EU – Middle East Forum (EUMEF) - Centre Jacques
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EU – Middle East Forum (EUMEF) - Centre Jacques
EU – Middle East Forum (EUMEF) Critical Voices, Not Welcome? Media, Politics, and Freedom of Expression in North Africa 19th New Faces Conference 14–17 November 2013, Rabat Conference Brochure 19th DGAP New Faces Conference “Critical Voices, Not Welcome? Media, Politics and Freedom of Expression in North Africa” 14–17 November 2013, Rabat In cooperation with German Council on Foreign Relations EU – Middle East Forum (EUMEF) Berlin 2013 Established in 1964, the Robert Bosch Stiftung GmbH is one of the major German foundations associated with a private company. It represents the philanthropic and social endeavors of Robert Bosch (1861-1942) and fulfills his legacy in a contemporary manner. The Robert Bosch Stiftung works predominantly in the fields of International Relations, Health, and Education. The EU-Middle East Forum, as well as its predecessors, the International Forum on Strategic Thinking (IFST) and the Forum European Foreign and Security Policy, have been carried out in close cooperation between DGAP and Robert Bosch Stiftung. The Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen, ifa) is an organization operating worldwide to promote intercultural exchange and dialogue between civil societies. With funds from the German Federal Foreign Office, ifa supports with its zivik Funding Programme projects of German, international, and/or local non-governmental organizations to support the transformation of the affected Arab countries from autocratic models to functioning democratic systems reigned by the rule of law and a constructive conflict culture. Founded in 1991, the Centre Jacques Berque (CJB) for the development of humanities and social sciences in Morocco is a mixed unit of French institute abroad (UMIFRE) which combines both an operational structure of the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) – i. e. USR3136, and a French research institute abroad (IFRE) structure. The latter is under the General Directorship of Ministry of Globalization, Foreign and European Affairs, represented in Morocco by the Department of cooperation and cultural action of the French Embassy. Its research activity comprises academic programs, events and publications relating to the social, economic and political dynamics of Morocco and the Maghreb. Its research team is composed of French, Moroccan and international researchers. Table of Contents GERMAN COUNCIL ON FOREIGN RELATIONS (DGAP) .......................... 5 EU-MIDDLE EAST FORUM (EUMEF) ........................................................... 6 CONCEPT NOTE ............................................................................................. 8 AGENDA ......................................................................................................... 11 4 German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) The German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) is Germany’s network for foreign policy. As an independent, non-partisan and nonprofit membership organization, think tank and publisher, DGAP has been promoting public debate on foreign policy in Germany for over 50 years. Among its over 2.500 active members are renowned representatives from politics, business, academia and the media – as well as more than 70 companies and foundations which support DGAP’s work. DGAP’s goals are to promote and contribute to foreign policy debates in Germany, to advise decision makers from politics, business and civil society, and to inform the public about foreign policy issues. DGAP comprises the think tank, the journal IP, the library and documentation center and the platform Young DGAP. DGAP’s think tank works at the junction between politics, academia and the economy. Its work is interdisciplinary and policy-oriented and covers different areas of German foreign policy in a globalized and rapidly changing world. The think tank’s activities include research and publications, high-profile conferences and meetings as well as programs for the advancement of Young Professionals. The journal Internationale Politik (IP) appears in German as a bimonthly print magazine and in English as an online magazine on German and European foreign policy. IP Journal offers German perspectives on important foreign affairs issues as well as indepth analyses on central questions of German and European foreign policy by renowned authors and experts in and outside of Germany. The DGAP Library and Documentation Center (BiDok) is one of the oldest and most significant specialized libraries in Germany that is open to the public. It holds substantial collections on German foreign and security policy. The Young DGAP is an initiative for members of DGAP under the age of 35. It aims at encouraging more young people to take an active interest in foreign and security policy through innovative events such as controversial debates and discussions with senior decision-makers. 5 EU-Middle East Forum (EUMEF) The EU-Middle East Forum (EUMEF) is one of the core programs for the advancement of young academics and professionals at DGAP. The Forum conceptualizes and organizes different conference formats in order to provide young experts from North Africa and the Middle East as well as Turkey and Europe with a platform for discussion, exchange and cooperation. EUMEF is carried out in cooperation with its long-standing partner the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the German Federal Foreign Office and the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa). The program’s predecessors, the International Forum on Strategic Thinking (IFST) and the Forum European Foreign and Security Policy, were also carried out in close cooperation with the Robert Bosch Stiftung. 