Newsgroup: it.politica.internazionale
Titolo: Arab think tanks can be valuable friends for Israel

 
 
Last month, I took part in a conference in Jordan, attended by 60 Arab researchers, lecturers and civil society professionals. Speaking to them, I discovered greater curiosity than before regarding Israel: What can we learn from the Israeli experience of organizing and a running a civil society? What can Israel’s civics classes teach us? How do we obtain materials in Arabic about Israel?
 
Several participants even pointed out the untapped potential of cooperating with Israel. One Tunisian told me: “You, the Israeli-Arabs, serve as a prime example for Arabs worldwide due to your experience in Israeli coexistence.”
 
Researchers from Jordan, Egypt, Lebanon and Oman told me Israel’s own history as a new Middle Eastern country responsible for military, financial and governmental achievements can actually inspire Arab nations undergoing democratization.
 
One evident characteristic of this democratization is the rise of the Arab world’s think tanks, their growing independence and their interest in Israel. Previously, the number of such think tanks was marginal, as was their impact. In 2011, the annual global think tanks rankings showed the Middle East accounted for five percent of the 6,545 think tanks operating worldwide. Out of 323 such institutions in the Middle East, 113 were located in non-Arab countries: 54 in Israel, 32 in Iran and 27 in Turkey. Only 210 - three percent - were located in Arab countries: 34 in Egypt, 29 in Iraq, 28 Palestinian, 18 in Tunisia and 16 in Jordan.
 
The small number of Arab think tanks reflected the fact that before the Arab Spring, dictators did not support their research institutes. Arab intellectuals long suffered from oppression by the authorities, who were hostile towards independent thought and critical analysis. Governments prevented study and research into internal, regional and international issues.
 
Since the Arab Spring, think tanks have also been garnering more interest from academia and policy makers. The information and research they provide help empower the public and civil discourse throughout the Middle East. Arab media outlets today see think tanks as an important tool which can assist the public in better understanding social and political matters. Various think tank experts are now heard more than ever in the Arab public sphere. They hold a growing role in promoting democratization, research and science, as a whole.
 
These changes in the Arab countries sometimes lead to a re-examination of relations with Israel. Previously, most Arab think tanks avoided establishing connections with Israelis. Nowadays, there is a growing willingness to do so. Despite the difficulties involved, there are even requests and offers for cooperation with Israeli researchers. The disciplines are different than they were before. They have less to do with politics and strategy and now focus on science, governance, education and information. Cooperation in such areas can assist Israel in playing a positive role, albeit a limited one, in promoting democratization and peace in the region.
 
As I've learned from my experience in attending several regional conferences, Israel's Arab citizens must play a pivotal role in such a process, especially in establishing networks and building trust with Arab think tanks. The participation of Israeli-Arabs will diminish concerns and increase the common ground between Israel and the Arab nations. Israel's Arab population illustrates the fact that coexistence between Jews with Arabs is possible and it can help Arab colleagues to promote ideas of cultural, religious and ethnic diversity in a democratic state.
 
The Arab think tanks are conducting a civil and democratic discourse, unimaginable for decades. These institutions hold a new and valuable role in directing and accommodating the Arab public discourse. Their growing numbers, increasing freedom and amounting impact on public discourse and policy making are all positive developments. I recognize in these think tanks an evident willingness to cooperate with Israeli experts and organizations. This indicates a potential resource worth putting time and effort to realize. It can lead Israel to a new dialog with the entire region.
 
Kamal Ali-Hassan is a fellow at Mitvim, The Israeli Institute for Regional Foreign Policies, and a lecturer at Israel's Open University.

 civil society 
 
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