In Support of Arab Democracy: Why and How (Council on Foreign Relations (Council on Foreign Relations Press))

A Council-sponsored Task Force says that the United States should support the evolutionary development of democracy consistently throughout the Middle East. It points out that a strategy to promote democracy entails inherent risks, but that "the denial of freedom carries much more significant long-term dangers." The Task Force, comprised of leading regional, economic, diplomatic, and business experts, finds that democracy promotion is the best means to achieve stability in the Middle East and is further important in restoring America's credibility in the Arab world. It is also consistent with American ideals. The report states that democracy will not resolve the problem of terrorism entirely, but that "more open political environments will likely weaken the pull of extremist ideologies that fuel violence." The independent, bipartisan Task Force, cochaired by former Secretary of State Madeleine K. Albright and former Congressman Vin Weber (R-MN) and directed by Council Next Generation Fellow Steven A. Cook, cautions that "if the new policy is implemented in ways that are superficial, halfhearted, underfunded, and inconsistent, it will yield new allegations of hypocrisy and further damage relations between the United States and Arab populations."

Madeleine K. Albright is head of the Albright Group LLC and chair of the National Democratic Institute. She served as secretary of state under President Bill Clinton.

Vin Weber is managing partner of the Washington office of Clark & Weinstock and chairman of the National Endowment for Democracy. He served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1981–1993 representing Minnesota.