1. Topics Since 2011, EUMEF has been focusing on the chances and challenges associated with the current transformation processes in North Africa and on German and EU policies in the framework of these developments. EUMEF addresses security questions as well as sociopolitical and socioeconomic issues, including subjects like democratization, human rights, education and migration. 2. Participants Participants of EUMEF’s different conference formats come from the North-African countries Egypt, Tunisia and Morocco, from Turkey, and from Germany, France, Italy, Greece, Spain and the United Kingdom. EUMEF targets students and young professionals from academia, politics, civil society, the media and the corporate sector. Participants are recommended by a network of experts available to the Forum. 3. Conference Formats EUMEF organizes three consecutive conference formats. This three-pronged approach enables EUMEF to bring together future leaders at different stages of their career and to establish a sustainable network. International Summer Schools (ISS) Every summer, the International Summer School invites 30 highly qualified students at the end of their studies or recent graduates (with 1–2 years of work experience) to Berlin for two weeks. The participants come from the fields of Political and Social Sciences, Economics, Law and Media and Communication Studies. Apart from lectures by internationally renowned experts, discussions, working groups and workshops on a variety of topics, inter-cultural dialogue and social activities are also part of the program. This allows students to get to know each other and to jointly reflect on different perspectives of current political issues. 6 New Faces Conferences (NFC) Each three-day New Faces Conference (NFC) brings together 20 young experts with two to four years of work experience. Participants are young professionals from academia, politics, civil society, media and the corporate sector. EUMEF organizes two NFCs per year (in spring and autumn), usually in cooperation with partner institutions in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia or Turkey. Each NFC focuses on a specific sub-topic of the Forum’s overall theme. The NFCs provide a forum to discuss current political issues with peers from a variety of backgrounds, as well as with senior experts from the respective fields. At the same time, the conferences enable participants to expand their network and to initiate joint projects. Alumni Conferences Biennially, EUMEF invites all former ISS and NFC participants to reconvene in Berlin for three days. The Alumni Conferences allow for a strengthening of the network and an exchange among the alumni. Subjects addressed during these conferences are derived from up-to-date political and security challenges and topics of former conferences and summer schools. Participants also get the chance to present their own initiatives and projects and to explore opportunities for cooperation with other alumni. The next Alumni Conference is planned for autumn 2014. 4. Objectives - Reflection and analysis of political and security challenges and the sensitization for effective solutions and policies on a national and EU level - Exchange of know-how and experiences - Promotion of intercultural dialogue to increase understanding and trust between young potential policy makers from Arab countries, the EU and Turkey - Promotion of a pluralistic, tolerant and respectful debating environment - Establishment of a network of high calibre future actors from North Africa, the EU and Turkey 5. Team Head of Program: Sarah Hartmann hartmann@dgap.org Program Officer: Henriette Heimbach heimbach@dgap.org Program Assistant: Anja Runge runge@dgap.org Program Assistant: Julia Schöpp eumef1@dgap.org 7 Concept Note I. General Outline During the past few years, the field of media and communication has seen rapid developments and change – not only in North Africa, but all over the world – with regard to new technologies, availability of access and forms of usage. A new kind of transnational public sphere has evolved, providing unprecedented freedom of expression and channels of information which are much harder to control and censor by illiberal regimes than the traditional media. The important role of new media and social networks as tools for the exchange of information, awareness-raising and mobilization during the Arab uprisings and revolutions of 2010 and 2011 has already been emphasized in academic and public debates. Traditional mass media, i.e. TV, radio and newspapers, have nevertheless remained the most important sources of information and entertainment for large parts of the populations. While many of these channels and publications are statecontrolled or affiliated to political parties, North Africa has also seen a surge in the number of private and independent media in recent years. Furthermore, the boundaries between traditional and new media are becoming increasingly blurred. The ongoing power struggles in North African countries are reflected in competing narratives