ABSTRACT

The Iraqi government, the Peshmerga, the international coalition and a consortium of militia have been winning the war against ISIS in Iraq.  The concern moving forward is whether Iraq’s state institutions have what it takes to prevent ISIS from reemerging in a new, and more deadly form after the current conflict is over. What does recent history, the current military campaign, and the Donald Trump administration’s current trajectory tell us about Iraq’s prospects?

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ABSTRACT

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Dr. Jillian Schwedler is Professor of Political Science at the City University of New York’s Hunter College and the Graduate Center, and Nonresident Senior Fellow of the Rafiq Hariri Center for the Middle East at the Atlantic Council.  She is member of the Board of Directors and the Editorial Committee of the Middle East Research and Information Project (MERIP), publishers of the quarterly Middle East Report.

Dr. Schwedler’s books include the award-winning Faith in Moderation: Islamist Parties in Jordan and Yemen (Cambridge 2006) and (with Laleh Khalili) Policing and Prisons in the Middle East (Columbia 2010).  Her articles have appeared in World Politics, Comparative Politics, Middle East Policy, Middle East Report, Journal of Democracy, and Social Movement Studies, among many others.  Her research has received support from the National Science Foundation, the United States Institute of Peace, the Fulbright Scholars Program, the American Institute for Yemen Studies, and the Social Science Research Council, among others. 

ABSTRACT

This talk examines the ways through which successive Egyptian governments have utilized lawmaking to eliminate opponents and silence voices of dissent since the coup of 3 July 2013. Key examples include the adoption of a draconian protest law and anti-terrorism laws. Most recently, the legislature passed a bill that, subject to the president’s approval, is poised to significantly curtail the autonomy of civil society organizations. By restricting freedom of expression and association and clamping down on voices of dissent, these legal initiatives have helped upgrade the repressive bureaucratic tools at the disposal of the government.

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ABSTRACT

Six years post Egypt’s January 25 revolution, the country remains in a state of volatility and political turmoil marked by an ailing economy, a security crisis, and unprecedented levels of repression. In this talk, Jack Shenker will discuss his recent book The Egyptians: A Radical History of Egypt's Unfinished Revolution (The New Press). The book examines the roots of Egypt’s revolution, arguing for a much more nuanced, and far-reaching view of the forces that are reshaping the region.

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This film screening is hosted by the Arab Reform and Democracy Program at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. 

This is a ticketed event, only guests with tickets will be admitted. Please print out your tickets before the event and present them at the door. All persons, regardless of age, require a ticket. Directions and parking information is available below. Doors will open at 6:30 pm. 

About Tickling Giants:

In the midst of the Egyptian Arab Spring, Bassem Youssef makes a decision that’s every mother’s worst nightmare… He leaves his job as a heart surgeon to become a full-time comedian. Dubbed, “The Egyptian Jon Stewart,” Bassem creates the satirical show, Al Bernameg. The weekly program quickly becomes the most viewed television program in the Middle East. In a country where free speech is not settled law, Bassem’s show becomes as controversial as it popular. He and his staff must endure physical threats, protests, and legal action, all because of jokes. As Bassem attempts to remain on the air, keep his staff safe, and not get arrested, he continues to let those in power know they’re being held accountable. Despite increasing danger, the team at Al Bernameg employ comedy, not violence, to comment on hypocrisy in media, politics, and religion. Directed by Sara Taksler, Tickling Giants follows the team of Al Bernameg as they discover democracy is not easily won. For more information visit http://ticklinggiants.com

About Bassem Youssef:

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Named one of TIME’s “100 most influential people in the world” in 2013, Bassem Youssef is an Egyptian satirist, columnist, and talk show host. A cardiac surgeon by training, Youssef turned to comedy after he was inspired by the Egyptian revolution. He uploaded the first episode of his homemade newscast, “The B+ Show,” to YouTube in May 2011. After it garnered more than 5 million views in three months, Youssef was named the host of “Al-Bernameg,” a satirical newscast modeled after Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show.” Youssef’s bold, intelligent, and humorous critiques of Egyptian politics quickly became a hit with audiences in the country and garnered more than 40 million viewers. Due to its sharp criticism of Egyptian leaders, Al-Bernameg faced political pressure from successive governments until it was finally taken off the air in the summer of 2014. Recently, Youssef launched “The Democracy Handbook,” a Fusion TV digital series that satirizes American politics through a Middle Eastern perspective. Youssef is currently a Visiting Scholar at CDDRL's Program on Arab Reform and Democracy. He served as a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 2015.

Event Information:

-- Movie duration: 111 mins
-- Q&A with Bassem Youssef after the movie
-- Food and drink are prohibited in all indoor venues
-- Cameras and all recording devices are prohibited
-- Guests will be ask to turn off cell phones, pagers and alarms during the event

Directions 

Via I-280 (north or south): LINK

From the east bay via CA-92 (San Mateo Bridge): LINK

Via US 101 (north or south): LINK

Additional directions are available here. 

Parking 

Parking Structure 7 offers underground parking at the Knight Management Center. Permits are required and enforced Monday through Friday from 8 am to 4 pm. Click here to access Campus Maps.

One-day visitor permits (called “scratchers”) allow for parking in any pay-and-display or metered space, and are available for purchase at the Parking and Transportation Services (P&TS) office for $12 each. Be sure to scratch off the correct date and hang your permit facing outward from your rear-view mirror. "A," "C," and "shared" resident/commuter lots are enforced Monday-Friday, 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. You are free to park in these areas after enforcement hours.

