The Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS- Beirut) with the partnership of the International Development Research Centre (IDRC-Canada) launched in 2006 a research project on political parties in the Arab World. This project aims at discussing the conjunction between the political party development in the Arab world and the political transformation along with the systemization process particularly the democratizing one. Specifically, the focus of the project is on the role of the political parties, especially the new emerging Islamic ones, in democratic transition and in informing policy on political party reform. We base our reflection on empirical field experiences rather than on deductive models elaborated elsewhere. As we propose conclusions and recommendations for the six countries in question: Algeria, Bahrain, Iraq, Lebanon, Morocco, and Yemen.

This project has two main objectives; first we will produce a critical database for the political parties in the chosen Arab countries, second, we will examine and analyze the role of the partisans’ organizations in the democratization of the political system i.e. we will deal with the party as a democratizing subject.

The website was launched and designed especially for political scientists, researchers, and readers in need to learn more about political parties’ development in the Arab world. Moreover, it is a non-profit, non-partisan, non-ideological and non-political website; its only purpose is diffusing knowledge about the evolution of the Arab political parties. The website is permanently supplied by the most recent findings of the research teams; therefore, the entire updates are disseminated and are available for every visitor. Furthermore, we give the visitors the opportunity to disseminate their studies and writings, related to political parties, on this website. In addition, any organization, institution and research center involved in a similar topic, can link its webpage through our website, thus offering a multiplicity of materials and references to the visitors.