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 asnew 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 sociopolitical 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 strategic dialogue Democratic 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. 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).
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