THINK TANKS IN THE MEDITERRANEAN. PATHWAYS TO GROWTH AND STABILITY

While the self-proclaimed Islamic State has been militarily defeated in Syria and Iraq, a fragile balance of power, deteriorating security and economic challenges still affect the MENA region. In particular, new protests, political polarization and enduring crises are major driving forces behind today’s problems. They risk compromising efforts to achieve political stability and economic prosperity, as shown by current developments in North Africa. Any policy initiative should build upon an integrated approach addressing both security and economic challenges. A revived European engagement in the region and an enhanced Euro-Mediterranean cooperation may help design such an approach. Think tanks from both shores of the Mediterranean have a role to play to the extent they are able to successfully reach out to the public and policymakers.

• How do current protests, rifts and rivalries affect security and stability in the mena region?
• What are the major risks and opportunities for north african economies?
• How should europe re engage and reshape its role in the mena region?
• Which strategies can think tanks adopt to have their voice heard among the public and policymakers?

Promoted by

Organized by

Participants

• Abla ABDEL LATIF, Executive Director and Director of Research, Egyptian Center for Economic Studies (ECES), Egypt
• Abdullah AL SAUD, Director of Research, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), Saudi Arabia
• Dlawer ALA’ALDEEN, President, Middle East Research Institute (MERI), Iraq
• Hossa ALMUTAIRI, Research Fellow, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Saudi Arabia
• Fahad ALTURKI, Vice President, Head of Research, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Chair T20, Saudi Arabia
• Haizam AMIRAH-FERNÁNDEZ, Senior Analyst, Elcano Royal Institute, Spain
• Thomas BIRRINGER, Head of Team Africa and Middle East, Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS), Germany
• Franco BRUNI, Vice President, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
• Galip DALAY, Research Director, Al Sharq Forum, Turkey
• Udi DEKEL, Managing Director and Senior Research Fellow, Institute for National Security Studies (INSS), Israel
• Manlio DI STEFANO, Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs and International cooperation, Italy
• Mihály DOBROVITS, Academic Director, Center for Security and Defense Studies (CSDS), Hungary
• Alexander DYNKIN, President, Primakov National Research Institute of World Economy and International Relations (IMEMO), Russian Academy of Sciences (RAS), Russia
• Tim EATON, Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House, UK
• Karim EL AYNAOUI, President, Policy Center for the New South, Morocco
• Zaid EYADAT, Director, Center for Strategic Studies (CSS), University of Jordan, Jordan
• Dina FAKOUSSA, Head of MENA Program, German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), Germany
• Josep FERRÉ GAVARRÓ, Acting Director General, European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), Spain
• Tine GADE, Senior Research Fellow, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs (NUPI), Norway
• Heinz GAERTNER, Political Analyst, International Institute for Peace (IIP), Austria
• Ali HAJJAFARI, Senior Expert, Iranian Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), Iran
• Nader KABBANI, Director of Research, Brookings Doha Center, Qatar
• Andrey KORTUNOV, Director General, Russian International Affairs Council (RIAC), Russia
• Ming LIU, Senior Fellow on International Studies, Institute of International Relations, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences (SASS), China
• Paolo MAGRI, Executive Vice President and Director, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
• Bader MALALLAH, Director General, Arab Planning Institute (API), Kuwait
• James MCGANN, Director, Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program (TTCSP), Lauder Institute, University of Pennsylvania, USA
• Khaled MENNA, Deputy Director, Research Centre in Applied Economics for Development (CREAD), Algeria
• Karim MEZRAN, Director, North Africa Initiative; Resident Senior Fellow, Rafik Hariri Center and Middle East programs, Atlantic Council, USA
• Nicola MISSAGLIA, Research Fellow, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
• Wolfgang MÜHLBERGER, Senior Research Fellow, Finnish Institute for International Affairs (FIIA), Finland
• Luigi NARBONE, Director, Middle East Directions Programme, Robert Schuman Centre, European University Institute (EUI), Italy
• George PAGOULATOS, Director General, Hellenic Foundation for European and Foreign Policy (ELIAMEP), Greece
• Annalisa PERTEGHELLA, Research Fellow, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
• Misha POPOVIKJ, Senior Researcher and Program Coordinator, Institute for Democracy ‘Societas Civilis’ Skopje (IDSCS), North Macedonia
• Wael SAAD, Assistant Manager, Al-Zaytouna Centre for Studies and Consultations, Palestine
• Dorothée SCHMID, Head, Middle East and Turkey Program, French Institute of International Relations (IFRI), France
• Nuno SEVERIANO TEIXEIRA, Director, Portuguese Institute for International Relations (IPRI), Portugal
• Monika SIE DHIAN HO, General Director, Netherlands Institute of International Relations – Clingendael, Netherlands
• Randa SLIM, Senior Fellow and Director of Conflict Resolution and Track II Dialogues Program, Middle East Institute, USA
• Róisín SMITH, Senior Research Fellow, Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), Ireland
• Sonja STOJANOVIC GAJIC, Member of Executive Board, Belgrade Centre for Security Policy (BCSP), Serbia
• Izabela STYCZYNSKA, President of Management Board , Center for Social and Economic Research (CASE), Poland
• Eleonora TAFURO AMBROSETTI, Research Fellow, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
• Valeria TALBOT, Co-Head, Middle East and North Africa Centre, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
• Christof VAN AGT, Senior Energy Analyst, International Energy Forum (IEF)
• Arturo VARVELLI, Co-Head, Middle East and North Africa Centre, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
• Antonio VILLAFRANCA, Research Coordinator; Head of Europe Programme, Italian Institute for International Political Studies (ISPI), Italy
• Robert WATKINS, Assistant Director and Head of the Operations Middle East and North Africa, Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), Switzerland
• William WECHSLER, Director for Middle East Programs, Atlantic Council, USA

Observers:

• Amal ALTWAIJRI, Associate Researcher, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), Saudi Arabia
• Mehrdad KIAEI, Representative of IPIS in Rome, Institute for Political and International Studies (IPIS), Iran
• Axel PIERRU, Program Director, Energy and Macroeconomics, King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center (KAPSARC), Saudi Arabia
• Yousef ZAREA, Researcher, King Faisal Center for Research and Islamic Studies (KFCRIS), Saudi Arabia

Download the Program