Video


4. The Middle East: The Challenge of Exiting Authoritarianism while Maintaining Security

Event Title : ABCDE 2008 South Africa: People, Politics, and Globalization
Date : 6/10/2008
Language : English
Country/Region :  World
Keyword : Economic Development Globalization  Governance   
Presenter : Bassma Kodmani (Execute Director)
Arab Reform Initiative

 DESCRIPTION 
The Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) brings together academics, policy makers, representatives of multilateral and bilateral agencies, research institutes, civil society organizations, students, and journalists, and thus provides an excellent opportunity to foster exchange of knowledge and understanding of development issues. The 2008 edition of the Annual Bank Conference on Development Economics (ABCDE) took place in Cape Town and was co-organized by the World Bank and the National Treasury of South Africa. The conference gathered nearly 500 participants over two and a half days. The theme of the conference was People, Politics and Globalization.

Bassma Kodmani, Executive Director of Arab Reform Initiative, said that enhancing the integrity of the political process in the Middle East is crucial to securing peaceful development in the region. Kodmani observed that there is now a “real change of mood, of spirit” in Arab societies, with people at the grassroots level becoming more confident about expressing discontent, with the rise of independent media and falling popularity of radical groups.

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