The Impact of US Aid Policy on Democracy and Political Reform in the Arab world

Prof. Abdel Mahdi Alsoudi

International Policy Fellowship (2005-2006)

1. Project Objectives:

The primary objective of the project is to assess the impact of US policy on democracy and political reform in Jordan with an emphasis on US aid provided to Jordan for promoting democracy and to provide specific policy recommendations in this area. The project also aims to analyze the size of US aid to both official and non-official organizations such as government, political parties, women organization, through conducting a survey among these organizations. The tangible outcomes of the project in this regard will include the following:

• Provision of expert advice in reviewing and drafting new US aid policies or amending existing ones;
• Writing a research paper and 20-page policy study in coordination with the group advisor with recommendations for the MEPI, Jordan government, parliament, political parties and relevant NGOs.

2. Internal and External Stakeholders

a. Internal stakeholders and beneficiaries of the project are:
- Jordan government
- Parliament
- Political parties
- Women organizations
- The Media

Work with the main identified internal stakeholders will be of mutual consultation nature, and a field survey to include government officials, parliamentarians, political leaders, policy makers, academics and experts in the area of democracy and political reform. Questions will be asked about their views regarding promoting and implementation of political reform. The survey results will be shared with the government, members of parliament, women organizations and the media. The research findings and recommendations will also be shared and discussed with relevant government and NGOs.

b. External stakeholders
- Department of States,
- USAID and the European Union.
- MEPI, political, economic and gender pillars.
- UNDP and World Bank

Interviews and meeting with policy makers in the State Department, researchers and experts on this subject the Brookings, Carnegie foundation for international peace, Washington Institute for near East policy, NDI, US institute for peace, Center for Arab Studies at Georgetown university and others. These interviews and meetings will take place during my stay at Georgetown University from July to September 2005. Cooperation with US policy maker’s community will focus on US policy and initiatives for political reform and the strategies to implement them and discussing and identifying current and planned projects in this field. Other activities in America will include active participation at workshops and seminars on these issues.

3. Cooperation with OSI/Soros Foundations
• Meeting with OSO offices in America to inform them about this project and to seek their advice regarding appointments and contacts with officials at the State Department and other institutions.
• Using their resources and expertise in this field
• . Identification of OSI network programs and other organizations and experts that may serve the purpose of this project including:
- Establishing information sharing mechanisms through the Islamic group server;
- Identifying partners, advocacy organizations, experts and stakeholders.
- Cooperation with relevant IPF alumni and Policy experts working on relevant
projects or are affiliated with organizations which are directly concerned with
democracy promotion in Arab World.

4. Project Outcomes
1. a 20-page research paper and a policy recommendations package with an action plan, which will be distributed among relevant state authorities, NGOs, academic circles, MEPI and other organizations and made available at a web site for a wider use by interested public. The research findings and recommendations will also be presented and discussed at the political sociology courses for post graduate students at Jordan university
2. publication of the research paper in academic journal in both Arabic and English
3. Monographs to be distributed to politicians, parliamentarians and political parties in Arabic and in English for MEPI and USAID in Jordan.
5. Research Paper outline

5.1. Introduction
• Problem statement;
• Significance and research questions;
• Methodology;

5.2. US Policy on democracy and political reform in Jordan and the Arab World

• Before 9/11/2001
• After 9/11/2004
• Middle East Partnership Initiative: Jordan
- Political Pillar
- Gender pillar
- Economic pillar
- Educational pillar

5.3. Political reform in Jordan during the 1990s
• Parliamentary reform: election laws,
• political parties and political participation
• Legislation, the status of women and the media.

5.4. The impact of US aid policy on democracy and political reform in Jordan
• Parliamentary elections and laws
• Political parities and political participation
• Women political participation
• The media

5.5. Understanding obstacles to political reform in Jordan and the Arab World
• The socio-political obstacles
• Regional conflicts and wars : (in Iraq and the Palestinian -Israeli conflict)
5.6. Conclusions and recommendations.

6. Policy paper outline:

- Back ground
- US policy and aid to Jordan and other Arab countries before 9/11
- US policy and aid to Jordan after 9/11
- Middle East partnership initiative (MEPI)
- Political reform in Jordan
- The Impact of US aid policy on democracy and political reform in Jordan
- Socio-political obstacles
- The effects of regional conflicts on:
- US policy on democracy and political reform in Jordan and other Arab countries
- Political reform in Jordan and other Arab countries
- recommendations