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On March 22 and 23, Columbia University will host the first major delegation of scholars and policy analysts from Libya in 25 years at an academic conference exploring the prospects for democracy.
Prompted by the thaw in U.S.-Libyan relations under the administration of George W. Bush, the two-day program is designed to reintroduce Libya's academic community to the United States. Among the highlights of the program is a planned teleconference Thursday afternoon with Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi, who will discuss his views with conference participants in New York on the prospects for democracy in the 21 st century.
The conference will feature more than 50 university professors, researchers and analysts, including a number of younger social scientists from Libya who have never before had an opportunity to engage with their American counterparts. Participating faculty include Professor of Contemporary Philosophy Ragab M. Budabbus, chairman and director general of the Academy of Jamahiri Thought; Associate Professor of Political Science Eva Bellin, Hunter College, and Associate Professor of International Relations Youssef M. Giuma Sawani, al-Fatah University.
Conferees also will include policy makers and representatives from NGOs, including Human Rights Watch. Among those to attend are David Welch, assistant secretary for Near Eastern Affairs; Mohamad T. H. Siala, Libya's Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, and Ambassador Richard W. Murphy, former assistant secretary for the Near East and South Asia.
The conference is co-sponsored by Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, DC, Tripoli's Green Book Center and al-Fatah University.
Conference organizers hope the exchange will strengthen research and university-level instruction in Libya.
"We have allotted a substantial amount of time during the two-day conference for informal discussion among American and Libyan colleagues about trends in higher education and about designing programs and opportunities for further collaboration in research and training," said Lisa Anderson, dean of SIPA and a co-sponsor of the conference.
Tentative Conference Agenda
Wednesday, March 22:
9 a.m. Opening Remarks and Light Breakfast
10 a.m. -- noon The History and Theory of Democracy
2 p.m. -- 4 p.m. Democracy and the Market
4 p.m. -- 6 p.m. Democracy and Human Rights
Thursday, March 23:
9 a.m. Opening Remarks and Light Breakfast
9:30 a.m.-- noon. Democracy and the World Order
1 p.m. -- 4 p.m. Concluding panel discussion which will include Libyan leader Mu'ammar al-Qaddafi via teleconference
The conference will be held in Low Library. Registration is required and can be completed by contacting klm2126@columbia.edu.
For updated information on the conference, including the final program of panelists, check the SIPA Web site: http://www.sipa.columbia.edu/. Also please visit:
http://prospectsfordemocracy.net/en/index.php.
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