You can also pay for parking using the pay-by-space kiosks located in Structure 7. Simply enter the number for your parking space and pay with cash or card. You do not need to display your receipt in your vehicle. The receipt is not valid in any other location.

Other nearby parking locations include:

• Parking lot at Bonair Siding Rd. and Serra St. — coin-meter spaces, two-minute walk
• Parking lot at Memorial Way and Galvez St. — pay-and-display machine, five-minute walk
• Visitor Center parking lot at 295 Galvez St. — pay-and-display machine, ten-minute walk
• Parking Structure 6 at Campus Dr. East and Wilbur Way — pay-and-display machine, ten-minute walk

Meters are generally enforced 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless otherwise posted. You are free to park in these areas after enforcement hours.

More parking and permit information is available here.

We honor any state's disabled person placards in nearly all marked parking spaces on campus. Please visit the Persons with Disabilities page for more information.

This event is hosted by the Program on Arab Reform and Democracy at the Center on Democracy, Development and the Rule of Law. Bassem Youssef's fellowship at CDDRL is supported by the Carnegie Corporation of New York, and the Stanford Arts Office of the Associate Dean.

Event Details

• This is a ticketed event, only guests with tickets will be admitted. Please print out your tickets before the event and present them at the door. All persons, regardless of age, require a ticket. 
• The event will be held at Cubberley Auditorium at Stanford University. More information on directions and parking is available below. 
• Doors will open at 6:30 pm. We ask that you please be seated by 6:50 pm. Any unclaimed seats at that time will be released to the stand-by line.

Join the conversation at #BassematStanford

Abstract

The Arab Spring and the political changes it accompanied brought to the forefront of the public realm a wide range of satirical political expressions, whether through talk shows, social media channels and pages, and even repertoires of political protests. In this talk, international media figure and political satirist Bassem Youssef will reflect on the popularity these forms of expressions have gained in light of the Arab Spring, and why states and their advocates found them threatening and were quick to limit and undermine them.

Speaker Bio

Named one of TIME’s “100 most influential people in the world” in 2013, Bassem Youssef is an Egyptian satirist, columnist, and talk show host. A cardiac surgeon by training, Youssef turned to comedy after he was inspired by the Egyptian revolution. He uploaded the first episode of his homemade newscast, “The B+ Show,” to YouTube in May 2011. After it garnered more than 5 million views in three months, Youssef was named the host of “Al-Bernameg,” a satirical newscast modeled after Jon Stewart’s “The Daily Show.” Youssef’s bold, intelligent, and humorous critiques of Egyptian politics quickly became a hit with audiences in the country and garnered more than 40 million viewers. Due to its sharp criticism of Egyptian leaders, Al-Bernameg faced political pressure from successive governments until it was finally taken off the air in the summer of 2014. Recently, Youssef launched “The Democracy Handbook,” a Fusion TV digital series that satirizes American politics through a Middle Eastern perspective. Youssef is currently a Visiting Scholar at CDDRL's Program on Arab Reform and Democracy. He served as a resident fellow at the Institute of Politics at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government in 2015.

Directions

FROM 101: Take the University Avenue exit west. University will change to Palm Drive once you get onto campus. Take a left onto Campus Drive East. Take a right onto Mayfield Avenue. Take a right into the Tressider Union parking lot and park. Walk towards White Plaza (Bookstore), then towards the Clock Tower. Cubberley Auditorium appears after the Clock tower on the right.

FROM 280: Take the Sand Hill Road exit east. Follow Sand Hill Road, then take a right onto Junipero Serra Boulevard. Take a left onto Campus Drive East. Take a left onto Mayfield Avenue. Take a right into the Tressider Union parking lot and park. Walk towards White Plaza (Bookstore), then towards the Clock Tower. Cubberley Auditorium appears after the Clock tower on the right.

Parking Information

Meters and permitted parking is generally enforced 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., unless otherwise posted. You are free to park in these areas after enforcement hours.

Park either on the main Oval, or the Memorial Lot just north of the Memorial Hall on Memorial Way, or South of the campus union at Mayfield Ave.

For map and additional parking information visit http://campus-map.stanford.edu

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ABSTRACT

By now, those following the news on Syria have been saturated with analysis, data, information, and misinformation on developments there since 2011. Yet we observe an increasing gravitation to mutually exclusive narratives that adorn websites and publications on the situation in Syria: (a) the narrative of pure and consistent revolution versus that of (b) external conspiracy/designs on Syria. Both narratives carry grains of truth, but are encumbered by maximalist claims and fundamental blindspots that forfeit various potentials for enduring cease-fires and/or transitions, let alone mutual understanding. This talk will address these competing narratives in the context of international escalation marked by increasing US-Russian tension and continued multi-layered conflicts on the battlefield. It closes with addressing a framework for understanding and gauging potential prospects despite conflicting declarations by all parties involved.

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*This event is supported by the Stanford Initiative for Religious and Ethnic Understanding and Coexistence

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Abstract

Speaker Bio

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Nancy Okail is the Executive Director of The Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP). She brings more than 15 years of experience promoting democracy and development in the Middle East and North Africa region to this role. Prior to joining TIMEP, Dr. Okail was the director of Freedom House’s Egypt program. She has also worked with the Egyptian government as a senior evaluation officer of foreign aid and has managed programs for Egyptian pro-democracy organizations that challenged the Mubarak regime. She was also one of the defendants convicted in the widely publicized case of 43 non-governmental organization employees charged with using foreign funds to foment unrest in Egypt. She was sentenced in absentia to five years in prison, and, as a result, has spent the last four years in exile. She holds a Ph.D. from the University of Sussex in the U.K. where her dissertation examined the power relations of foreign aid.