The Middle East Program together with the Environmental Change and Security Program launched the Agents of Change Youth Fellowship with fellows representing 11 countries from across the MENA region. On Viewpoints, Wilson Center Global Fellow Ambassador David Hale contends the importance of strengthening state institutions in Lebanon – and America’s role in that capacity building. MEP Chair Ambassador James Jeffrey evaluates the U.S.-Turkish relationship following the visit of Turkey’s FM Mevlut Cavusoglu to Washington, D.C. MEP Fellows Guy Laron argues Russian and Saudi interests only align over oil prices, and Marina Ottaway assesses the state of democracy in Iraq and reasons for hope in Sudan.
To conclude their internship with the Middle East Program, fall staff assistants Adam Grimes and Ainav Rabinowitz also contributed to the Viewpoints series. Grimes tracks Saudi Arabia’s ambitions in electric vehicle manufacturing and Ainav Rabinowitz reports on the latest fight to combat domestic violence in Egypt.
Next month, MEP will be honored to host leading women’s rights advocate and former Minister for Women’s Affairs in Iran Mahnaz Afkhami at the 2023 Haleh Esfandiari Forum.
