Study Group on Reform and Security in the Muslim World

Mounting security challenges have raised concerns about how the United States can best promote political reform while safeguarding its security interests. Co-chaired by Larry Diamond and Francis Fukuyama, the Study Group is addressing this complex problem through a series of meetings that highlight the interplay of security and reform in the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia.

Study Group on Reform and Security in the Muslim World

USIP's Study Group on Reform and Security in the Muslim World began to convene in February 2008 to develop a policy-relevant vision of how the United States can sustain and reassert its support for political reform in the Muslim world, while enhancing its security at home and abroad. Co-chaired by Larry Diamond and Francis Fukuyama, two of the leading experts on the regional and global security environment, the Study Group's findings were published in January 2010.

*Download the report "In Pursuit of Democracy and Security in the Greater Middle East.

The Study Group's final report represents the culmination of a series of expert working groups, each of which is inspired by a country-specific policy memo. USIP has convened an unparalleled group of core analysts to draft the policy memos:

  • Shuja Nawaz, formerly of the New York Times, on Pakistan
  • Nathan Brown, George Washington University, on Palestine
  • Eric Goldstein, Human Rights Watch, on the Maghreb
  • Amaney Jamal, Princeton University, on Jordan
  • April Longley Alley, National Defense University, on Yemen
  • Jean-Francois Seznec, Georgetown University, on the Gulf States
  • Samer Shehata, Georgetown University, on Egypt
  • Mona Yacoubian, U.S. Institute of Peace, on Lebanon

 

Daniel Brumberg, acting director of USIP's Muslim World Initiative and associate professor in Georgetown University's Department of Government, directs the Study Group's activities.

Honorary Co-Chairs

Larry Diamond

Francis Fukuyama

Country Study Authors


Nathan Brown

Eric Goldstein

Amaney Jamal

April Longely Alley

Shuja Nawaz

Jean-Francois Seznec

Samer Shehata

Mona Yacoubian

Members

Jon Alterman

Zeyno Baran

Leslie Campbell

Scott Carpenter

Michele Dunne

Thomas Garrett

Amy Hawthorne

Simon Henderson

Steven Heydemann

Karin von Hippel

Qamar-ul Huda

Laith Kubba

Ellen Laipson

Haim Malka

Thomas Melia

Joshua Muravchcik

Andrew Natsios

Rend Al Rahim

Maggie Mitchell Salem

Omer Taspinar

Alex Thier

Marvin Weinbaum

Kenneth Wollack

Radwan Ziadeh