With the fall of governments in Egypt and Tunisia and unrest in Libya, Yemen, Bahrain, and Oman, policymakers are considering the future political landscape in these and other Middle Eastern countries. Recent press reports indicate that the Obama administration is preparing for the prospect of Islamist governments.
Is it possible to work with Islamist groups to further democracy in the Middle East? To what extent should the United States accept the rise of Islamist political forces? What will be the interplay between Islam and democratic ideals? Would Islamist-led governments accept women and non-Muslims as equal under the law? Would they allow freedom of religion and expression?
