Publications

Balances of Weakness: Syria’s Post-Assad Security Sector Governance

by Dr. Abdulla Ibrahim

A deep dive into the post-Assad security landscape and the political dilemmas facing Syria’s new rulers, as armed factions, foreign actors, and structural weaknesses hinder consolidation and governance.

Preliminary reading of Syria’s post-Assad economic trends

by Jihad Yazigi

On March 29, a bit more after their first 100 days in power, the new Syrian authorities, led by transitional president Ahmad Al-Sharaa, named a new government that it is supposed to lead the county towards economic recovery.

Priorities of Women Entrepreneurs Post War Recovery

MSME/SME Leaders +100 Inputs from and Entrepreneurs in navigating conflict and 2024 business during the insights on the way forward

Lebanon's women entrepreneurs have demonstrated remarkable resilience while navigating the complex challenges of post-war recovery. This critical research, a collaboration between the Lebanese League for Women in Business and Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung.

FROM RENTIER TO COMPLEX: How the Lebanese Diaspora Can Fuel a Productive Economy

by Lea Fathallah

This paper explores how leveraging diaspora expertise, innovation, and global networks can drive Lebanon’s economic recovery, foster sustainable development, and integrate the country into the global economy.

Geopolitical Shifts in the Levant

Impacts on IDPs and Syrian Refugees in Lebanon

How has the recent war between Israel and Hezbollah reshaped Lebanon’s displacement crisis? This paper explores the conflict’s impact on internal displacement, the strained public services, and the uncertain return of Syrian refugees.

The Indispensable but Reluctant Role of Gulf States in Lebanon’s Revival

by Elie Al Hindy

This report explores how historic bonds with key Gulf states—especially Saudi Arabia and Qatar—have influenced Lebanon’s economic recovery and political evolution. As shifting regional dynamics challenge old alliances, Lebanon faces the urgent need to redefine its national strategy and secure its role in a transforming Middle East.

The Beirut Port Explosion: A Prolonged Struggle for Justice Amidst Political Turmoil

The publication of this paper comes at a pivotal moment in Lebanon’s political landscape, as the country experiences a shift in governance following the election of President Joseph Aoun on January 9, 2025 and the nomination of Prime Minister-designate Judge Nawaf Salam.

A new president for Lebanon in crisis

After more than two years of deadlock, the office of president has been filled again. The first step on a long road to state renewal?

Lebanon has a new president. With 99 out of 128 votes, Joseph Aoun, the former military commander-in-chief of the Lebanese army (LAF), was elected as the country's 14th president by the Lebanese parliament on 9 January. This was preceded by intensive international mediation efforts, diplomatic pressure and internal Lebanese debates on how and with whom the two-year-long vacancy in the presidential palace could be ended.

Tribe and Power in Syria: History and Revolution

A Study of Rural Composition and Map of Tribal and Clan Structures and Their Interactions in Aleppo and Idlib post-2011

The history of Syrian geography is inseparable from the history of its tribes, which settled in the Levant and its Baadiyah (deserts and steppes) during ancient pre-Christian times. As the geography changed, so did ruling regimes; tribes also experienced significant political and structural transformations, forming a historically extended social system with evolving features still observable today.

Demystifying Decentralization and Federalism: The Case of Lebanon

This paper comes at a crucial juncture in the history of not just Lebanon, but also of the region, with the objective of exploring the question of Federalism in Lebanon through four key perspectives: identity, power-sharing, grassroots approaches, and the involvement of armed non-state groups.