and in fierce struggles over representations, terminologies and “truth”. In Egypt and Tunisia, many argue that the polarization of the political class and the population has been accompanied by a similar polarization of the media, and accusations of bias and unbalanced reporting abound on all sides. In Morocco, although the new constitution of 2011 grants greater freedom of expression and the media, the state still retains considerable control, and self-censorship of journalists remains widespread when it comes to sensitive topics. What has been the role of both conventional and new media, not only during the protests and revolutions of 2010-11, but also during the volatile transformation phase that the region is currently experiencing? What impact have political developments and power struggles had on the situation of the media and on freedom of expression in the respective countries? This three-day conference aims to explore current developments in North African media and communication, with a special focus on Morocco, Tunisia and Egypt. It will enable cross-country comparisons and exchange of experiences, also with other countries of the wider region such as Turkey, and bring together academics, practitioners and activists working in this dynamic field. 8 II. Topics Contributions may address, but are not restricted to, the following topics and questions: 1) New Media and Social Networks Facebook, Twitter and other social media have been in the focus of scholarly and public debates since the beginning of the uprisings in North Africa in 2010-11, and they are believed to have had a significant impact on these events. In authoritarian regimes, where freedom of expression and the media are restricted, new media are usually less vulnerable to censorship and state control and can serve to create an alternative public sphere. On the other hand, influential bloggers, too, face the risk of being persecuted and arrested. Furthermore, new media and social networks are no longer the domain of pro-democracy activists only. Governments, political parties and organizations across the political spectrum have recognized the significance of these tools and started using them for their purposes. Are new media freer than the traditional mass media? To what extent can they avoid censorship or break taboos? Has their role changed since the uprisings in 2010-11? Is a commercialization of new media taking place? Are the voices of bloggers and internet activists actually being heard and by whom? How democratic are the new media really and what are their limitations, e.g. regarding access and social class? 2) Al-Jazeera and Satellite TV The number of satellite TV channels broadcasting in Arabic has multiplied from less than 60 in 2000 to more than 500 today. Being available across the region, they have become very influential, and especially the two major news channels, Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya, have changed the way news are broadcasted and discussed in the Arab world. What has been the impact of Al-Jazeera and other Satellite TV channels on freedom of expression in the Arab countries? What is the role of smaller channels which target specific audiences (e.g. Islamic channels)? Do they challenge state-owned or dominated broadcasting? What are the political agendas and taboos that Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya themselves are bound by? What role have they played during the uprisings and what role are they playing in ongoing conflicts and power struggles? To what extent have they helped to facilitate the exchange of information between Arab countries and to establish a pan-Arab and transnational public sphere? 3) Censorship, Self-Censorship and Freedom of Expression Expectations were high that the media would be freer and more independent after the beginning of the so-called “Arab spring”. Nevertheless, human rights organizations have been warning that the new governments are continuing or reverting to the practices of the old regimes with regard to censorship and intimidation of journalists. 9 Even if freedom of the media has officially been granted, many challenges remain, as journalists and bloggers are not only threatened by state authorities but also by nonstate actors and charges of libel are often used to suppress critical voices. Have the expectations of more freedom of speech and information in Tunisia and Egypt been fulfilled after the fall of Ben Ali and Mubarak? To what extent have they been enshrined in the new (draft) constitutions? What has been the role of the state media of the old regimes during and after the uprisings? And how has the situation of Moroccan media and journalists developed during the past three years? Which (new) taboos and “red lines” exist today and are these being challenged? What are the most important dangers for the freedoms of expression and information today? 4) European Media and the Transformations in North Africa The democratic uprisings that started in 2010 and 2011 have challenged deep-seated stereotypes and assumptions about the populations of Arab countries in Western media and public opinion. Responses alternated between the enthusiastic “discovery” and embracement of a new generation of internet-savvy and democratically-minded North African youth on the one hand and fears of an Islamist takeover and the establishment of Islamist theocracies that would endanger not only the affected countries but also Europe, on the other hand. Since then, Western media have often been criticized for superficial or one-sided coverage of events in the transformation countries. How have the Arab uprisings and subsequent developments been portrayed in Western, and especially European, media and how has this image changed over the course of the past three years? What obstacles are there for balanced reporting? What strategies do the conflicting parties in North African countries use to promote their particular narratives and political agendas? 