VIDEO: The Role of Civil Society in Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution and Democratization

The Rumi Forum in collaboration with the Berkley Center at Georgetown University organized the conference on "The Role of Civil Society in Peacebuilding, Conflict Resolution and Democratization"

Below are the youtube videos from the conference. At the bottom you will also find a link to the Q&A sessions for each panel.

Summary
Civil society is not only important; it is an essential part of the proper functioning of the state. Acting as a link, civil society helps to initiate, promote and strengthen comprehensive and objective dialogue between governments and their people. In such a way, civil society fosters conflict resolution, advances human rights and promotes better democratization processes in countries. Moreover, because of its flexible, multidimensional and non-rigid structure, civil society has the capability to constantly adapt to rapid global changes. The purpose of the conference is to gain a better understanding of the role of civil society in the functioning of the state, and advancement of democracy and universal human rights.

Marina Ottaway, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
“Civil Society and Democratization: Which Civil Society?”

Joshua Foust, American Security Project
"Foreign Bias in Local Governance in Central Asia"

Angel Rabasa, RAND Corporation
"Democratization and Transition Processes in Authoritarian Regimes"

Mohamed Nimer, American University
"Gulen's Soft Power Approach: Lessons for Arab Political Reform"

Bilal Wahab, George Mason University
“Civil Society in Iraq: Homegrown or Market Response?”

Stanley Kober, Cato Institute
"Building Peace from the Bottom Up"

Catherine Cosman, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom"Religious communities in Post-Soviet States"

Mehmet Kalyoncu, Independent Analyst
“Building Civil Society in Ethno-Religiously Fractured Communities”

WATCH THE Q&A seesions here