Tune in at Noon today to U-M program on Mideast w/ Juan Cole; next week on the MidEast: US Interests and Policies

  U-M: Round table at noon today to address unrest in Middle East: 

ANN ARBOR, Mich.—The University of Michigan International Institute will hold a round- table discussion at noon Monday, Feb. 7, to analyze the underlying tensions in the Middle East that have led to widespread unrest and political instability.

Entitled "Struggle Against Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East," the round table will feature leading U-M scholars in a candid, informal discussion about how protests in Egypt, Tunisia and other countries have led to a shakeup of the existing governments.

Participants include:

• Joshua Cole, associate professor of history

• Juan Cole, the Richard P. Mitchell Collegiate Professor of History

• Nadine Naber, assistant professor, Program in American Culture and Department of Women's Studies

• Philip Potter, assistant professor of public policy and political science

• Mark Tessler, vice provost for international affairs, the Samuel J. Eldersveld Collegiate Professor of Political Science

• Susan Waltz, professor of public policy

The round table is co-sponsored by the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies and the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies. It will take place in the School of Social Work's Educational Conference Center (room 1840) located at 1080 South University Ave., Ann Arbor. It is free and open to the public and will also be available via live streaming. For more information, visit www.ii.umich.edu/events/roundtable.

Global Policy Perspectives SymposiumThe Middle East: U.S. Interests and Policies

Thursday, February 16, 2011. 4:00 - 5:30 p.m.
Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy
Annenberg Auditorium, 1120 Weill Hall
735 S. State Street, Ann Arbor
This panel discussion focuses on how politics, conflict and oil affect U.S. interests and policies in the greater Middle East region. Current developments in Iraq, Iran and in the Israel-Palestinian peace process will be examined by present and former policy-level officials who have studied and dealt with these issues in both the U.S. Government and in academia.
Panelists:
Colin Kahl, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East, U.S. Department of Defense
Molly Williamson, Scholar, the Middle East Institute
Discussant:
Melvyn Levitsky, Professor of International Policy and Practice, University of Michigan
Moderator:
Stephanie Swierczek, MPP/MENAS MA Candidate, University of Michigan
Co-sponsored with the International Policy Students Association, the University of Michigan Debate Team , and the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies .