Regional Policies

The Politics and Society Institute has published the third issue of its biannual publication, the Jordanian Journal of Politics and Society (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 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:…

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…