Aspen Institute Publications
Aspen Institute publications are listed below. Many are available for purchase through Google Checkout, a secure system for handling credit card transaction online. For assistance with ordering publications, please contact our Publications office by email or by phone at (410) 820.5433. Please note: Orders are shipped two times a week from our warehouse in Queenstown, MD, on the Eastern Shore.
Developing an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in the Palestinian Territories
Key Opportunities for Partnership:
Partners for a New Beginning (PNB), in cooperation with the Telos Group and the local chapter of PNB-Palestinian Territories, led an Entrepreneurship Delegation to the West Bank from October 3 – 7, 2012. Nearly a dozen US entrepreneurs, angel investors and those passionate about mentoring entrepreneurs traveled from across the globe for a week dedicated to understanding the challenges and opportunities facing Palestinian entrepreneurs, as well as providing mentorship and training for many of them.
The group met with representatives from several Palestinian universities, as well as successful business leaders and local investment firms to gain a holistic view of local efforts to support entrepreneurs through entrepreneurial curriculum, training, and access to capital. Perhaps most importantly, it gave both sides the opportunity to share best-practices, forge new relationships, and invest in valuable partnerships.
Building Higher Education Partnerships in the Maghreb
From June 2nd to 9th, 2012 the Partners for a New Beginning’s North Africa Partnership for Economic Opportunity Secretariat at the Aspen Institute (PNB-NAPEO) led a Higher Education delegation to the Maghreb composed of representatives from six American universities, two education NGOs, and the US Department of State. Coordinated locally by the US Embassy in Algeria, PNB-NAPEO Algeria, AMIDEAST Morocco, Injaz Al-Mahgrib and PNB-NAPEO Tunisia, the delegation met with local universities, NGOs, and business leaders in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia to discuss the delegation met with local universities, NGOs and business leaders in Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia to discuss the assets and challenges within each country’s education system as well as priorities for reform. The primary objective of this delegation was to seed partnerships between the participating American institutions and local universities.
The delegation included representatives from Wayne State University, the University of Texas at Austin, MIT’s Sloan School of Management, Council on Foreign Relations, American University, AMIDEAST, Babson College, the Aspen Institute’s College Excellence program, Nova Southeastern University, Soliya, and the US Department of State.
Confessionalism and Electoral Reform in Lebanon
This paper presents three possible scenarios for the forthcoming 2013 legislative elections - the "status quo", the Boutros Commission Draft, and the Charbel Proportional Proposal - and argues for an effective and democratic electoral system that addresses the inequalities and traps for corruption present in Lebanon today. Taking into account Lebanon's tenuous multi-confessional identity, standardization of voting practices, electoral zoning and expatriate voter inclusion, Ekmekji presents a thorough and recommendation-based analysis of the options available and the best road forward to reform in Lebanon.
Partners for a New Beginning 2011 Status Report
Full report is available for download here.
In September of 2010, Partners for a New Beginning (PNB) was formally launched at the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) annual meeting in New York, NY. As we come together one year later, we would like to assess our progress as well as chart our course forward to ensure that we continue to deliver meaningful results on the ground.
In the year since our launch, Partners for a New Beginning has achieved impressive outcomes. Thanks to the leadership of our esteemed Steering Committee, our partnership with the U.S. Department of State, the tireless support of the PNB Secretariat, and most importantly, our partners abroad, PNB has formed local chapters in Algeria, Egypt, Indonesia, Morocco, Pakistan, the Palestinian Territories, Tunisia, and Turkey, and has firm plans to launch chapters in Jordan and Mauritania by the end of 2011.
During the past year, Partners for a New Beginning has supported over 70 projects. These collaborations are forging new partnerships, empowering local leaders to address key priorities, and connecting visionary individuals and corporations with local counterparts. All of these efforts support PNB’s mission to promote economic opportunity, education, exchange, and science and technology.
As we witness events in the Middle East and North Africa, there is a sense of urgency to our work and an increased focus on bringing together the public and private sectors to create impactful results on the ground. The events of the past year have presented a critical opportunity to transform our relationships abroad, based on mutual interest and shared respect. During the next 12 months, it is essential that we solidify these relationships, increase the impact of our partnerships and continue to support and empower our locally driven projects. Having sowed the seeds for successful partnerships, this alliance now has the opportunity to cultivate these relationships and effect truly long-term change. For PNB, 2011-2012 will be a time of consolidation and continued sustainable results.
PNB has emerged as a viable model for partnership and diplomacy. For many, including ourselves, the possibility of a New Beginning no longer seems out of reach. The golden triangle of civil society, government and the private sector has proven an effective model. As we reflect on the past year and look to the year ahead, it is clear that there is much more to be done. Partners for a New Beginning is well-positioned to advance this work. We are incredibly proud to co-chair this initiative and confident that this Steering Committee will continue to drive a successful effort in the year to come.
Our sincere admiration,
Madeleine Albright, PNB Chair
Muhtar Kent, PNB Vice Chair
Walter Isaacson, PNB Vice Chair
Full report is available for download here.
Hezbollah and the Shiite Community: From Political Confessionalization to Confessional Specialization
This paper analyzes the evolution of the Shiite political elites within the Lebanese confessional and consociational political system. It also explores the circumstances that gave rise to Hezbollah and established it as the most popular and powerful force in the Shiite community. The paper explains recent political developments in Lebanon, particularly the mounting Sunni-Shiite tensions, and offers recommendations to address the ongoing Lebanese political crisis.
Lebanon: The Swing State of a New Levant
A report on the policy discussions at a conference on U.S.-Lebanon relations on December 12, 2008, and possible ways forward.
The Lebanese Link: Building a Comprehensive Regional Peace
Lebanon is an oft forgotten but essential element in building a lasting peace in the Levant. The Israeli-Syrian conflict, the growing influence and threat of Iran, and the regional Sunni-Shia rivalry all intersect in this small country on Israel’s northern border. This roundtable focused on the obstacles and opportunities that Lebanon represents with regard to the various tracks in the peace process, and the issues that must be addressed in order to build towards an eventual Lebanon peace track as well. Download the summary of the roundtable discussion.
