Middle East: contents under pressure

U-M experts discuss struggle against authoritarian rule

To understand the current unrest in the Middle East, it helps to go where the experts are.

That’s why the University of Michigan International Institute gathered some of its best on Feb. 7 for a round table discussion of the widespread unrest and political instability in the Middle East and the underlying tensions that led to it. The round table featured leading U-M scholars in a candid, informal discussion about how protests in Egypt, Tunisia, and other countries have led to a shakeup of the existing governments.

“We’re very fortunate to have faculty who are very generous with their time,” said International Institute director Ken Kollman. “One of the great virtues of Michigan is the depth of the faculty and the richness of the academic quality on this campus. I’m not sure many other universities could find such a star team so quickly and have them be so generous with their time.”

The free event was open to the public and co-sponsored by the African Studies Center, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies, and the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies.

Lineup (starting time on video)

• Juan Cole, Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History (3:55)
• Susan Waltz, Professor of Public Policy (16:50)
• Mark Tessler, Vice Provost for International Affairs, Samuel J. Eldersveld Collegiate professor of Political Science (28:30)
• Nadine Naber, Assistant Professor, Program in American Culture and Department of Women’s Studies (37:39)
• Phil Potter, Assistant Professor, Public Policy and Political Science (48:00)
• Joshua Cole, Associate Professor, history (55:23)
• Q&A session, Ken Kollman, moderator (1:04:30)

Home page photo: Yannis Behrakis (Reuters).