Archives

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

The Atlantic Council’s work on social, economic and human development issues in the Middle East honors the legacy of Rafik Hariri and his life’s mission to unlock the human and economic potential of the Arab world.

Explore the program

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

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

MENASource Oct 22, 2024

Israel versus Hezbollah: Not a full-scale war—yet

By Nicholas Blanford

The Israeli army appears to have absorbed some of the lessons of its troubled 2006 experience fighting against Hezbollah.
Conflict Lebanon
Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

MENASource Oct 18, 2024

The Kurdistan Region of Iraq is finally having its election. Here’s how it’ll play out.

By Shivan Fazil

Given the two main parties’ growing inability to compromise, it will likely be long and fraught.
Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

MENASource Oct 16, 2024

Vision 2030 has done wonders for women. But there’s still room to enhance their economic roles in Saudi Arabia.

By Beata Polok and Maha Akeel

Saudi Arabia’s progress under Vision 2030 is impressive, but the journey is not yet over.
Civil Society Economy & Business
ALL COMMENTARY & ANALYSIS

Featured in-depth research & reports

Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Report Oct 22, 2024

The economic and social costs of the war in Gaza

By Perrihan Al-Riffai

After a year of war, Israel, the Palestinian territories, and neighboring countries need a permanent ceasefire. But with development gains erased, billions of dollars in infrastructure damaged, and skyrocketing unemployment, the Middle East also urgently needs a solid reconstruction plan.
Conflict Israel
Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Report Jul 30, 2024

Libya’s protracted crisis, ten years of electoral deadlock

By Ben Fishman, Alvaro de Argüelles Lugo , Mary Fitzgerald, Aldo Liga, Chiara Lovotti, Karim Mezran, Alissa Pavia

A decade has passed since the last elections were held in Libya, and the country remains mired in a stalemate and deeply divided.
Libya Middle East
Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

Issue Brief Jun 5, 2024

Policy memo: What will it take to make the MENA region a renewable energy powerhouse?

By Shihab Elborai, Anthony Yammine, and Pavel Popikov

The Middle East and North Africa region is well placed to become not just a major source of renewable energy, but also a central and indispensable player in the global energy transition, uniquely able to balance supply and demand for all types of energy, both hydrocarbons and renewables.
Energy & Environment Energy Markets & Governance
ALL IN-DEPTH RESEARCH

Leadership

Staff

William F. Wechsler

Senior Director, Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

National Security Middle East

Staff

Jonathan Panikoff

Senior Director, Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs Scowcroft Middle East Security Initiative

Economy & Business Financial Regulation

Staff

Emilia Pierce

Deputy Director, Operations and Finance

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Conflict

Staff

Gissou Nia

Director, Strategic Litigation Project

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Civil Society Corruption

Fellow

Sarah Zaaimi

Nonresident Senior Fellow, North Africa Program

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Crisis Management

Staff

Karim Mezran

Director, Resident Senior Fellow, North Africa Initiative

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Former staff

Abbas Kadhim

Former Resident Senior Fellow, Iraq Initiative

Iraq Initiative Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Iraq Middle East

Former staff

Racha Helwa

Former director, empowerME Initiative

empowerME Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Arabic Economy & Business

Former fellow

Qutaiba Idlbi

Former Resident Senior Fellow, Syria

Rafik Hariri Center & Middle East programs

Entrepreneurship Financial Sanctions and Economic Coercion

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.

Online Event Wed, November 18, 2026 • 11:00 am ET

The future of Iraq-Syria relations
Iraq Politics & Diplomacy Syria

Past events

Online Event Thu, October 15, 2026 • 4:00 pm ET

Brett McGurk on ‘Brink: Inside the Race to Free the October 7th Hostages’
Israel Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
Online Event Tue, October 6, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

How Iraqis view al-Zaidi’s government, 100 days in
Civil Society Democracy Freedom and Prosperity Iraq
Online Event Tue, September 22, 2026 • 5:30 pm ET

President Ahmed Al-Sharaa on Syria’s future, reconstruction, and regional role

AN AC FRONT PAGE EVENT—Syrian President Ahmed Al-Sharaa will discuss his vision for Syria’s future and his government’s priorities for reconstruction, economic recovery, and institutional reform.

