Keynote and Discussion

Keynote ‚Turmoil and Changes in the Middle East – Europe’s Misconceptions and Misunderstandings‘:

Dan Schueftan, Director of the National Security Studies Center at the University of Haifa

Statements:

Tamar Amar-Dahl, Israeli-German historian; Teaching Associate at the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Politics, Free University Berlin

Jörn Böhme, Advisor on the Middle East and North Africa in the parliamentary group of Alliance 90/The Greens; former Director of the Israel office of the Heinrich Boell Foundation in Tel Aviv

Moderation: Markus Kaim, Senior Fellow at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP); Guest Lecturer at the Hertie School of Governance

Rather than a major step on the road to the renaissance of a once great civilization, the recent eruptions in the Middle East have yet again partly collapsed the century-old dysfunctional order, only to be substituted, in most cases, by either anarchy or renewed oppression. Under the prevailing circumstances the foreseeable future of the region does not look promising.

In this talk, Dr. Dan Schueftan will focus on discussions of the dramatic change in the Middle East and its implications for the region, for Israel, and for the world. He will address the national security situation in Israel, its challenges and solutions to domestic and foreign policy, as well as provide insight on Europe‘s policies towards the Middle East.

In structurally analyzing the roots of this problem, Dr. Schueftan will discuss the widespread deficiency of political and social pluralism in the Arab world, challenges to effective democracy building, and the role of European contributions in establishing political and social stability  in the Middle East.