The Lebanese Parliamentary Elections:
A Surprise, But No Real Change
By Doreen Khoury

Lebanon’s recent parliamentary elections, which resulted in a surprise victory for the pro-Western March 14 coalition after months of prediction that the Opposition would win, contradicted many of the myths and narratives that had surrounded the election since the signing of the Doha Accord in May 2008. The election highlighted once again the need for extensive reform to the electoral system and the Lebanese political system as whole. Read...

Guarded Optimism in the Arab World
Towards Obama’s Call for a "New Beginning" between the United States and Muslims” in Cairo
By Layla Al-Zubaidi & Doreen Khoury

President Barak Obama’s call for a “new beginning between the United States and Muslims” in Cairo resonated deeply throughout much of the Middle East. The speech was the main event of his regional tour and signified a major break with the rhetoric of the previous administration. Much of the Arab media were full of praise for the speech. Critical remarks however, were also voiced, especially the question how this new rhetoric will translate into concrete changes on the ground. Read...

The 2009 Iraqi Provincial Elections
By Doreen Khoury

On January 31st 2009, Iraqis held their second provincial elections since the fall of the Baathist regime in 2009. The results signaled widespread support for secular and nationalist forces and serious electoral losses for the religious federalist parties, who had been accused of mass corruption and mismanagement. Significantly, Sunni Arabs for the first time actively participated in the elections, thus reversing the disproportionate results of their boycott in 2005. Read...

Syria Say No to Bombs
By Sami Moubayed

Far from achieving the intended blow against Al-Qaeda and Sunni insurgents in Iraq, the recent American incursion into Syrian territory on the border with Iraq undermines voices of moderation in Syria, and facilitates the recruitment efforts of extremist Islamist groups, in a country that has every reason to be wary of the terrorist threat, says Syrian analyst Sami Moubayed. Read...

Report of the Conference
By hbs Beirut office

The hbs office in Beirut organized a two day conference from 2-3 November 2007 titled “Green Wars? Environment between Conflict and Cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa”. To read the conference report, click here. For more information on the conference, click here.

Cedar Revolution Reloaded
Lebanon between Internal Paralysis and Regional Confrontation
By Heiko Wimmen

While essentially over political issues, the current standoff between the Lebanese government and the opposition is assuming an increasingly sectarian character. Tensions between Sunni and Shiite Muslims have prompted violent clashes with several dead and hundreds injured. Read...

Environmental Impact of the 2006 Lebanon War

Israel’s offensive in Lebanon between July 12 and August 14, 2006 caused almost 1,200 fatalities and the destruction of infrastructure and property to the cost of at least US $ 2.5 billion. In addition to the loss of life and damage, the war caused several environmental problems that will have long-term consequences.  Read...

Watching in Silence
By Sami Mubayed

The Iranian elections have raised a stir in the Arab media and vibrated strongly in Arab capitals. Media outlets close to the positions of Syria, Hizbullah, and Qatar show a clear bias towards the Iranian official line, while outlets close to the camp that fears Iran, especially in the Arab Gulf, anticipate a breakdown of the Iranian government, similarly to the revolution of 1979. Sami Moubayed however doubts that that the current events will lead to radical changes and suggests that while Iran’s Arab allies will stay put, waiting for it to settle its internal affairs, its adversaries will eventually face disappointment.  Read...

Lebanon Pulls back from the Abyss
By Heiko Wimmen

The political crisis that has dragged on for nearly 18 months escalated dramatically during the second week of May. With the help of the Arab League, a process of dialogue was inaugurated and, on May 20, a temporary compromise was struck. The immediate crisis seems now resolved; however the situation remains volatile and renewed conflict possible, in particular as long as regional tension remains high. Read...

Since October 2006, a beefed up UN force has been deployed in Southern Lebanon to prevent new hostilities between Hizbollah and Israel. But can the ‘new’ UNIFIL really make a difference once the fragile truth in South Lebanon gets under the pressure of renewed regional tensions? Timur Göksel, spokesperson for UNIFIL for more than 20 years, attempts an assessment. Read...

Mixed Messages and Open Friction
The Arab League Summit in Damascus, 2008
By Sami Moubayed

Lebanon’s political crisis loomed large over the latest Arab summit in Damascus, with the Lebanese government and key Arab states accusing host Syria of fueling the festering conflict. Syrian analyst Sami Moubayed evaluates the score of the latest round in a protracted struggle. Read...

No Place Home

- Iraqi Refugees between Precarious Safety and Precipitous Return

By Layla Al-Zubaidi and Heiko Wimmen

Violence and turmoil have caused a massive stream of refugees from Iraq to seek safety in neighboring countries. This report attempts to give an overview of the origin and magnitude of the crisis, probes the likelihood of substantial numbers of refugees returning in the near future, and assesses the responsibility of international actors towards the refugees.  Read...

Syria in the Dock
By Kirsten Maas and Heiko Wimmen

This reports deals with the  United Nations Investigations on the Late Prime Minister assassination effects on the stability of the Syrian regime. Read...