Asia Society (India Centre) and Centre for Policy Research, New Delhipresent From Cairo to Casablanca: Perspectives on the Jasmine Protests with Amin Tarzi Director, Middle East Studies, Marine Corps University, Quantico, Virginia, USA Ambassador KC Singh Former Indian Ambassador to UAE and Iran Former Secretary, Economic Relations, Ministry of External Affairs Brigadier Rumel Dahiya Advisor, Net Assessment and Defense Studies, Institute of Defence Studies and Analysis Former Defence Attaché to Turkey, Syria, and Lebanon moderated by Bharat Karnad, Professor, Centre for Policy Research Former Member, National Security Advisory Board, National Security Council RSVP: asiasociety@asiasociety.org.in Protests against authoritarian rule and poor governance in the Middle East and North Africa have claimed many lives and have re-shaped global dynamics over the past five months. The consequences of this have been felt across the world, from NATO’s involvement to unrest in other countries like China. In the midst of the protests, what can we discern about socio-political developments in the region? How has this affected other countries, relations between them, and other wide-ranging issues? And how can we best hope to resolve these disputes for the best possible future for all parties? Amin Tarzi is the Director of Middle East Studies at the Marine Corps University in Quantico, Virginia. He represents the Marine Corps at various academic and professional forums, and providing expert advice for all Professional Military Education programs. Previously, he worked as a Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty regional analyst, providing political analysis of the situation in the Greater Middle East. He also taught courses in political Islam, cultural intelligence, terrorist organizations, and similar topics at the Washington-based Center for Advanced Defense Studies. He has worked as the Senior Research Associate for the Middle East at the Center for Nonproliferation Studies, Monterey Institute of International Studies, focusing his research Iran and its missile and nuclear developments. He was also Political Advisor to the Saudi Arabian Mission at the United Nations and the Researcher/Analyst on Iranian affairs at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi. Tarzi also participated in a series of informal Track II meetings with civilian and military personalities from Iran, Israel, and several Arab states. Ambassador KC Singh joined the Indian diplomatic service in 1974. He retired from the service in May 2008, having risen to the post of Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs. Besides serving in different capacities in Indian Posts/Missions in Cairo, New York, and Ankara, he served as Deputy Secretary to the President of India (1983-87). He held several senior positions at headquarters including that of Joint Secretary for Administration, Head of the Consular, Passport and Visa Division, and as Spokesman of the Ministry. He was Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (1999-2003) and then to Iran (2003-05). Returning to headquarters he became Additional Secretary (International Organizations) as well as the Coordinator for Counter-terrorism. He finally held the post of Secretary, Economic Relations. Brigadier Rumel Dahiya, SM retired as Director of Net Assessment at the Integrated Defence Staff of the Indian Armed Forces in 2009 and joined IDSA in February 2010 as Advisor Net Assessment and Defence Studies. He previously served as a Defence Attaché to Turkey, Syria and Lebanon, and with the Indian Military Training Team in Bhutan. He also served with Military Operations Directorate of the Indian Army. He has had extensive command and staff experience during his 32 years military career, including in counter-insurgency situations. He is a graduate of the National Defence College and Defence Services Staff College. He was awarded the Sword of Honour and Gold Medal from Indian Military Academy at his commissioning. Bharat Karnad was Member of the (First) National Security Board, National Security Council, Government of India, and Member of the Nuclear Doctrine-drafting Group and, formerly, Adviser, Defence Expenditure, (Tenth) Finance Commission, India. He is the author of several books, among them, ‘India’s Nuclear Policy’ (2008) and ‘Nuclear Weapons and Indian Security: The Realist Foundations of Strategy’ now in its Second Edition (2005, 2002), he has been Visiting Scholar at Princeton University, University of Pennsylvania and the University of Illinois, and at several international thinktanks, including the Henry L. Stimson Center, Washington, DC, and the Shanghai Institutes of International Studies. He lectures regularly at top military training institutions and conducts an annual Strategic Nuclear Orientation Course for senior military officers for HQ Integrated Defence Staff, Ministry of Defence. To learn more about upcoming programs, please visit www.asiasociety.org/centers/india
