What if the Syrian opposition doesn't unite? Are the Alawites preparing for a separate state? Are the Kurds? What is the likely impact of a Sunni dominated Syrian government on the region? How much U.S. intervention is the right amount? Landis discusses these questions and the future of Syria. read more
About the Middle East Program
The Middle East Program pays special attention to the role of women, youth, civil society institutions, Islam, and democratic and autocratic tendencies. In addition, the Middle East Program hosts programs on cultural issues, including contemporary art and literature in the region. MORE
The Latest from the Middle East Program
Beyond Dichotomy: Building a New Egypt
Event //
September 26, 2012 // 12:00pm — 1:00pm
Over the past year in Egypt, Margot Badran has witnessed how in a society sharply polarized for several decades the old categories of ‘the religious’ and ‘the secular’ have become increasingly meaningless as descriptors of clearly marked social identity yet also retain considerable political force. She discusses how sustained dichotmization impedes the construction of a new Egypt drawing upon her observations in both the capital and the provinces. more
Don’t Fear All Islamists, Fear Salafis
Article //
Aug 21, 2012
Not all Islamist political parties are to be feared, but an extremist strain called the Salafis have a warped vision of a new order in the Middle East, writes Robin Wright in the New York Times. more
Will the Ongoing Nuclear Talks with Iran Yield Better Results than Past Efforts?
Event //
September 07, 2012 // 10:00am — 12:00pm
Experts who participated in a February 2011 seminar on the Brazilian-Turkish mediation with Iran return to the Wilson Center to assess the ongoing negotiations and possible outcomes. more
The Arab Awakening: Is Democracy a Mirage?
Publication //
Aug 10, 2012
On June 20, 2012, the Wilson Center’s Middle East Program hosted a meeting on “The Arab Awakening: Is Democracy a Mirage?” This publication brings together the talks presented at the meeting. more
The Winners and Losers of Syria's Civil War
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Aug 09, 2012
Looking ahead to a post-Assad Syria, Aaron David Miller provides a preliminary scorecard of who the winners and losers will be, both within the splintered nation and among foreign stakeholders Russia, Iran, Israel, Lebanon, and the United States. more