Active Arab Voices
"Active Arab Voices" (AAV) is The Asfari Institute's window into our knowledge production and civil society engagement. AAV blog is a platform for making the activities of the Asfari Institute more accessible to a broader public of concerned citizens and activists in the Arab region and beyond. It provides grounded analysis, working papers, as well information about events at the Asfari Institute, such as public lectures, panel discussions, book launches, and research workshops. In addition, AAV aims to encourage a discussion, a thoughts exchange space.
The Asfari Institute
for Civil Society and Citizenship
for Civil Society and Citizenship
In November 2012, the Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship at AUB was established and funded by a $10 million grant from the Asfari Foundation, which was founded by Trustee Ayman Asfari.
The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship is a regional hub of a dynamic community of academics, practitioners, policymakers, activists, and members of the general public interested in exploring traditional and innovative forms of collective actions, locally-grounded policy debates and in advancing realistic solutions to the obstacles to effective civil society and citizenship in the Arab world.
In doing so, the Institute provides training workshops and programs beside regular teaching at AUB, encourages and provides evidence-based research in areas related to political participation, accountability and good governance, produces policy/practice recommendations to improve citizens’ engagement and civil society roles in mediation, deliberation and self-organization. It also promotes public awareness of civil society and civic engagement best practices in the region through its monthly meetings and seminars and stimulates fruitful dialogue among the region’s varied publics through its programmatic activities of workshops, conferences, blog and publications.
The Asfari Institute is a research center based at AUB since 2012 and is a solid partner in consolidating AUB commitment to serve, educate and engage the Lebanese society. Both the Foundation and AUB recognize that the Arab world is undergoing significant change, and they intend that the work of the Asfari Institute will make a unique and valuable contribution to progress in the region during this era of historic transition and beyond.
The Institute has been conceived as a framework that will advance research and other initiatives to support the development of an informed citizenry engaged at all levels of Arab associational life and promote openness, transparency, and accountability in the region. The Institute is mobilized to develop a new minor program on civil society and collective action with relevant AUB faculties. Among its new activities is the consolidation of three new lines of work: Civil Society Law and Governance, Culture as Resistance, and Civil Society in Conflict and Post Conflict Setting.
The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship is a regional hub of a dynamic community of academics, practitioners, policymakers, activists, and members of the general public interested in exploring traditional and innovative forms of collective actions, locally-grounded policy debates and in advancing realistic solutions to the obstacles to effective civil society and citizenship in the Arab world.
In doing so, the Institute provides training workshops and programs beside regular teaching at AUB, encourages and provides evidence-based research in areas related to political participation, accountability and good governance, produces policy/practice recommendations to improve citizens’ engagement and civil society roles in mediation, deliberation and self-organization. It also promotes public awareness of civil society and civic engagement best practices in the region through its monthly meetings and seminars and stimulates fruitful dialogue among the region’s varied publics through its programmatic activities of workshops, conferences, blog and publications.
The Asfari Institute is a research center based at AUB since 2012 and is a solid partner in consolidating AUB commitment to serve, educate and engage the Lebanese society. Both the Foundation and AUB recognize that the Arab world is undergoing significant change, and they intend that the work of the Asfari Institute will make a unique and valuable contribution to progress in the region during this era of historic transition and beyond.
The Institute has been conceived as a framework that will advance research and other initiatives to support the development of an informed citizenry engaged at all levels of Arab associational life and promote openness, transparency, and accountability in the region. The Institute is mobilized to develop a new minor program on civil society and collective action with relevant AUB faculties. Among its new activities is the consolidation of three new lines of work: Civil Society Law and Governance, Culture as Resistance, and Civil Society in Conflict and Post Conflict Setting.
VisionThrough its research, education and activities, the Institute will support the development of an informed and engaged citizenry and of increased openness, transparency, and accountability at all levels of Arab associational life. |
MissionThe Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship will serve as the regional hub of a dynamic community of academics, researchers, practitioners, policymakers, activists, and members of the general public interested in exploring traditional and innovative forms of associational life and in advancing realistic solutions to the obstacles to effective civil society and citizenship in the Arab world. The Institute will encourage evidence-based research; disseminate research findings and policy/practice recommendations; provide education and training for active citizenship and effective civil society; promote awareness of civil society and civic engagement in the region; and stimulate fruitful dialogue among the region’s varied publics. In the conduct of its mission, the Institute will:
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International Advisory Committee
The Advisory Group is chaired by the AUB Provost, and is composed of the Institute’s director, external experts and two representatives of the Asfari Foundation. The Advisory Group’s mandate includes providing advice and feedback on the Institute’s mission and short- and long-term programming. Its membership is currently in formation and the following four are confirmed.
International Advisory Committee Members
International Advisory Committee Members
- Muhamad Harajli - Provost, AUB
- Marieke Bosman - Chief Executive Officer, The Asfari Foundation
- Tamara Alrifai - United Nations
- Sami Ben Gharbia - Nawaat
- Nadia El Cheikh - American University of Beirut
- Hoda ElSadda - Cairo University
- Bassam Haddad - George Mason University
- Islah Jad - Birzeit University
- Baroness Helena Kennedy, QC - House of Lords
- Asma Khadr - Jordanian National Commission for Women
- Tarek Mitri - Issam Fares Institute, AUB
- Mouin Rabbani - Institute for Palestine Studies
- Maha Yahya - Carnegie Middle East Center
