RAND Experts Available to Discuss Unrest in North Africa

The "Jasmine Revolution" started on Jan. 14 in Tunisia may reverberate across other Arab countries in North Africa. RAND experts Audra K. Grant, David Aaron, and Robert Hunter are available to discuss the events in the region.

Among the points they can address:

• Does the fall of the Tunisian government, which came against a backdrop of ongoing domestic protests, send a signal to other Arab regimes throughout the region for the need of substantive change and reforms?
• Some 30 percent of youth and adults (ages 20 to 24) face joblessness in Tunisia, including the poor and university educated. What role has this played in the government's overthrow?
• Could similar revolts lead to government changes in Egypt, Algeria, and Jordan?
• What role has "social media" played in these events?
• Tunisia has been an important ally for the United States. What can—and should—the Obama Administration do? Should France play a greater role?

Audra K. Grant is a RAND political scientist focusing on issues related to democracy and governance in North Africa and the Middle East. She is the author of "More Freedom, Less Terror? Liberalization and Political Violence in the Arab World"

Amb. David Aaron is a RAND senior fellow and former director of the RAND Center for Middle East Public Policy. He is a former deputy national security advisor and former Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development under President Clinton.

Amb. Robert Hunter is a RAND senior advisor who served as director of West European Affairs and later director of Middle East Affairs on the National Security Council during the Carter administration, and as NATO ambassador under the Clinton administration.