Geopolitical Study Tours

After the Arab Spring Who will run Egypt and the Arab world?

(Cairo, September 2011)

Currently all Arab countries are experiencing significant popular movements pushing for more democracy, more social justice and less corruption. The events in Cairo and Tahrir Square symbolized the fall of an outdated authoritarian regime and, along with Tunisia, Egypt is becoming the laboratory for democracy for the entire Arab world. For this reason, editors who want to understand what is happening in Machrek and Maghreb (Middle East and North Africa) have to meet both young activists and top executives, new and old elites. During four days participants will dialog with upcoming leaders of the Arab world and analyze the potential resurrection of pan-Arabism.

Five to six meetings per day including a keynote speaker at the dinner to be held on Monday 6 June. Please find below the most relevant speakers scheduled for this exclusive study tour:

Tahrir Square and Freedom of Expression Activists (5 to 6 meetings):

 Wael Ghonim, Google executive and administrator of a Facebook page during the Egyptian movement / Hossam El Hamalawy, blogger / Amr Salah, Cairo Institute for Human Rights (CIHRS) / Amr Chobaky, Kefaya movement / Eman Herzallah, Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression

Representatives from 6 April and Koulouna Khaled Said movements / students from Al Azhar and Cairo University.

Political and economic leaders (5 to 6 meetings):

Mohamed El Baradei, Nobel Prize /  Ayman Nour, Ghad party /  Sayed Badawi, Al Wafd party /  Mohamed El Batigy, Muslim Brotherhood / Abboud al-Zommor, former leader of Jihad (recently liberated)  Mohamed Awad, Greens party /  Ahmed Abul Gheit, Egypt's Foreign Minister or Emad Abou Ghazi, Minister of Culture / Naguib Sawaris, CEO of Orascom, first telco in the Arab world / Margret Scobey, US Ambassador or Dominique Furgler, Swiss ambassador and supporter of Egyptian human rights movements – A top executive at the Arab League.

Media scene representatives and intellectuals (5 to 6 meetings):

-Alaa El Aswani, Author of the Yacoubian Building / Hisham Kassem, Publisher and former Editor of Al Masri Al Youm / Ibrahim Eissa, Editor, Al Dustour – Omar Samy, Director of Al Ahram Development Project / Zeina Khodr, Mona Salem or Sherine Tadros, journalists, Al Jazeera / Khaled El Khamissy, Author of Taxi / Ahmed Zewail, Nobel Prize for Physics

All meetings to be confirmed. Maximum of 15 participants to optimise dialog with the speakers. Final programme released on 1st May 2011.

Dates to be announced soon.

Editors-in-chief & group editors, senior news executives and top managers who want to understand how Egypt and the Arab world will be shaped after the “Arab spring”. The study tour is not scheduled for local correspondents. Maximum of 15 participants for this study tour (see below).

The presentations will be held in English.

EUR 3, 400 Price: Includes transfers within Egypt, hotel accommodation and all meals from Monday 6 June dinner until Thursday 9 June lunch.  Flights between your country and Cairo are not included. One year of GEN and WNMN membership included with study tour registration.

Participants must check with the insurance company of their organisation.

Quite hot in June: potentially 40°celsius… Nevertheless, there will be a swimming pool in the hotel.

For more information, please contact Marie Pecquerie

GEN General Secretary  Tel: + 33 1 01 53 01 01 80 

Registrations are subject  to the principle “first registered first served”. Only 15 editors-in-chief will participate to the study tour.