Rafik Hariri Center Commentary & Analysis

Our blogs feature thoughtful reflections and opinions on current events in the Middle East & North Africa.

MENASource

Jul 8, 2019

Syrians in Lebanon: A life of misery, or a return to the unknown

By Tesbih Habbal

Ongoing discrimination and anti-refugee rhetoric in Lebanon are leaving desperate Syrians with two dismal options: to live under harsh conditions in Lebanon or return to Syria with worse conditions and even less stability.

Middle East Syria

MENASource

Jul 3, 2019

Women’s World Cup 2019: Where is the Middle East?

By Sheva Tabatabainejad and Rana Abdulhadi

With all the excitement these past months have generated, it is hard not to notice a glaring discrepancy in representation. There is not one team from the Middle East that qualified.

Afghanistan Iran

MENASource

Jul 3, 2019

Challenges for Egypt’s fragile stability

By Alessia Melcangi and Giuseppe Dentice

The death of Mohamed Morsi on June 17, the only president ever instated through democratic elections, arrived as a reckoning in post-revolutionary Egypt.

North Africa

IranSource

Jul 2, 2019

Hezbollah won’t stand down in a US-Iran conflict

By Nicholas Blanford

On January 28, 2015, a colleague and I were driving north in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley to report on the latest developments involving the Islamic State of Iraq and al-Shams (ISIS), which was then occupying a desolate mountain range straddling the Lebanon-Syria border. Shortly before midday, we received news that Hezbollah had just launched an ambush against an Israeli military convoy on Lebanon’s southeast border.

Iran Israel

MENASource

Jul 1, 2019

Parliament voted to complete Iraq’s cabinet: What’s next?

By Abbas Kadhim

While inclusive governance is an admirable goal, it can be a formula for failure when merit is sacrificed for the sake of meeting ethno-sectarian quotas.

Iraq

MENASource

Jun 28, 2019

Israel’s problematic role in perpetuating water insecurity for Palestine

By Zena Agha

Climate change poses an existential and global threat to humanity. The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is expected to be impacted more than any other area.

Israel Middle East

MENASource

Jun 26, 2019

Reactions to Morsi’s death: Truth became a victim

By H. A. Hellyer

On June 17, 2019 Mohamed Morsi, the first democratically elected president in Egypt, died in court. Joyce Karam, a journalist based in Washington DC, tweets it out. His death released a myriad of emotions—and then the truth became a victim. Yet again.

North Africa

Event Recap

Jun 26, 2019

Arab Barometer Polling Data Event

By Atlantic Council

On June 26, the Hariri Center, in collaboration with Arab Barometer, held a public event to release Arab Barometer’s latest public opinion survey data from Iraq, Lebanon, and Jordan. Following their presentation, Arab Barometer experts Mark Tessler and Kathrin Thomas joined Iraq Initiative Director Abbas Kadhim and Nonresident Senior Fellow Faysal Itani for a panel […]

Iraq Middle East

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
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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.

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