Economy & Business Energy Markets & Governance Energy Transitions Geopolitics & Energy Security
Public Event Thu, September 10, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

US engagement with Iraq and the region after Operation Inherent Resolve 
Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy Security & Defense
Online Event Mon, August 17, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The Mecca Joint Defense Agreement and the future of regional security
Middle East Pakistan Saudi Arabia Security & Defense
Public Event Thu, July 30, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Reporters at risk: The state of press freedom in Iraq
Iraq Middle East Resilience Resilience & Society
Online Event Tue, July 28, 2026 • 11:30 am ET

Transforming IMEC in response to the Iran war
Critical Infrastructure Policy Europe & Eurasia India Iran
Online Event Mon, July 27, 2026 • 4:00 pm ET

Opposition Leader Yair Lapid on the future of Israel and the region
Online Event Fri, June 5, 2026 • 10:00 am ET

Russia’s illicit exploitation of foreign nationals for its war against Ukraine
Europe & Eurasia Human Rights Resilience & Society Russia
Public Event Wed, May 13, 2026 • 9:00 am ET

The 2026 Iraq Dialogue
Geopolitics & Energy Security Iraq Middle East Politics & Diplomacy
ALL EVENTS

Content

20180301 future of iraq

Uncategorized

Feb 28, 2018

Iraq Initiative

{loadposition initiatives-iraq}

Uncategorized

Nov 8, 2017

About Rebuilding Syria

About The Rafik Hariri Center’s Rebuilding Syria project, directed by Senior Fellow Faysal Itani, aims to inform and advance transatlantic policy to foster a transition toward legitimate public order in Syria through economic reconstruction. As the two-year project comes to a close, the Hariri Center has pooled expertise from multiple specialists to cover the many […]

Issue Brief

Nov 2, 2017

Turkey: Managing tensions and options to engage

By Aaron Stein

This new issue brief argues that the United States should craft a realistic Turkey policy, given the current state of tensions over regional policy and the entrenchment of authoritarianism and illiberalism in Turkey.

Politics & Diplomacy Turkey

Issue Brief

Nov 2, 2017

Turkey: Managing tensions and options to engage

By Aaron Stein

This new issue brief argues that the United States should craft a realistic Turkey policy, given the current state of tensions over regional policy and the entrenchment of authoritarianism and illiberalism in Turkey. The piece contends that the trajectory of the relationship between the United States and Turkey suggests a need for the United States […]

Politics & Diplomacy Turkey

Issue Brief

Jul 11, 2017

Libya: From intervention to proxy war

By Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller

In this issue brief, Dr. Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller explore the dynamics of regional and international actors most involved in Libya’s proxy conflict, as well as recent incidents of escalation that threaten to further destabilize the country.

Libya Politics & Diplomacy

Issue Brief

Jul 11, 2017

Libya: From intervention to proxy war

By Karim Mezran and Elissa Miller

More than six years after Libya’s 2011 revolution against Muammar al-Qaddafi, the situation in the country is significantly more complex and dangerous. The failure of the 2011 NATO intervention to assist the country with a comprehensive stabilization process led to rapid deterioration on the ground and created an opportunity for external actors to pursue competing […]

Libya Politics & Diplomacy

Event Recap

Jun 20, 2017

The origins and evolution of ISIS in Libya

By Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East

The Rafik Hariri Center for the Middle East launched a new report, the origins and evolution of ISIS in Libya, authored by Jason Pack, Rhiannon Smith, and Atlantic Council Senior Fellow Karim Mezran. Jason Pack is the Founder and Director of Eye on ISIS in Libya and Rhiannon Smith is the Managing Director of Eye […]

Extremism Libya

SyriaSource

Mar 27, 2017

How Russia beat Turkey in Syria

By Aaron Stein

Turkish-Russian relations have been poor for years because of conflicting agendas in Syria. The Russian decision to intervene in late September 2015 directly challenged Turkish interests. At the outset of the Russian military operation, the goal appeared to be point defense of core regime areas, including the Latakia coast and the road to Damascus. Turkey, […]

Syria

Issue Brief

Dec 21, 2016

Turkey’s nuclear program

By Aaron Stein

To decrease its heavy reliance on fossil fuels the Turkish government has made ambitious plans to increase its production of nuclear energy. It has reached tentative agreement with Russia and a Japanese-French consortium to build two nuclear power plants near Mersin on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast and in the Sinop District on the Black Sea coast. […]

Nuclear Energy Turkey

Issue Brief

Dec 21, 2016

Turkey’s nuclear program

By Aaron Stein

To decrease its heavy reliance on fossil fuels the Turkish government has made ambitious plans to increase its production of nuclear energy. It has reached tentative agreement with Russia and a Japanese-French consortium to build two nuclear power plants near Mersin on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast and in the Sinop District on the Black Sea coast.

Nuclear Energy Turkey
Load More