Evaluating Palestinian Reform


 

Publication Date: May 2005

Publisher: Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Author(s): Nathan Brown

Research Area: Politics

Type: Report

Coverage: Palestine

Abstract:

Criticism of the PA's growing authoritarianism gave birth to what Brown calls "paper Palestine," in which citizens have rights of free speech and assembly; the Arab world's most independent judiciary adjudicates disputes; leaders are selected in elections overseen by an independent electoral commission; and a representative assembly monitors the executive. Yet the institutions that would ensure democracy are either missing or lagging.

In Evaluating Palestinian Reform, Arab governance expert Nathan Brown measures reform efforts to date and proposes concrete steps in four priority areas: political parties, security services, judiciary and media.