The Middle East Democracy Center (MEDC) is a U.S.-based nonprofit and nonpartisan advocacy organization that works with the people of the Middle East and North Africa to challenge authoritarian systems, free the unjustly detained, and advocate for U.S. policies that protect human rights and advance a bold vision for democracy.
MEDC envisions a Middle East and North Africa where democracy, human rights, and the freedoms of all people are upheld and protected.
MEDC advances its overall vision of a free and democratic Middle East and North Africa through three interconnected goals and associated hubs:
The work of these teams is publicly supported by the advocacy and communications teams and is led by a Managing Director and an Executive Director
MEDC was founded in 2024, a merger of the Project on Middle East Democracy (POMED) and the Freedom Initiative, two organizations with more than 25 years of combined efforts to support democracy and freedom in the Middle East and North Africa. The merger arose at an inflection point of rising authoritarianism and human rights violations across the MENA region, issuing a clarion call that the region must not be exempt from the global reckoning between democracy and autocracy. Widespread calls for dignity, justice, and freedom have been met with brutality, empty rhetoric, war, and resurgent authoritarianism that has left many displaced, disillusioned, and with little hope for their future. The founding of MEDC aims to turn the tide, making the case that freeing the unjustly detained and rebuilding constituencies for democratic norms are essential for the region’s peace and security, as well as vital strategic interests for the U.S. government.
Every political community has the right to govern itself democratically through free, fair, and open processes and institutions. as well as U.S. foreign policy toward these issues.
This diversity is a central reason why democracy is a universal value and can be adopted successfully by any society. Each country’s citizens, through deliberative processes, have the right to determine the specific nature of their democracy.
The United States was founded on principles of democratic governance and freedom of expression, yet its policy towards the Middle East has often sacrificed democracy at the altar of other interests. To be true to its founding principles, the United States must consistently and credibly support democracy abroad.
Continued support for the Middle East’s authoritarian status quo will jeopardize American national security and economic interests. While genuinely promoting democracy requires the courage to bear short-term risks, free and open political processes will ultimately reduce incentives to resort to violence.
The billions of dollars the United States provides to Middle Eastern governments each year in military aid and economic assistance reflects America’s substantial and enduring interests in the region and preclude any pretense of neutrality on democracy. The United States must carefully examine the consequences of its actions on political reform.
America has a credibility gap on democracy because it often tolerates authoritarian behavior by friendly regimes while calling for democracy and regime changes in unfriendly ones. By consistently supporting democracy, the United States will begin to overcome this legacy and repair its credibility gap.
In the short term, free and fair elections may result in some governments that are less favorable to U.S. interests. Regardless, American must respect democratic processes. The long-term benefits of improved credibility and democracy outweigh the short-term costs.
Engagement through peaceful means, such as dialogue and diplomacy, is the only legitimate and effective way to promote democracy in the region. The United States can and will help but, ultimately, stable and secure democracies in the Middle East can only be built from within.
Your support helps MEDC continue our expert analysis and research, nonpartisan advocacy efforts, and partnerships with grassroots organizations in the MENA region.
MEDC Copyright 2024