(WBEZ) — Former President Bill Clinton says anti-corporate protestors across the country need to organize if they want to make a real impact.

Mr. Clinton spoke at an event in Chicago Tuesday. People here and across the country have taken to the streets to protest corporations they say are responsible for the economic recession.

President Clinton compared the so-called “Occupy Wall Street” movement to the pro-democracy demonstrations that have swept the Middle East.

“They wanted to build a modern, inclusive state, including for the fundamentalist Islam — Muslims, who wanted to live in their own way. But they had a vision — they had no program and they had no organized political party,” Clinton said. “That’s the problem the Occupy Wall Street people have.”

President Clinton said the anti-corporate protests could spark a good debate ahead of next year’s elections.