Publications

Executive Summary: Debates in Jordan regarding direct intervention in southern Syria to raid drug trafficking networks raise fundamental questions about whether such a move is a necessary security imperative or a strategic risk that may place Jordan before heavy burdens and complex regional repercussions. Although there has been a notable decline in drug smuggling attempts across the Jordanian border since…

While we see the escalation of Israeli raids in Syria, as well as talk of diplomatic channels between Damascus and Tel Aviv, certain discussions about Israel’s relations with the new Syrian regime are gaining traction in Israeli research centres; the report discusses the view on Syrian Israeli relations as well as views and predictions being discussed about Syria. Key points:…

The relationship between the Jordanian state and the original, now-banned Muslim Brotherhood has been a focal point of elite discussions and social media debates for several weeks. These debates often explicitly or implicitly take dangerous turns that affect internal cohesion. Critics of the Brotherhood sometimes generalise the discussion to broader national identity and unity themes. At the same time, Brotherhood…

The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan stands today at a strategic crossroads in redefining its role and its relationship with both the state and society. While the current flashpoint revolves around a group of 16 youths—most of whom are affiliated with the Brotherhood—accused of manufacturing and possessing weapons, this case is only part of a broader and escalating crisis between the…

Executive Summary This study is a pivotal component of the Women Peace and Security Systems Strengthening Project, also known as Tamasok, implemented by Chemonics UK in collaboration with local subcontractor Generations for Peace. Tamasok aims to bolster institutions dedicated to advancing the women’s security and peace agenda in Jordan and is aligned with UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 1325. The…

Executive Summary Many have pressed for strikes on Iran because of its uniquely vulnerable position. A key distinction in approaches to Iran is exemplified by Mike Waltz’s insistence on dismantling Iran’s nuclear program, compared to Steve Witkoff’s preference to focus mainly on preventing the development of nuclear weapons. Witkoff is leading negotiations and his approach is dominant, although as negotiations…

The Syrian landscape is witnessing a major shift following the announcement on 13 April 2025 of the dissolution of the Eighth Brigade and its complete absorption, both in personnel and equipment, into the Syrian Ministry of Defence. The brigade had been the most prominent armed formation in Daraa Governorate and, since the fall of Assad’s regime, had posed a persistent…

Major historical-political events or turning points are closely linked to the movement of ideas. They often lead to new intellectual waves that emerge after previous trends. The current war of extermination in Gaza, with its massive emotional and visual impact and the anger and resentment it stirs among broad segments of Arab societies, will undoubtedly have significant ideological and intellectual…

The “Syria Post-Assad: Scenarios and Regional Dynamics” two-day workshop brought together a diverse group of experts, academics, and policymakers from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, the United States, Europe, and Russia. The Politics and Society Institute, in partnership with Middle East Council on Global Affairs, convened these experts alongside a cohort of Syrian analysts, members of civil…

This material was published in the second issue of the Jordanian Politics and Society magazine (JPS). In recent years, Jordanian-Iraqi relations have witnessed a qualitative leap, following a long period marked by much doubt and caution between the two sides. While it cannot be said that the development of this relationship has completely eliminated the previous situation, it has made…