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Islamists at the Ballot Box: Findings from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait and Turkey

Date: Tuesday, April 12, 2005 / Time: 6:00am - 8:00am 

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While there is near consensus among mainstream Islamist leaders in key Arab countries and Turkey on the value of democratic participation—that is, contestation for power via competitive elections—it remains unclear what impact involvement in electoral politics has on Islamist political parties. Do they moderate their politics and strategies in an effort to gain ground politically and, if so, in what ways?

Presentations focused on dilemmas facing the Justice and Development Party in Turkey and how it handled them; calls for changes in goals and strategies by Islamist parties in Egypt, Jordan and Kuwait; and the impact of participation by the Islamic Action Front in Jordan in a coalition of 13 opposition groups, the Higher Committee for the Co-ordination of Opposition Parties. Presentations by these USIP grantees were followed by a roundtable discussion.

Speakers

  • Janine Astrid Clark
    Associate Professor of Political Science
    University of Guelph, Toronto
  • Dr. Sultan Tepe
    Assistant Professor of Political Science
    University of Illinois, Chicago
  • Dr. Carrie Rosefsky Wickham
    Associate Professor of Political Science
    Emory University, Atlanta
  • Dr. Daniel Brumberg, Discussant
    Associate Professor, Georgetown University
    Special Advisor, U.S. Institute of Peace Muslim World Initiative
  • Dr. Judy Barsalou, Discussant
    Director of Grants, U.S. Institute of Peace

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