: DEMOCRATIC SHIFT OR MORE OF THE SAME? On Thursday 25 September 2014, at 10:00-12:15 At the Parliament Annex Auditorium (Pikkuparlamentti) Arkadiankatu 3, Helsinki Kolme astetta lämmintä. Ilmeisesti aika siirtyä tältä kesältä pitkiin housuihin #helsinki #ihanastisitäkestikin Approaching year five of the Arab upheavals, the outlook has dramatically changed. Early euphoria, leading to the euphemistic misnomer Arab "Spring”, has widely been replaced by a more realistic and sobering assessment: domestic tensions, civil strife and Islamist militancy appear as dominating features shaping the political reconfiguration. Libya is sliding into chaos, Syria trapped in a downward spiral of violence and the Iraqi state structures put to the test. However, confirming an exception to the rule, the democratic trajectory in Tunisia follows a functioning roadmap. On the other hand, the aborted Egyptian transformation portrays authoritarian resilience at its best, as well as interested interference of major regional players. Will a democratic transformation be able to set the agenda against all odds, or are parts of the region developing into a serious liability? Opening remarks: Dr Juha Jokela, Programme Director, the Finnish Institute of International Affairs Keynote: Dr Volker Perthes, Director, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP) Dr Perthes is Executive Chairman and Director of Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), German Institute for International and Security Affairs in Berlin. He received his doctorate from the University of Duisburg, held different teaching positions, and is currently also Professor at Humboldt University Berlin and Free University of Berlin. He serves on various national and international bodies, e.g. as Chairman of FIIA’s Scientific Advisory Council. Comments: Dr Jonathan Murphy, Chief Technical Advisor, UNDP Tunisia Dr Murphy is an expert in the field of democratic development, with specific focus on strengthening parliamentary institutions. He has provided expert advice to parliaments throughout Africa and Asia, as well as conducted major reviews and policy development for the United Nations and the European Union. Murphy received his PhD in Management from University of Cambridge Dr Joshua Stacher, Associate Professor of Political Science, Kent State University Dr Stacher is the author of Adaptable Autocrats: Regime Power in Egypt & Syria (Stanford UP, 2012). He was a Fellow at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars during 2012-2013. He is a regular contributor to and on the editorial board of MERIP’s Middle East Report. He is also a founding member of the Northeastusieppo Parainen Korppoo, Utö 4 p (Ville-Veikko Salonen, Hanna Järvinen, Mikko Järvinen, Kimmo Kuusisto, ...) Viiksitimali Mynämäki Mietoistenlahti, Silakkari 23 a9 ja a14. p (Kimmo Jarpa, Tapio Aalto, Rolf Karlsson, Jukka Sillanpää) Kottarainen Salo Viurilanlahti 600 p, 2a yöpymismiparvea (Ville Räihä) Kottarainen Salo Ollikkala 900 noin, Eenokinkatu 9, ylilento matalalla NE (Eero Ketola, Tellervo Ketola) Peippo Kustavi Pohjakari 9500 m, muutamaan otokseen perustuva arvio, päävirta SW avom..tiira.fipitkästaikka ropinaa ikkunaakurds onthegroundsliipinkuilu ‏@prklbrln 6 min Viattomuuden illuusio vie liian lähelle taivasta. "Meidän on oletettava Sisyfos onnelliseksi." @JuliusJaaskelai "All different - all equal."