Research Fields

This material was published in the third issue of the Jordanian Politics and Society magazine (JPS). The ascent of Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) to power in Syria—and the appointment of the leader of this formerly Salafi-jihadist armed faction as president, alongside regional and international recognition —represents a profoundly significant event. It marks a distinct departure from what the Arab world…

This material was published in the third issue of the Jordanian Politics and Society magazine (JPS). This issue of the Jordanian Politics & Society magazine is released as the dust momentarily settles between Iran and Israel, at a time when the region trembles under the weight of an unprecedented tension, one that could reignite at any moment. The Middle East…

Over the past few weeks, the Middle East has experienced a rapid sequence of developments that have brought the region into a renewed state of uncertainty. Among the most significant were Israeli strikes targeting Iranian sites, followed shortly by U.S. precision airstrikes on three of Iran’s key nuclear-related facilities: the Fordow Fuel Enrichment Plant, the Natanz Nuclear Centre, and the…

The Politics and Society Institute has published the third issue of its biannual publication, the Jordanian Politics and Society magazine (JPS), under the title “Syria: A New Era?”. This special issue examines the political, security, and economic transformations unfolding in Syria since the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, and the wide-ranging local and regional implications across the…

The Israeli-Iranian war reflects a shift in the dynamics governing regional relations in the Middle East. It embodies a significant development in Israel’s new security doctrine—moving from a defensive security perspective to a strategy of offence, dominance, and long-range deterrence. This expansion stretches from eastern Iran to southern Yemen. It aims at eliminating key threats that have evolved incrementally since…

The Politics and Society Institute recently hosted, on Sunday evening, June 1, 2025, a closed-door roundtable featuring Professor Nathan Brown, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at George Washington University, a non-resident senior scholar at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and Professor Emeritus at the University of Jordan. Prof. Brown is one of the leading scholars on U.S.…

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…