roundtable on Economic Conditions in Transitioning Countries and US Trade and Investment Initiatives
March 02, 2012
The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East hosted an off-the-record roundtable discussion with a small group of US government officials, economists, and development experts on March 2. The participants discussed how supporting democratic transitions in Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya requires addressing the dual challenge of relieving short-term economic crises while initiating the long-term structural reforms needed to fuel sustainable growth, create economic opportunities to keep pace with rapidly growing populations, and alleviate economic inequality.
Hariri Center Director Michele Dunne moderated the discussion, with opening remarks by Deputy US Trade Representative Miriam Sapiro, State Department Deputy Coordinator for Transition Assistance Mark Ward, and economist Mohsin Kahn. The urgent priority for Egypt, Tunisia, and Libya is to confront the immediate symptoms of economic recession: capital flight, plummeting investment, rising inflation, and declining currency values. While loans from international financial institutions can provide quick relief for these short-term challenges, they are not a sustainable substitute for the sweeping structural reforms needed to sustain growth, incentivize innovation, and integrate Arab markets into the global economy. Participants discussed the place of trade in incentivizing development strategies and whether region-wide trade initiatives, regional economic integration, or bilateral trade agreements would be the best ways to support a rapidly changing region in need of international support.
Miriam Sapiro was confirmed by the Senate on December 24, 2009 as Deputy U.S. Trade Representative. Ambassador Sapiro is responsible for trade negotiations and enforcement with Europe, the Middle East and the Americas.
Mark Ward is Deputy Coordinator for Middle East Transitions at the US Department of State. Previously he served as Senior Deputy Assistant Administrator for Asia and the Near East at the US Agency for International Development.
Mohsin Khan has been a senior fellow at the Peterson Institute for International Economics since March 2009. Before joining the Institute, he was the director of the Middle East and Central Asia department at the International Monetary Fund (IMF) from 2004 to 2008. He first joined the IMF in 1972.
Trackback URL for this post:
FEATURED EVENTS
15th Anniversary of PDD-63: History of Cyber Critical Infrastructure Protection
On May 22, the Atlantic Council's Cyber Statecraft Initiative will hold a discussion on the history of cyber critical infrastructure protection in recognition of the 15th anniversary of Presidential Decision Directive 63 (PDD-63). This event will be streamed LIVE from 3:00 p.m.
Evolving US-European Security Cooperation with the Gulf States
On May 23, the Atlantic Council’s Middle East Peace and Security Initiative at the Brent Scowcroft Center on International Security is hosting a panel discussion on new developments in security cooperation among the United States, its European allies, and the Gulf states, and how they are likely to evolve in the coming years.
The Kaleidoscope Turns Again in a Crisis-Challenged Iran
On May 30, the Atlantic Council’s South Asia Center will release a new issue brief, The Kaleidoscope Turns Again in a Crisis-Challenged Iran, a discussion of Iran’s upcoming presidential elections.
2013 Wroclaw Global Forum
From June 13-14, the 2013 Wrocław Global Forum will bring together over 350 top policy-makers and business leaders to explore the region’s impact as an actor in Europe, as well as its crucial role in the transatlantic partnership and on the global stage.
Featured Videos
