UT Dallas’ School of Economic, Political and Policy Sciences has scheduled a public forum to discuss the unprecedented wave of political protests breaking out in nations throughout the Middle East and North Africa.

Dr. Robert Lowry

Dr. Robert Lowry

Dr. Robert Lowry, program head for political science, organized the forum, which will take place Tuesday from 2 to 3:30 p.m. in the UT Dallas Conference Center.

Students, faculty and staff members are invited to attend. The event is also open to members of the community who have an interest in the historic changes taking place this year in several nations in Asia and Africa.

The forum will begin with a series of speakers, who will each offer a brief presentation and provide insight into various topics related to the recent events.

  • Dr. Kacem Ayachi, a 2009 UT Dallas political science PhD alumnus, will speak about the new era of mass politics in the Middle East. Ayachi is a native of Tunisia, one of the first nations affected by the political turmoil.
  • Dr. David Parry, assistant professor of emerging media and communications in the School of Arts and Humanities, will talk about the role of social media in the protests.
  • Lowry will discuss large-scale institutional change and research about conditions required for stable democracies.
Dr. David Parry

Dr. David Parry

Audience members will be invited to ask questions or offer comments. Organizers encourage participants to keep their comments brief and on-topic. They also request that attendees and participants behave respectfully toward individuals who may express differing opinions.

The forum is free, and registration is not required. For more information, email Dr. Lowry at UT Dallas.