Marina Ottaway works on issues of political transformation in the Middle East and of Gulf security. A long-time analyst of the formation and transformation of political systems, she has also written on political reconstruction in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans, and African countries.
Before joining the Endowment, Ottaway carried out research in Africa and in the Middle East for many years and taught at the University of Addis Ababa, the University of Zambia, the American University in Cairo, and the University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa.
Her extensive research experience is reflected in her publications, which include nine authored books and five edited ones. Her most recent book, Getting to Pluralism, co-authored with Amr Hamzawy, was published in 2009.
Selected Publications: Getting to Pluralism: Political Actors in the Arab World, co-authored with Amr Hamzawy (Carnegie, 2009); Beyond the Façade: Political Reform in the Arab World, edited with Julia Choucair-Vizoso (Carnegie, 2008); Uncharted Journey: Promoting Democracy in the Middle East, edited with Thomas Carothers (Carnegie, 2005); Democracy Challenged: The Rise of Semi-Authoritarianism (Carnegie, 2003); Funding Virtue: Civil Society Aid and Democracy Promotion, edited with Thomas Carothers (Carnegie, 2000); Africa’s New Leaders: Democracy or State Reconstruction? (Carnegie, 1999)
Areas of Expertise
Ottaway is an expert in civil society, democracy, political reform, non-governmental actors, foreign and humanitarian aid, human rights, Islamist movements, the Middle East, Iraq, and Africa.
Education
Ph.D., Columbia University; University of Pavia, Italy