Spring Break
The Daily OrangeComing to America
Academics from Arabic nations spend six weeks at SU to learn about ways of democracy in a unique fellowship experience
By Kelina Imamura
Posted: 4/3/08, 10:28 PM EST Section: News
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But one aspect of American life she was not accustomed to was the liberal context she and her colleagues would be studying, working and living in.
"I'm not used to sitting in a classroom in university and saying whatever comes to my mind about the president, the king, the policy, religion," Khriesat said. "We're not used to that."
Currently, the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs is hosting 20 participants in the Leaders for Democracy Fellowship program from 12 different countries in the Middle East and northern Africa. The fellows - part of a program funded through the U.S. Department of State's Middle East Partnership Initiative - are spending a 12-week period in the United States learning about the foundations of democracy.
"Democracy is a matter of much concern in the Middle East, and reform is becoming more and more a pressing issue," Khriesat said. "I have a personal interest in learning further about democracy given my academic background as a political theory specialist. I also had an interest in examining the way political institutions function in a democratic society, which related to my career as a diplomat."
The group members, who range in age from 23 to 39 years old, arrived at the end of Spring Break for a six-week stay in Syracuse. After leaving SU, the group will head to Washington, D.C., for a six-week internship program. Once in D.C., the fellows are placed at professional organizations, non-governmental organizations, think tanks and other democracy-focused organizations, said Steve Lux, project manager of the fellowship program.
SU is the only university in the country taking part in this specific type of program with a professional component, Lux said.
"It's a combination of an academic component and a professional affiliation component," Lux said.
While at SU, the diverse group of fellows has a packed schedule - attending various lectures, forums and conversations. Some spoke at a symposium looking at the African caucus, and many are spending time at the library furthering their knowledge about democratic issues.
But it hasn't been all work and no play.
The group went to an SU basketball game, which was a brand-new experience for fellow Ahmed Hezam Al-Yemeni. In his home country of Yemen, large sporting events aren't the norm.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 1
James Howison
posted 4/04/08 @ 12:13 PM EST
What people would hope is that we could just sprinkle some democracy dust on them, and then suddenly, they'll all be replicating what we do in the United States in their countries
You mean imprisoning suspects without trial in offshore prisons for years?
Or maybe "democracy dust" means carpet bombs? It's so hard to tell these days. (Continued…)
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