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Shadi Hamid

Shadi Hamid is director of research at The Project on Middle East Democracy, and a contributor to the National Security Network's foreign affairs blog, Democracy Arsenal.

Recent Articles

The Myth of Moroccan Democracy

Recent parliamentary elections have cast doubt on whether Morocco is the model of Middle East reform the United States is hoping for.

Shadi HamidSep 20, 2007

Earlier this month Morocco, one of America's closest Arab allies, held national elections. Touted as a bold step toward democracy, the vote was closely watched in the West. But the elections, rather than proving a success, have raised difficult questions about the future of Moroccan democracy and highlighted the flaws in America's approach to democracy promotion.

In the lead-up to the polls, analysts painted the contest as a test of Islam's political strength. Islamists had risen to power in Iraq, Palestine, and Turkey; and many wondered whether Morocco would be next.

Aiding and Abetting Egyptian Repression

Why Congress should use American foreign aid to Egypt as leverage for reform.

Shadi HamidJun 06, 2007

The time of year has again arrived when the U.S. Congress considers funding levels for foreign aid. But this year is different. Democrats control a majority in both the House and Senate and, for the first time in more than 12 years, will have the opportunity to set the agenda on this critical issue.

Vision Gap, Part II

Shadi HamidAug 24, 2006

Read Part I of "Vision Gap" here.

Vision Gap, Part I

Shadi HamidAug 23, 2006

“Don't doubt yourselves. We know who we are.” Senator Barak Obama said those words to an audience of progressives in a well-received speech at the Take Back America conference in June. If only it were true. When it comes to foreign policy, we do not know who we are, at least not yet.

Today, significant fault lines divide the left on a host of major foreign policy questions. If such disagreements were simply a matter of differing policy prescriptions, that would be one thing. But the divisions are of a more fundamental nature -- a product of competing meta-narratives liberals hold to understand America's role in a post-9/11 world.