Nation-Building in the West Bank & Gaza:  From Occupation to
Independence."

Tulane Institute for International Development (TIID) invites you to its  January Seminar under the Tulane International Development 2001 Seminar Series.

Speaker: Dr. Yehuda Lukacs

To hear Dr. Lukacs' presentation click HERE

This presentation will examine the challenges to Palestinian state-building. Since the signing of the September 1993 Oslo Accord, over $2.5 billion in international aid was given by several donors to specific projects in the West Bank and Gaza and to the Palestinian Authority (PA).  Many critics however, have charged that the money has disappeared into a 'black hole' due to corruption, a swollen bureaucracy, and lack of accountability and transparency.  Theses issues will be examined against the background of continued Israeli occupation of most of the Palestinian territories. The Palestinian Authority still lacks control over key resources such as land, water, and territory and a large portion of its operating budget remains dependent on transfers of taxes and duties collected by Israel on its behalf.

 The presentation will examine the impact of the theses factors and the on-again, off-again peace process on the future of Palestinian institutions and state-building as the Palestinians move closer to a deceleration of independence in the near future.

About the Speaker:
Dr. Yehuda Lukacs is director of the Center for Global Education, George Mason University, where he directs international educational programs in over 50 countries. He teaches history and international relations at George Mason University, American University, and the University of Maryland. His latest book -- Israel, Jordan and the Peace Process -- was published by Syracuse University Press in December 1999. His media interviews included BBC World Service, NPR's Morning Edition, the Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and the Chronicle of Higher Education.