Charting the Course for Inclusive Democracy & Transition in the MENA Region: From Repression and Revolution to Active Citizenship, Nonviolence and Regional Solidarity
Strategic Dialogue to enhance regional cooperation between emerging civil society actors
October 15th, 16th and 17th
>> Introduction
In light of the Arab Spring’s nonviolent democratic movements, new dynamics, hope, social and political struggles and opportunities, institutions, and relations between groups and countries are emerging in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. These are creating a new canvas, which brings both specific opportunities and obstacles. Overall, this is defined by increasing citizens’ demands and engagement to build new, inclusive democratic States and vibrant, active societies free from repression and denial of civil, political, economic and social liberties and justice. Civil society is at the heart of this struggle and civic engagement to define the new states and societies in the MENA region. This includes organisations that have carried out nonviolent struggles and championed democracy, human rights, and women’s rights over years and decades, as well as new platforms for civic engagement that have developed at the heart of the uprisings and in the wake of democratic revolutions in the region.
The evolution of citizens’ democratic movements, civic participation and nonviolent struggles in the MENA countries has varied in terms of strategies and tools used by the activists and demonstrators. Likewise, the responses of governments and state institutions have been distinct with concern to the level of violence and how to handle the challenge and call from citizens for democratic change and inclusive politics.
On one hand, in Tunisia, Egypt, Bahrain and Yemen, civil society has inspired a people power movement with an impressive capacity of social mobilization defined by the use of limited violence and civil resistance strategies. With a different degree of intensity, most of these movements have been confronted with different and varying degrees of violence and repression.
On the other hand, in Libya and Syria, the extraordinary level of repression of the governmental forces, drove the initial peaceful, nonviolent marches and demonstrations calling for state transformation into a military, armed struggle, due both to the actions embarked on by the governments of Qaddafi and Assad, and from internal political dynamics and external intervention.
Today, the post-revolutionary phase crystallizes new realities and challenges. First,
in the Arab countries has occurred a general trend in the rise of political Islam, or Islamic political movements, mainly represented by the “Muslim Brotherhood” as result of elections processes. Second, as the on-ground situation in Syria is still dramatic, no one is able to predict the future of the country. Third, the high socio-political polarization that has emerged in the region raises difficulties in the negotiation of social contracts to ensure the political participation of minorities, youth and women. Fourth, the weak capacity of social movements to advocate and promote a real agenda for change based on human rights, dialogue and democracy. Fifth, there is the need to define a real solidarity relation between nonviolent civil society actors from the MENA and European region.
In that line, new actors are also emerging in Europe, in some way influenced and motivated by the Arab Springs revolutions, with new priorities and tools to transform the social, political and economical environment. The repression and control of the citizens by the police, the physical occupation of public spaces, the attempts to reduce the freedom of expression and association, amongst others, are just some examples of the common challenges and similarities between the movements in both regions. Moreover, key lessons and best practices can be shared and obtained from the democratic processes in Europe which could serve to inspire and to better envision the future states and societies in the MENA region.
The Conference Charting the Course for Inclusive Democracy & Transition in the MENA Region: From Revolution to Active Citizenship, Nonviolence strategies, and Regional Solidarity intends to bring key and relevant actors from the post-revolutionary phase in order to identify and analyse these common challenges and the current needs affecting people on the ground, but overall define a regional strategy, involving Arab and European civil society actors.
This conference is organized by Foundation for Future (FFF), Training and Research Institute in Romania (PATRIR) and the International Institute for Nonviolent Action (NOVACT), with the support of Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs, Anna Lindh Foundation and Barcelona Council.
Substantial support has also been given by the following: Department of Peace Operations (DPO) of the Peace Action, IWATCH, Nonviolence Network in the Arab Countries (NNAC), Popular Struggle Coordination Committee (PSCC), IKV Pax Christi, Beyond Reform and Development (BRD), Permanent Peace Movement (PPM), Un Ponte Per (UPP) and Solidaridad International (SI).
>> Purpose of the Conference
Mission Statement
To achieve authentically democratic just, inclusive and peaceful societies, and to overcome all forms of political repression, occupation, and denial of people’s social, economic, political and civil liberties, human rights and freedoms in the MENA region.
