Transatlantic Dialogue
Fragmentation and Clientelism: Assessing Reform Potential in Lebanon and Tunisia
September 24, 2020 | 10:00 - 11:00 AM EDT | 16:00 - 17:00 CEST
Lebanon and Tunisia are the only Arab countries that the Transformation Index BTI 2020 classifies as (highly) defective democracies. Still, institutional performance is rather deficient and the integrity of political decision-makers significantly compromised. The discrepancy in both countries is glaring: on the one hand an active and vocal civil society, on the other hand a fractured parliament and dysfunctional institutions obstructing democratic progress. The regional results of the BTI will set the scene for sounding out the potential for reform and democratization.
With experts from Lebanon and Tunisia, we discuss how institutional gridlock can be overcome. For this, the experts will follow a three-step approach: by outlining the current situation in their countries, by analyzing the underlying causes for reform blockades and by commenting on each other’s development and using this “mirror-image” for political advice.
Speakers
Amine Ghali
Director
Kawakibi Democracy Transition Center, Tunis
Maha Yahya
Director
Carnegie Middle East Center, Beirut
Jan Claudius Völkel (Introduction)
Senior Researcher
Arnold Bergstraesser Institute, Freiburg
BTI Regional Coordinator Middle East and North Africa
Moderator
Anthony Silberfeld
Director, Transatlantic Relations
Bertelsmann Foundation
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