Business and democracy: bringing the Middle East out of crisis

Aspen Italia’s annual Transatlantic Dialogue focused this year on persistent widespread instability in the Middle East. Various ideas for pragmatic solutions were proposed, though no strikingly positive developments were foreseen any time soon. The first day of debate focused on interdependency between free trade and democratization in a strategic framework, and in particular on gradually opening markets and reforming governments. Participants discussed the specific, concrete problem of extremist parties winning elections in the region, as well as the situation in Iraq, with all the conflict’s repercussions on the region’s political, social and military make up. Saudi Arabia’s future was considered in particular, along with that of other Gulf states and the changing balance of power throughout the region. Naturally, energy market trends played a crucial role in any analysis of the situation. On the next day, two sessions focused on Israel and on Iran. Various facets of the stalled Israeli-Palestinian negotiations were considered: the government’s approach and public opinion in Israel; the evolution of Hamas strategy; the situation in Lebanon; the role of Syria and Iran; Europe’s increasing sense of responsibility, and America’s attitude towards the region. Participants recognized Iran’s increasingly important role in the Middle East – both for better and for worse. In this regard, discussion touched on the world’s difficulties in dealing with Iranian nuclear ambitions, on the effectiveness of eventual sanctions, and on the country’s internal ongoing evolution.