Dec. 8, 2007

9:30 a.m. – 10 a.m. – Welcoming Address / Opening Remarks

Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi, Head of PASSIA, Jerusalem

10 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – The Palestinian Political System after Oslo: Failures and Achievements in State Formation and Governance

Dr. Jamil Hilal, Sociologist and Senior Researcher at Muwatin, Ramallah

11:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. – Break

11:45 a.m. – 1:15 p.m. – History and Theories of Democracy (definition, conceptions of democracy in Western political thought, normative and ideological issues in the study and practice of democracy, how contemporary democracies work).

Dr. Nasif Mu’allem, Director, Palestinian Center for Peace and Development (PCPD), Ramallah

1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. – Lunch

2:15 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Democratic values and norms / Institutional features of democratic political systems / Democratic rights and practices.

Dr. Nasif Mu’allem

4 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Break

6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Democracy, Reform and the Issues of Nation, Identity and State

Dr. Mahdi Abdul Hadi

7:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Dinner

Dec. 9, 2007

9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Democratization in an Islamic Environment

Dr. Mustafa Abu Sway, Al-Quds University

10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Break

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Institutional Reform in Palestine – A Foreign/Donors’ Perspective

Gerhard Pulfer, Governance Strategy Group Coordinator; Ingo Buettner, Local Aid Coordination Secretariat, Governance

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Lunch

2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. – The state of democracy in Palestine – failures and achievements in the democratization process to date

Khalil Nakhleh, Independent Development & Academic Consultant, Ramallah

4 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. – Break

4:45 p.m. – 7:45 p.m. – Leadership Styles (leadership types, various personalities, convincing others, leaving an impression, understanding what makes a leader, motivating others, leadership in cultural and situational contexts, leadership ethics)

Dr. Mahmoud Baidoun, Senior Trainer and Clinical Supervisor, Birzeit University

7:45 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Dinner

Dec. 10, 2007

9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Connection between Constitution & Democracy (Processes of Constitution Building up to the Post Enactment Stage)

Dr. Gregory Mahler, Academic Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Earlham College, Richmond, US

10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Break

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Democratic Governance (government transparency, government responsiveness to citizenry, representation. legislative and executive structures and processes, fighting corruption).

Dr. Gregory Mahler

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Lunch

2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Reforms, Development and Foreign Involvement (interaction between economics and politics; reform programs and their implications for social change and democracy; influence of international aid, foreign interests, etc.).

Khalil Nakhleh

4 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Break

6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Fostering democratic political change in the Middle East (regional experiences of democratic transition and democratization; lessons and pitfalls to learn from past international democracy and reform promotion activity; obstacles to democratization)

Dr. Gregory Mahler

7:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Dinner

Dec. 11, 2007

9:15 a.m. – 10:45 a.m. – Policies, practices and role of specific actors in the process of democratization (e.g., voting, campaigning, participation, army / police, NGOs, private sector, political parties, etc.)

Dr. Gregory Mahler

10:45 a.m. – 11 a.m. – Break

11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. – Requirements and Needs of Public Sector Reform

Usama Al-Bast, General Director, Reform File, President’s Office, Ramallah

12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. – Lunch

2:30 p.m. – 4 p.m. – Reform Advocacy: The Role of Civil Society Organizations and the Media

Dr. Azmi Shuaibi, General Coordinator for the Coalition for Accountability and Integration, Ramallah

4 p.m. – 6 p.m. – Break

6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. – Democratization and Minorities: The Case of Christians in Palestine

Father Jamal Khader, Latin Patriarchate, Beit Jala / Arab Women’s Conception of Democracy: Amira Silmi, Birzeit University, Institute of Women Studies

7:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. – Wrap up and final discussion / Dinner