5) International Cooperation and the Role of External Actors Various European and Western organizations are active in North Africa with the aim of supporting the establishment of free and independent media, offering professional trainings for journalists and monitoring the state of freedom of the press. How do journalists, activists and policy-makers perceive the success of these projects and what are the main challenges? What opportunities and obstacles are there for increased exchange and cooperation between North African and European media outlets and journalists? We welcome contributions addressing these and other issues related to the media, the public sphere and freedom of expression in North Africa. 10 Agenda Friday, 15 November 09.30 – 10.30 Opening of the Conference Sarah Hartmann, Head of EUMEF, DGAP Baudouin Dupret, Director, Centre Jacques Berque 10.30 – 12.00 Plenary Session: “Media and Freedom of Expression in Morocco” Souleïman Bencheikh, Journalist (TelQuel and L’Express) Jamal Eddine Naji, General Director of the High Authority of Audiovisual Communication (HACA) (tbc) 12.00 – 12.30 Coffee Break 12.30 – 14.00 Working Group Session Group I: Facilitator: Hind Arroub, Political Scientist, Director of I.H.A.R.E (Hypatia of Alexandria Institute for Reflexion and Studies) Input Presentations: The New Media and Freedom of Expression in Morocco Social and political changes taking place through the new media in the Moroccan context 11 Friday, 15 November (continued) Group II: Facilitator: Enrique Klaus, Postdoctoral Researcher, Institut de Recherche sur le Maghreb Contemporain (IRMC), Tunis Input Presentations: Mediating the Moroccan ‘Exception’: Freedom of Expression in New Media The bitter sweetness of youth podcasts in Morocco 14.00 – 15.00 Lunch 15.00 – 16.30 Working Group Session Group I - Input Presentations: The legal framework applicable to the Tunisian media: Time for reform Post-revolution press code: (self) censorship in Tunisia Group II - Input Presentations: From the “wait-and-see” attitude towards “democratic maturity” in Tunisia – Pre-, In- and Post-Revolution Role of the Channel Al Jazeera On the “Al Jazeera effect”, audience representation and the “Super Mario” generation 16.30 – 17.00 Coffee Break 17.00 – 18.30 Plenary Session: “Political and Economic Challenges for Media in Tunisia, Libya and Egypt Today” Fatima El Issawi, Research Fellow, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics 12 Saturday, 16 November 09.30 – 11.00 Plenary Session: “Investigative Journalists’ Education” Journalism and Maâti Monjib, Political Analyst, Human Rights Activist and Historian, University of Mohammed V-Rabat, Director of the Ibn Rochd Center for Studies and Communication in Rabat 11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break 11.30 – 13.00 Working Group Session Group I - Input Presentations: Media War, War on Media and War in Media: Egypt’s lost truth in light of an overview of the media scene 2012-2013 Group II - Input Presentations: The changing role of Twitter and Facebook in Egypt Mapping online interactions among social network activists 13.00 – 14.00 Lunch 14.00 – 15.30 Working Group Session Group I - Input Presentations: Obstacles to reporting on the ground in Egypt Italian Media and the Arab Uprisings: Preventing the North African Wave from Reaching the Northern Shores Group II - Input Presentations: Attention is Power: Morsi Meter to Dustur al-Shaab Comics and Sarcasm on Social Media in Egypt 15.30 – 16.00 Coffee Break 13 Saturday, 16 November (continued) 16.00 – 17.30 Plenary Session: “Graffiti and Art in Public Space as a Medium of Communication” Soraya Morayef, Founder of the Blog “Suzee in the City”, Cairo 14 Sunday, 17 November 09.30 – 11.00 Working Group Session Group I - Input Presentations: From Arab Spring to Arab Fall: Explanatory attempt of the converted German media coverage of North Africa and the Middle East Global Representations of Revolts in Egypt and Tunisia Group II - Input Presentations: The accessibility of local and social media for outsiders: Borders of understanding the North African public A revolution in the revolutions: The new methods to assess the new media landscape from abroad 11.00 – 11.30 Coffee Break 11.30 – 12.15 Working Group Session Group I - Input Presentation: Building recognized, accessible and sustainable channels for the “ignored” in Turkey: The case of the Independent Communication Network (BIA) Group II - Input Presentation: Media censorship, the depoliticization of the public sphere, and resisting citizens: The cases of citizen dissidence in Egypt and Turkey 13.00 – 14.00 Lunch 14.00 – 15.00 Working Groups – Summing Up 15.00 – 16.30 Plenary Session – Presentation of Working Group Summaries and Evaluation 15 Herausgeber: Forschungsinstitut der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Auswärtige Politik e. 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