Slide 3

The rise of the new Syrian government under the leadership of Ahmad al-Shar‘ marks a pivotal turning point in the reconfiguration of regional balances-not only within Syria, but also across the Lebanese arena. The organic linkage that once bound Hezbollah to the former Syrian regime led by Bashar al-Assad constituted one of the central pillars of the party’s regional project.…

The issue of parliamentary elections in Lebanon at the present moment does not appear to be a crisis of the electoral law or a problem related to a special district for expatriates as much as it appears to be a crisis of political timing within a turbulent regional context. The debate surrounding the sixteenth district (related to the election of…

The study analyzes the political order that emerged in Syria after the fall of the Assad regime and argues that the country has not moved toward state consolidation or unified governance. Instead, it has entered a relatively stable strategic equilibrium characterized by fragmentation, overlapping authorities, and sustained external competition. The central claim is that Syria’s current condition is not a…

In an attempt to conceal the state of regional isolation into which Israel has been placed, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke of a new axis being formed by Israel in coordination and cooperation with India and a number of Arab, African, and Mediterranean countries. He concealed some names while mentioning others such as Greece and Cyprus. It is not…

On 6 February 2026, Syria’s General Authority for Land and Sea Ports issued a decision restricting the entry of foreign (non-Syrian) trucks into Syrian territory, with a limited exception for transit shipments under customs escort to ensure that cargo is not unloaded inside Syria. In practice, the decision institutionalizes the “Back-to-Back” mechanism, which requires incoming trucks to unload their cargo…

During periods of stability, political systems tend to elevate their most visible and charismatic figures. In moments of existential danger, however-when the prospect of a sudden leadership vacuum looms-the criteria of selection may be inverted entirely. Popularity and rhetorical prominence recede in importance, giving way to the imperative of continuity. In such moments, regimes search for a “transitional manager.” It…

The appointment of former Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor Akin Gürlek as Minister of Justice carries deep political implications, given his association with sensitive judicial files related to the opposition. The Turkish opposition interpreted the move as a politicization of the judiciary, while international analyses linked it to the redeployment of legal instruments in managing political conflict. The simultaneous change in…

The study examines how Saudi Arabia employs economic tools as a primary mechanism of political and security influence in the Middle East, focusing on two structurally different cases: post-war Syria and relatively stable but economically dependent Jordan. The research is grounded in the assumption that economic diplomacy has increasingly replaced direct military intervention as the most effective instrument for managing…

The study examines the trajectory of the Islamic Group in Lebanon as a process of transformation between the da‘wa, political, and military spheres within a complex Lebanese and regional context. The U.S. decision to designate the Muslim Brotherhood—including the Islamic Group in Lebanon-constituted a strategic turning point that redefines its position within the regional order and imposes existential choices upon…

Elections constitute pivotal moments that not only reflect the will of voters but may also reveal shifts in the internal balance of political power within a state-particularly when their outcomes diverge from patterns that have long defined the political landscape. This is currently evident in Bangladesh following the announcement of parliamentary election results, which showed the Bangladesh Nationalist Party securing…