American University of Beirut

How have power-sharing deals, elite compromises, and negotiated settlements shaped post-uprising politics in the Arab world?

Dr. Sharan Grewal, ahead of the release of his new book The Rise and Fall of Tunisian Democracy: Populism, Polarization, and the Perils of Power Sharing, and Dr. Ohannes Geukjian, historian and political science professor at the American University of Beirut, in parallel with the release of his new book, State Failure in Lebanon: Causes and Implications, will discuss how efforts to build stability and inclusion in the Middle East have often blurred responsibility, slowed meaningful reform, and deepened public frustration with political institutions.

The conversation will be moderated by Roupen Avsharian, Middle Eastern studies expert, and will also examine broader lessons on trust, representation, and the risks for political systems globally that prioritize elite agreement over citizen confidence.
 
Opening and closing remarks will be delivered by Dr. Tania Haddad, Associate Professor of Public Administration at the American University of Beirut. Drawing on her scholarship on governance and state–society relations, her remarks will frame discussions on power-sharing, elite compromise, and post-uprising politics in the Arab world.​

Register here​!