Tariq Ramadan - Trying to Understand the Arab Awakening

About the Speech:
In a speech whose scope spanned the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), via Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria, Morocco, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain and Saudi Arabia, Professor Tariq Ramadan emphasised the heterogeneity of the developments in each country. Hesitant to use the term "Arab Spring", Prof. Ramadan portrayed what he cautiously calls the "Arab Awakening" as a chess game rather than a domino effect.

He welcomed the progress achieved in Tunisia, and particularly commended those who succeeded in moving beyond the perceived polarisation between secularists and Islamists to a discourse based on policies and politics rather than ideology. However, Prof. Ramadan expressed concern about the situations in Egypt, Libya and elsewhere, and pointed out that Tunisia may be the only success story in the immediate term.

The role of Europe and the US in the region, both before and since the popular uprisings, came under the spotlight and Prof. Ramadan pointed to the prioritisation of economic and geostrategic interests. He suggested that the issue of whether the Arab world is ready for democracy has somewhat been overshadowed by the question "Is the West ready for the Arabs experiencing democracy?". Of particular relevance, according to Prof. Ramadan, is the West's attitude towards the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which he sees as framing all of their policies in the MENA region.

MENA countries, however, are now looking elsewhere for partners, investors and role models. Turkey is a particularly interesting example of a functioning, democratic state with a strong economy, where Islamic values are central. The Turkish government has been present and highly visible in the region over the past year. Prof. Ramadan also sees China, Russia, India, Brazil and South Africa as potential alternatives to Western involvement, especially from an economic perspective. Their approach is largely pragmatic, including on the Middle East conflict.

Prof. Ramadan called on the European Union to develop a vision for its future relationship with the MENA region, independent of the USA and in full recognition of the true actors and political forces emerging in each country.
About the Speaker:
Professor Ramadan is a leading Islamic thinker, active at both academic and grassroots level. He is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University, President of the European Muslim Network and Director of the Centre for Islamic Legislation and Ethics in Qatar. He was named by Time Magazine as one of the 100 most important innovators of the 21st Century.