The Project on Middle East Democracy, Inc.

The faces of the “Arab Spring” are young, energetic, and in most cases, unfamiliar to outside observers.  But The Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED), a policy-focused nongovernmental organization (NGO) in Washington, D.C., has developed ongoing relationships with many of these young leaders throughout the region through its research, dialogues, and advocacy work.  Founded in 2006, POMED is dedicated to examining how genuine democracies can develop in the Middle East and how the United States can best support that process.

POMED focused on Egypt long before protests began to unfold in Tahrir Square, as its size, culture, and history make it an important actor in the region.  “Egypt has long been seen as a bellwether for political trends in the region, therefore, reform in Egypt would have the potential to influence the region,” said Stephen McInerney, POMED’s executive director. Over the course of the last several years, POMED has worked with Egyptian civil society organizations on policy issues and brought delegations to the United States to advocate for more constructive engagement.  It also has given a diverse group of young leaders—academic specialists, journalists, and business leaders, among others—exposure to a range of policy issues through three regional conferences.

POMED is adjusting its work plans to match the region’s new dynamics. “Analysis, debate, and discussion are even more important now,” McInerney said.  “New political parties are forming in Egypt, but after years of closed policy development, they lack well-formed ideas or platforms.” By working with Egyptian NGOs and experts, “POMED can help generate ideas that new parties can latch onto.” 

POMED is now working to establish similar partnerships with NGOs in Tunisia. And while the course of political transition in Egypt and other Middle Eastern countries is uncertain, it’s clear that younger citizens want to be active in civic life. This means that POMED will continue to invest in the development of young leaders who are keen to assume larger roles.  By expanding recruiting to areas outside  of capital cities, to women, and to people from different religious faiths, POMED can help increase the breadth and quality of participation in civic life.

POMED also sees ways to support policy development in Washington, as the U.S. government responds to the transformative events reshaping the Middle East. POMED regularly brings delegations from the Middle East to the United States to meet with officials at the White House, State Department, and U.S. Agency for International Development, as well as with members of Congress.  Prior to January, McInerney said, these conversations would have more often focused on longer term issues, such as possible succession scenarios in Egypt.  Now, with political transitions already underway in multiple countries, the questions from Washington interlocutors take on more immediacy as they attempt to, in POMED’s words, “identify clearly the parameters of legitimate, constructive support for democracy in the Middle East.”