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

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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

IranSource

Apr 10, 2019

Saudi Arabia’s plan to lure Iraq from Iran

By Nader Habibi and Omid Shokri Kalehsar

A Saudi economic delegation visited Iraq on April 3, seeking to promote the expansion of diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries—and to give Iraq an alternative to growing Iranian ties.

Iran Iraq

IranSource

Apr 9, 2019

I know you’re a terrorist, but what am I?

By Borzou Daragahi

The administration of President Donald Trump finally on April 8—countering the advice of the United States’ own military and intelligence mandarins—named Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a terrorist organization.

Iran

IranSource

Apr 8, 2019

United States designates Iran’s IRGC a foreign terrorist organization

By Holly Dagres

The Trump administration on April 8 designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) a foreign terrorist organization—the first time a country’s military has received such a status.

Iran United States and Canada

IranSource

Apr 8, 2019

Silicon Valley preaches diversity and inclusion while excluding Iranians

By Mahsa Alimardani and Roya Pakzad

Soheila has a monthly routine. At the beginning of each month, she opens the Asan Pardakht app on her iPhone to make gas, phone, and water payments. But on this day, the bill paying application gives her the notification: “Unable to verify app.”

Iran
1

MENASource

Apr 5, 2019

Algeria: A revolution without illusions

By Borzou Daragahi

For decades, Algeria was the staid, stolid giant of north Africa. With powerful and well-equipped armed forces, it has been a reliable security partner for the United States in fighting against Islamic extremist groups.

North Africa

IranSource

Apr 5, 2019

Something fishy is going on between Iran and China (and Pakistan)

By Fatemeh Aman

Two of Beijing’s close allies, Iran and Pakistan, have been increasingly impacted by China’s growing appetite for fish, both for domestic consumption and to supply its processed fish industry. Stricter regulations in Pakistan and an internal political fight in Iran could make it harder for China to expand its fishing industry into their waters.

China Iran

SyriaSource

Apr 4, 2019

The institutionalization of demographic change in Syria

By Hasan Arfeh

Mass displacement is not merely a consequence of the war, but rather a specific goal of the regime and its allies’ strategy to regain control of the country. The regime carried out widespread forced displacement in Homs, Damascus, Aleppo and the nearby countryside to effect demographic change.

Syria

IranSource

Apr 4, 2019

Which biblical Iranian character are you?

By Thamar E. Gindin

Those of us who use social media as a means of procrastination are familiar with the “Which… Are You?” tests. These quizzes are obviously not exact.

Iran

IranSource

Apr 2, 2019

Sanctions propel Iran in the global race for terminator-like AI

By Mahmoud Pargoo

While US-reimposed sanctions have severely damaged the Iranian economy, one sector is still thriving: emerging technologies. The latest success story is the Artificial Intelligence-powered navigation app BALAD which hit a record 1.2 million downloads within a few days of its launch in March.

Iran

SyriaSource

Apr 1, 2019

The potential loss of refugee status for Palestinian-Syrians in Afrin

By Musaab Balchi

A new documentation system in the Turkish-administrated region in northern Aleppo designed for security and administrative purposes seems to ignore the legal status of local residents; many of which are internally displaced peoples (IDP)s that are Syrian or Palestinian. The system raises concerns from displaced Palestinian refugees about their internationally recognized legal refugee status and their ability to preserve their Palestinian identity within the larger Syrian population.

Syria