Tamara Cofman Wittes

A rich resource with insightful information and guidance for PhD holders considering a career in international affairs Whether out of choice or necessity, many people with doctorates pursue careers outside the academic world. Foreign Policy Careers for PhDs provides a wealth of information, advice, and encouragement to PhD holders who are considering a career in foreign policy. James Goldgeier and Tamara Cofman Wittes draw on their own experiences and present inspiring interviews with over two dozen practitioners who successfully made the transition to policy work. Foreign Policy Careers for PhDs reveals the wide array of public, nonprofit, and private-sector organizations that hire PhD holders. This book serves as a compass for job seekers as they navigate the policy community, think about the opportunities that would be right for them, and present themselves as attractive candidates. The book concludes with appendixes that list employers, fellowships, networking groups, and more. Foreign Policy Careers for PhDs is essential reading for people who are exploring career possibilities and a unique resource for academic advisers and career counselors.

President Bush promised to democratize the Middle East, but the results so far have dispirited democracy advocates and brought their project into disrepute. After the debacle in Iraq and the electoral success of Hamas, the pursuit of Arab democracy seems to many observers a fool's errand, an unfortunate combination of ideology and wishful thinking. In Freedom's Unsteady March, Tamara Cofman Wittes dissects the Bush administration's failure to advance freedom in the Middle East and lays out a better strategy for future efforts to promote democracy. Wittes argues that only the development of a more liberal and democratic politics in the Arab world will secure America's long-term goals in the region and that America must continue trying to foster progress in that direction. To do so, however, it must confront more honestly the risks of change and act more effectively to contain them. A dangerous combination of growing populations, economic stagnation, and political alienation poses the primary threat to Middle East stability today, severely testing the legitimacy and governability of key states such as Egypt and Saudi Arabia. If Arab governments cannot sustain the support of their citizens, they will find it difficult to work with America on issues of common concern such as stabilizing Iraq, confronting Iran on nuclear weapons, and promoting Arab-Israeli peace. Despite President Bush's failures, Wittes argues, the United States cannot afford to ignore the momentous social, economic, and political changes already taking place in Arab states. Wittes' detailed analysis of Arab politics and American policy presents an alternative —in her view, the only alternative: overcoming America's deep ambivalence about Arab democracy to support positive, liberal change in the region that will create a firmer foundation for Arab-American ties.