Transitions to Democracy and the Arab Spring: Are There Lessons from the Latin American Experience for the Middle East?

At the end of the 1970s, the vast majority of governments in Latin America were military dictatorships. By 1990, most had been replaced with elected governments — a dramatic transition to democracy in just over a decade.

Today in the Middle East, pro-democracy protests are unfolding. In Egypt and Tunisia, popular movements have overthrown dictatorships and elections are planned. Does the region hold the same potential as Latin America for democratic transition? Can insights from Latin America be applied to the Middle East?

This workshop featuring experts on Latin America and the Middle East will examine these questions and explore the similarities and differences between the two regions.

Hesburgh Center Auditorium

Program & Participants

1 p.m. Welcome
Steve Reifenberg, Executive Director
Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame

“Scenes from the Revolution,” a multimedia presentation
David Cortright, Director of Policy Studies
Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

1:30 p.m. Panel discussion
Samuel Valenzuela, Professor of Sociology, Kellogg Institute Faculty Fellow, University of Notre Dame

Emad Shahin, Luce Associate Professor of Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

Mona el Ghobashy, Assistant Professor of Political Science, Barnard College

Facilitator: Atalia Omer, Assistant Professor of Religion, Conflict and Peace Studies, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

3:15 p.m. Panel discussion
Scott Mainwaring, Director, Kellogg Institute for International Studies, University of Notre Dame

Michael Coppedge, Professor of Political Science, Kellogg Institute Faculty Fellow, University of Notre Dame

Facilitator: Scott Appleby, Director, Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies, University of Notre Dame

5 p.m. Concluding remarks
Alfred Stepan, Professor of Government, Columbia University

Co-sponsored by the Kellogg Institute for International Studies and the Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies.

Originally published at newsinfo.nd.edu.