North Africa, a region that has been recently thrust back into the spotlight, is facing profound political, economic, social, and security challenges. The recent toppling of the presidents of Tunisia and Egypt, the ongoing violence in Libya, and the spreading protests throughout the Middle East, pose a direct threat to regime stability, calling into question the legitimacy of some while strengthening the legitimacy of others. Struggling with rising poverty, health care deficiencies, and unemployment, North Africa is in great need of human resource development and a stronger private sector. Finally, the rise of political Islam and more importantly the proliferation of al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) feature among the primary concerns of the region and bear serious implications for Africa, the greater Middle East, and beyond. This conference will bring together recognized academic and analytical expertise in order to examine these challenges and their implications for U.S. foreign policy. November 30, 2011
http://www.fpri.org/multimedia/20111130.symposium.nafrica.html