Harvard's Middle East Initiative

Middle East Dialogues resume next week | Join us for our upcoming Middle East Dialogues: difficult conversations about the conflict in the region and prospects for peace, moderated by MEI Faculty Chair Tarek Masoud: March 13 at 4:30pm with Dutch-Palestinian political analyst Mouin Rabbani. Register HERE: https://lnkd.in/ejUE5At2 May 6 at 4:30pm with Israeli scholar and author Micah Goodman. Register HERE: https://lnkd.in/dhXdNGGk Harvard's Belfer Center

"The resource curse is real. Diversification is the way to go forward, but to do these things, you need strong governments that can make decisions...The question remains whether Iraq will continue to be a country of potential, or can we realize that potential? Can we resolve that paradox?" Last week, Dr. Barham Salih, former President of Iraq, and Senior Fellow with the Harvard's Middle East Initiative and the Harvard's Belfer Center, delivered a comprehensive talk on Iraq's economic transition post-conflict. He explored the paradox of abundant resources yet enduring challenges, underscoring the critical need for governance reforms and economic diversification beyond the oil sector. Dr. Salih highlighted Iraq's strategic importance in regional stability, advocating for innovative approaches to tackle corruption and improve infrastructure. He emphasized the potential for leveraging Iraq's youthful population and resources to drive sustainable growth and regional collaboration. ?? ?? ?? ???? ?? Watch the event now on our Youtube channel: https://bit.ly/3ERd1ZT Read CID's writeup of the event on #CIDVoices: https://lnkd.in/e4YK5Z3a #CIDSpeakerSeries #HarvardCID #PostConflictTransition #EconomicDevelopment #Iraq #IraqEconomy

APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN: The 2025 - 2026 Emirates Leadership Initiative Research Fellowship for junior and mid-career policy-oriented scholars supports independent research on critical public policy topics relevant to the UAE, the Gulf region, and the broader Arab world. Areas of particular interest include optimizing governance, increasing economic dynamism, strengthening human capital, and improving public policy design and delivery. Application deadline: Sunday, March 23. Details here: https://lnkd.in/dWBtcm82 Photo Credit: Jessica Scranton

I am deeply grateful to the Harvard's Center for Public Leadership - (ELI) and the Harvard's Middle East Initiative for organizing an exclusive conversation with HRH Prince Turki AlFaisal moderated by Professor Tarek Masoud at Harvard Kennedy School. Prince Turki’s vast experience in diplomacy, security, and global affairs provided invaluable insights into the evolving geopolitical landscape of the Middle East. His reflections on regional stability, international cooperation, and leadership in an ever-changing world sparked engaging discussions among students and faculty. Opportunities like this reinforce the critical role of academic institutions in fostering dialogue between policymakers, scholars, and future leaders. Thank you to ELI and MEI for making this important conversation possible! ?? What are your thoughts on leadership and diplomacy in today’s world? #Leadership #Diplomacy #MiddleEast #GlobalAffairs #HarvardKennedySchool #EmiratesLeadershipInitiative #MiddleEastInitiative

TOMORROW, 2/13 at 4pm | A Healthcare Bridge Over Troubled Conflicts [open to HUID holders only] Join MEI Fellows Avner Halperin, Dr. Yasmeen Abu Fraiha, and Noam Alon for a discussion about their report, A Healthcare Bridge over Troubled Conflicts: A New Model for Building Trust Through Joint Healthcare Programs. The authors will present their analysis of Israeli-Palestinian joint medical programs and their development of the first systematic approach to building trust between conflict groups through healthcare. This discussion will be moderated by MEI Faculty Chair Tarek Masoud. Registration is required. To RSVP, please click here: https://lnkd.in/dVwP75un

TOMORROW, 2/13 at 4pm | A Healthcare Bridge Over Troubled Conflicts [open to HUID holders only] Join MEI Fellows Avner Halperin, Dr. Yasmeen Abu Fraiha, and Noam Alon for a discussion about their report, A Healthcare Bridge over Troubled Conflicts: A New Model for Building Trust Through Joint Healthcare Programs. The authors will present their analysis of Israeli-Palestinian joint medical programs and their development of the first systematic approach to building trust between conflict groups through healthcare. This discussion will be moderated by MEI Faculty Chair Tarek Masoud. Registration is required. To RSVP, please click here: https://lnkd.in/dVwP75un

TOMORROW, February 12 at 4:30pm | Arabs & Israelis: From October 7th to Peacemaking [open to HUID holders only] Join authors Abdel Monem Said Aly, Shai Feldman, and Khalil Shikaki as they discuss their new monograph, which explores the roots and aftermath of the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, the subsequent war, and how these events could pave a way to peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Opening remarks will be provided by Belfer Center Director Meghan O'Sullivan and the discussion will be moderated by MEI Visiting Scholar David Patel. Harvard's Belfer Center Registration is required. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/ebKPhukA

TOMORROW, February 12 at 4:30pm | Arabs & Israelis: From October 7th to Peacemaking [open to HUID holders only] Join authors Abdel Monem Said Aly, Shai Feldman, and Khalil Shikaki as they discuss their new monograph, which explores the roots and aftermath of the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, the subsequent war, and how these events could pave a way to peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Opening remarks will be provided by Belfer Center Director Meghan O'Sullivan and the discussion will be moderated by MEI Visiting Scholar David Patel. Harvard's Belfer Center Registration is required. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/ebKPhukA

EVENTS THIS WEEK [open to HUID holders only] Wednesday, February 12 at 4:30pm | Arabs & Israelis: From October 7 to Peacemaking Join authors Abdel Monem Said Aly, Shai Feldman, and Khalil Shikaki as they discuss their new monograph, which explores the roots and aftermath of the Hamas attacks on October 7, 2023, the subsequent war, and how these events could pave a way to peace between Palestinians and Israelis. Opening remarks will be provided by Professor Meghan O'Sullivan and the discussion will be moderated by MEI Visiting Scholar David Patel. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/ebKPhukA --- Thursday, February 13 at 4:00pm | A Healthcare Bridge Over Troubled Conflicts Join MEI Fellows Avner Halperin, Dr. Yasmeen Abu Fraiha, and Noam Alon for a discussion about their report, A Healthcare Bridge over Troubled Conflicts: A New Model for Building Trust Through Joint Healthcare Programs. The authors will present their analysis of Israeli-Palestinian joint medical programs and their development of the first systematic approach to building trust between conflict groups through healthcare. This discussion will be moderated by MEI Faculty Chair Tarek Masoud. RSVP here: https://lnkd.in/dVwP75un

EVENT | Thursday, February 27 at 4:30pm: Syria After the Fall of Assad Join Middle East Initiative Faculty Chair Professor Tarek Masoud for a discussion on Syria's ongoing political transition and what may be in store for the Republic and the region, featuring former Ambassador to Syria and MEI Senior Fellow Edward Djerejian, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign Assistant Professor Rana Khoury, and Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Ibrahim Al-Assil. This event is open in person to HUID holders only. Registration is required. Please register for the event here: https://lnkd.in/e4_3gR5b Photo Credit: AP Photo/Hussein Malla