The purpose of the conference is:
To provide a platform for key civil / societal forces and actors working for the promotion of democracy, human rights, women’s rights and social justice in their countries, through democratic movements and nonviolent struggle; to strengthen social movements and their effectiveness, through the exchange with other activists and civil society actors across the region
To strengthen the call of civil society and all actors in the MENA region for real democracy, social justice, and human rights, supporting transition from authoritarian, non-representative regimes and occupation; to extend the support of European nonviolent movements, activists and experts.
>> Goals
The action aims to strengthen the impact of civil society actors in the MENA region through:
1. Providing a critical platform of civil society actors for nonviolence and democratic change to share experiences, address key challenges, and identify goals and strategies for achieving these
2. Strengthening real solidarity and partnership between key social nonviolent movements and organizations from the MENA region and involving European nonviolent actors.
In order to realise these goals, the conference has set three Strategic Objectives:
 Identifying the key challenges and current dynamics affecting civil society actors in working for real, inclusive democracy, social justice and peace in their countries;
 Advancing national nonviolent strategies with concrete mechanisms to improve the engagement in the transition and promotion of inclusive democracy;
 Enhancing regional solidarity and cooperation in the MENA region, involving European nonviolent actors, with a concrete strategy and guiding principles and values.
>> Outputs:
 Identified key challenges and current dynamics in the struggle for and consolidation of democracy in the MENA region;
 Consolidation of civil society objectives and vision of the goals they are trying to achieve in the region and in each country;
 Creation of a draft action plan for concrete steps to strengthen nonviolent movements, values and impact and effectiveness of civil society in the region;
 A draft regional nonviolent strategy to promote inclusive democracy, political and social transition and civic participation, between nonviolent civil society actors in the MENA region with common principles and values defined by participating organisations.
>> Outcomes
 Improved strategic capability of participants to address key current and developing challenges within their countries;
 Improved understanding of key dimensions and opportunities of different strategies for engaging in transition and strengthening inclusive processes of national dialogue and democracy building;
 Civil society actors more able to engage to promote inclusive, democratic processes in their countries;
 Greater recognition of the value and relevance of regional cooperation and sharing amongst nonviolent civil society actors.
>> Profile of participants
The event aims to involve nonviolent civil society actors: movements, organizations, activists, journalists and key bloggers, workers unions and networks from the MENA region. Moreover, relevant intellectuals and experts on specific issues, who are actively involved in the transition processes. These actors will be selected according to their involvement and activism in the revolutionary and post-revolutionary phase.
Also, European nonviolent movements, intellectuals and international organizations/institutions involved in social struggles in their communities and interested in the dynamics in MENA region.
>> Methodology of the Sessions
The conference Charting the Course for Inclusive Democracy & Transition in the MENA Region: From Revolution to Active Citizenship, Nonviolence and Regional Solidarity seeks to create an excellent atmosphere to promote real dialogue and sharing of experiences between the participants. The organizers are committed to employing a methodology that is effective in achieving the goals and outcomes described in this document.
The facilitation team will create the appropriate environment to enable a participatory dynamic; it will also collect the inputs from participants and draft the final common strategic documents.
Each working day, composed by 3 sessions, aims to achieve concrete outcomes, which will serve the overall goal. The open space sessions will balance between panel presentations and facilitated plenary talks. Short presentation will raise key issues and questions about the topic of discussion. Intellectuals and activists from MENA and European region will compose each panel.
The working group sessions are aimed to engage participants in detailed engagement in specific topics.
The open spaces will give participants the opportunity to express their views and opinions regarding the concrete topics of discussion. In all the sessions, a group of relators will compile the issues raised and will present to the audience the draft documents: (i) a common regional vision with concrete guiding principles; (ii) a common regional strategy.
The documents will be disseminated among the participants to be discussed and amended in the space “informal consultations” (see program below). In the last session of the conference we will discuss the amendments and approve the final strategic documents.
Charting the Course for Inclusive Democracy & Transition in the MENA Region: From Revolution to Active Citizenship, Nonviolence and Regional Solidarity
Strategic Dialogue to enhance regional collaboration between Nonviolent Civil Society Actors

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