A program of the Center for Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law (CDDRL), focusing on Arab World affairs. CDDRL is a research center at the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies.
This multidisciplinary program brings together both scholars and practitioners — from the policymaking, civil society, NGO (non-government organization), media, and political communities — as well as other actors of diverse backgrounds from the Arab world, to consider how democratization and more responsive and accountable governance might be achieved, as a general challenge for the region and within specific Arab countries. ARD’s work also promotes critical discussions around questions of political change, social and economic rights, power and resistance in the countries of the Arab world.
The program aims to be a hub for intellectual capital about issues related to good governance and political reform in the Arab world, producing rigorous and innovative academic research grounded in hands-on work in the Arab world and allowing diverse opinions and voices to be heard. It benefits from the rich input of the academic community at Stanford, from faculty and researchers to graduate students, as well as partners in the Arab world and Europe.
In line with the mission of the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule in which it is housed, ARD produces in-depth, policy-relevant research.
Specific program activities include: