Events & exhibits

The Wave of Freedom: Early Lessons from the Middle East

The event featured remarks by President George W. Bush, Mrs. Laura Bush, and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.

Event

May 26, 2011

12:00 pm

Symposium

In recent months, the world has witnessed dramatic expressions of freedom across the Middle East. Touched off by Mohamed Bouazizi, the 26–year–old Tunisian fruit vendor who set himself on fire to protest an attack on his economic liberty, millions of brave men and women have demonstrated their commitment to a future rooted in freedom. These events reconfirm that the desire for freedom is universal.

As the wave of freedom spreads across the Arab world, what early lessons can be learned for those who seek democracy in countries like Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, North Korea, Syria and Burma? Activists, technology experts, government leaders and scholars addressed this question by analyzing the challenges and successes of recent uprisings, enhancing understanding of technology’s role and considering the impact on those who still struggle for freedom around the world.

Schedule

Sessions

  1. May 26, 2011Watch ↗

    Remarks and Q&A by former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice

  2. May 26, 2011Watch ↗

    A Conversation With Dr. Saad Ibrahim, Chair, Ibn Khaldun Center for Development Studies.

    Moderator:

    • Carl Gershman, President, National Endowment for Democracy

    Conversation Part II

    Conversation Part III

    Conversation Part IV

  3. May 26, 2011

    Panel: What Really Happened? Social Media and the Uprisings in the Middle East

    Moderator

    • Minnie Ingersoll, Principal, Business Operations, Google, Inc.

    Panelists

    • Yassine Ayari, Activist and Blogger (via video-conference)
    • Philip N. Howard, Director, Project on Information Technology and Political Islam, University of Washington
    • Oscar Morales, Visiting Fellow, Human Freedom, George W. Bush Institute
    • Maajid Nawaz, Co-Founder and Director, Quilliam Foundation; Founder, Khudi
    • Ian Schuler, Senior Program Manager, Internet Freedom Programs, U.S. Department of State
  4. May 26, 2011

    Panel: The Future of Freedom in the Middle East: Stories from the Frontlines

    Moderator

    • James K. Glassman, Founding Executive Director, George W. Bush Institute

    Panelists

    • Ammar Abdulhamid, Founder and Director, Tharwa Foundation
    • Khadija Arfaoui, Retired Professor, American Studies, Women's Studies, English and Human Rights; Activist, Environmental, Human Rights and Women's Rights Issues
    • Esraa Abdel Fattah, Projects Manager, Egyptian Democratic Academy (via video-conference)
    • Mouheb Garoui, President, I Watch Organization
    • Ahmed Salah, Veteran Egyptian Activist; Director, New Future House Center; Coordinator, The Coalition of The Committees for the Defense of the Revolution
    • Bassem Samir, Executive Director, Egyptian Democratic Academy
  5. May 26, 2011

    Panel: Beyond the Arab World: Gauging the Impact on Other Undemocratic Regimes

    Moderator

    • Lorne Craner, President, International Republican Institute

    Panelists

    • Elliott Abrams, Senior Fellow for Middle Eastern Studies, Council on Foreign Relations
    • Frank Calzon, Executive Director, Center for a Free Cuba
    • Victor Cha, Professor and Director of Asian Studies, Georgetown University
    • Roya Hakakian, Writer and Journalist
    • Joshua Muravchik, Fellow, Foreign Policy Institute, John Hopkins University School for Advanced International Studies
  6. May 26, 2011

    Closing Remarks by Amanda Schnetzer

    Amanda Schnetzer is the Director, Human Freedom, George W. Bush Institute.