About the center

The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East examines the barriers preventing many people in the region from reaching their fullest potential. Our work also highlights success stories of individuals and institutions who overcame significant challenges in pursuit of social, economic, and political progress. Inspired by these examples, we delineate practical and implementable policy recommendations that policymakers in the United States, Europe, and the Middle East can implement to unleash the region’s economic and human potential.

Featured commentary & analysis

Featured in-depth research & reports

Leadership

Subscribe to get the latest analysis straight to your inbox

Events

We convene the most important stakeholders on issues of primary concern to the transatlantic community when it comes the Middle East and North Africa, from senior US and Middle East government officials to civil society activists and budding entrepreneurs.

Past events

Content

Event Recap

Jun 26, 2019

What does new polling data from Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan tell us?

By Hariri Center

On June 26, the Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East in collaboration with Arab Barometer held a public event to release the Arab Barometer’s latest public opinion survey data from Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan. The data covered topics such as the state of the economy, institutional trust, migration, government performance, media consumption, corruption, and foreign […]

Economy & Business Iraq

IranSource

Jun 26, 2019

The challenge of Iran is an opportunity for the US and Europe

By John W. Miller

The level of instability present in the Gulf today is unsustainable, dangerous, and undoubtedly the creation of an increasingly desperate Iranian regime. Tehran has long favored asymmetric attacks that are difficult to factually tie to them or assaults conducted through proxies.

Iran

MENASource

Jun 24, 2019

How the Manama Workshop on Palestine will succeed

By Richard LeBaron

The US-sponsored “Peace to Prosperity” workshop will convene in Bahrain on Tuesday June 25 and Wednesday June 26 to “discuss strategies and galvanize support for potential economic investments and initiatives that could be made possible by a peace agreement” between the Israelis and Palestinians.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Jun 24, 2019

Trilateral tribulations: The upcoming Israeli advisers meeting

By Mark N. Katz

Iran and its role in Syria are likely to be the main agenda item at the June 24-26 trilateral meeting of the US, Russian, and Israeli national security advisers in Israel. What US National Security Adviser John Bolton and his Israeli counterpart, Meir Ben-Shabbat, want from Russia is clear: Moscow’s in reducing or even eliminating the Iranian presence in Syria. Russian National Security Adviser Nikolai Patrushev, though, is unlikely to meet their demands on this score.

Iran Israel

IranSource

Jun 24, 2019

Hezbollah’s new drug rehab unit points to limits of US sanctions policy

By Lizzie Porter

Up an untarmacked road, high above the Mediterranean Sea, the Shifa' Speciality Hospital (SSH) sits behind half-built apartment blocks in the suburban town of Aaramoun just south of Beirut.

Iran Middle East

IranSource

Jun 21, 2019

Is Trump just an excuse for Khamenei’s rejectionism?

By Shahir Shahidsaless

Iran shot down a US military drone near the Persian Gulf, increasing fears of an armed conflict between Tehran and Washington. Against this backdrop, the path to talks between the two governments appears blocked.

Iran

MENASource

Jun 20, 2019

Iranian environmentalism: Its origins and evolution

By David Laylin

In January 2018, eight members of the non-profit wildlife conservation Non-Governmental Organization, the Persian Wildlife Heritage Foundation (PWHF), were arrested and held in the notorious Evin prison in Tehran.

Iran

MENASource

Jun 20, 2019

Will Iraq have an uprising after sixteen years of political, social, and economic disillusionment?

By Aqeel Abood

Sixteen years have gone by since the American-led invasion of Iraq in 2003, and the country is still suffering from major unresolved political, economic, and social issues. Even the most pessimistic people in Iraq did not think that the situation would be this dire.

Iraq

IranSource

Jun 19, 2019

Iran looks to Chabahar and a new transit corridor to survive US sanctions

By Aveek Sen

The Trump administration has exempted the Chabahar port from US sanctions as a gesture toward India, which sees the outpost as a means of facilitating trade with Afghanistan. However, its true potential requires more integration between Iran and among Central Asian states.

Iran

MENASource

Jun 18, 2019

How to counter Iran’s proxies

By Dr. C. Anthony Pfaff

Solutions will emphasize political efforts to continue to isolate Iran from the international community, make dependence on Iranian support less attractive to its proxies, and cultivate partners who can provide the kind of good governance and responsible behavior that serve as a more attractive model than Iran’s divisive practices.

Iran Iraq