Upcoming POMED Event: “Libya on the Eve of Elections: Examining the Challenges of Political and Economic Development”
On Tuesday, June 12, the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) will host an event entitled, “Libya on the Eve of Elections: Examining the Challenges of Political and Economic Development” at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace from 10:00-11:30am. The participants will examine what the elections will look like, what the government’s top priorities ought to be, and what role civil society will play after the polls close.
The discussion will include Manal Omar, Director of Iraq, Iran, and North Africa Programs, Center for Post-Conflict Peace and Stability Operations at the U.S. Institute of Peace; Stephen McInerney, Executive Director, POMED; and Fadel Lamen, President of the American-Libyan Council. Sarah Margon, Associate Director, Sustainable Security and Peacebuilding Initiative at the Center for American Progress will moderate.
Please click here to RSVP. Click through to read additional details.
With Libya’s first nationwide democratic election quickly approaching, serious progress on political and institutional development is essential as the country proceeds with its transition. While re-establishing security remains vital in the short term, many long-term development challenges also require immediate attention, including building effective, accountable institutions at the national and local levels; developing an independent and diverse civil society; establishing and protecting a free, professional press; and reforming the military, police, and other security forces. Meanwhile, Libyans must engage in a national dialogue on how to ensure adequate representation in government for women, youth, and and various tribal and ethnic groups. By smartly leveraging domestic resources and international assistance, the Libyan people could be well-positioned to build a prosperous and free country.
What will the assembly elections – originally slated for June 19th but now expected to be delayed until July – look like? What are the major political forces emerging in the country and how are they preparing for the elections? How will the election of a national assembly affect the role of the National Transitional Council (NTC)? What are the top priorities for the Libyan government, particularly regarding institutional reform? How can Libyans develop a robust civil society and ensure freedom of opinion, press, and assembly? Which best practices from other state-building efforts would be most appropriate for the Libyan case? In particular, how might various models of federalism and decentralization be useful? And what is the most constructive role for international actors to play in supporting capacity-building, among other needs?
We’ll also be live-tweeting from the event, so follow the conversation at #POMEDLib. If you’d like us to ask one of your questions, we’ll try to include a few from our virtual audience.
