Marina Ottaway specializes in democracy and post-conflict reconstruction issues, with special focus on problems of political transformation in the Middle East and reconstruction in Iraq, Afghanistan, the Balkans, and African countries.  She is a senior associate in the Democracy and Rule of Law Project, a research endeavor that analyzes the state of democracy around the world and the efforts by the United States and other countries to promote democracy.

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, Beyond the Façade: Political Reform in the Arab World (edited with Julia Choucair-Vizoso), was published in January 2008.  

Selected Publications: 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)