Middle East and North Africa Program

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Since the uprisings of 2011, the Middle East and North Africa have been in upheaval. With few exceptions, developments have been alarming. A wave of violence – which, even for this strife-prone region, has been unprecedented – as well as intra-societal, interstate, and regional conflicts continue to destabilize the region with direct consequences for Europe. Keeping apace with the dynamics of events there requires continual analysis and debate. This is the only way to further develop impactful local, German, and European policies for dealing with these challenges.

This is where the DGAP’s Middle East and North Africa Program comes in. Its workshops, background discussions, and publications aim to break down complexities, generate knowledge, develop solutions, and create understanding for the interests and needs of countries both in the region and abroad. This approach results in recommendations for meaningful courses of action for key players in Germany and Europe, as well as those in the Middle East and North Africa. To achieve its goals, the program works closely with experts and opinion leaders from all countries concerned. The program’s alumni network is comprised of some 500 experts from the region.

Since 2017, the program has supported think tanks and similar institutions in Morocco, Tunisia, and Jordan to help them professionalize their work and build their capacity for providing policy analysis and advice.

From 2011 to 2016, the program’s work focused on topics related to Egypt, Tunisia, Morocco and Turkey. It examined both domestic political developments and regional dynamics that affected these countries, as well the quality and impact of European and international policy concerning them.

From 2014 to 2019, the program had a research project on the involvement of the Gulf States in Egypt and Tunisia and the political and economic implications of this support.

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Publications

In the media

Events

Past events

09:00 | 25 - 27 Feb 2016

Deconstructing Islamist Terrorism in Tunisia

Policy Workshop in Tunis: February 25–27, 2016, Tunis

A three-day policy workshop in Tunis – organized by the EU-Middle East Forum of the DGAP’s MENA program in cooperation with the Robert Bosch Stiftung, the German Federal Foreign Office, the Institute for Foreign Cultural Relations (ifa), and Le Labo’ Démocratique – brought together 19 young and mid-level experts to discuss the rise of terrorism in Tunisia since 2011.

Program Event
Tunis
09:00 | 01 - 03 Oct 2015

Deconstructing Islamist Terrorism in Egypt

Policy Workshop, October 1–3, 2015, Berlin

Why has terrorism reemerged in Egypt? What are the aims of the most active militant groups? What is the nature of link to so-called Islamic State and Al Qaeda? How do Egyptian groups they finance their activities and how effective is the Egyptian state in countering this threat? Finally, how can the international community best support Egypt’s fight against terrorism? A 3-day policy workshop at the DGAP’s EU-Middle East Forum of the MENA program delved deeply into these questions.

Program Event
Diskussion
Berlin
10:00 - 12:30 | 18 Sep 2015

Geopolitical Power Shifts in the Middle East

Panel Discussion

How will major geopolitical developments shape the face of the new Middle East? What are their implications for democracy and sustainable stability in the region? What role do regional powers such as Turkey, Iran, and Saudi Arabia play? And what does it mean for German/European foreign policy in the region? These were some of the questions discussed in an expert panel discussion organized by the DGAP’s Middle East and North Africa program in cooperation with FRIDE.

Think Tank Event
Diskussion
Berlin
10:00 - 12:30 | 18 Sep 2015

Geopolitische Machtverschiebungen im Nahen Osten

Podiumsdiskussion

Wie werden wesentliche geopolitische Entwicklungen das Gesicht des neuen Nahen Ostens prägen? Was sind ihre Auswirkungen auf Demokratie und dauerhafte Stabilität in der Region und was bedeuten sie für die deutsche und europäische Außenpolitik? Welche Rolle spielen regionale Akteure wie die Türkei, Iran oder Saudi-Arabien? Dies waren einige der Fragen einer Podiumsdiskussion, die das DGAP-Programm Naher Osten und Nordafrika in Kooperation mit FRIDE organisierte.

Think Tank Veranstaltung
Diskussion
Berlin
09:00 - 18:00 | 26 May 2015

Engagement of Arab Gulf States in Egypt and Tunisia: Rationale and Implications

Expert Conference

Since the upheavals in the MENA region in 2011, the wealthier Gulf states have undertaken significant efforts to influence regional politics in their interest through economic and political means. What interests are the Gulf states pursuing in Egypt and Tunisia? What shapes their foreign policy? By what means and in which sectors are they engaging in Egypt and Tunisia? What are the future prospects?

Program Event
Expertenrunde
Berlin
09:00 | 13 - 15 Nov 2014

Alumni-Konferenz des EU-Middle East Forum

“The MENA Region in Turmoil – Causes and Ways out of the Crises”

Vom 13. bis 15. November lud das EU-Middle East Forum rund 120 Alumni früherer New Faces-Konferenzen und Sommerschulen aus dem Nahen Osten, Nordafrika, der Türkei und Europa zu einem Wiedersehen und Vernetzungstreffen in die DGAP ein. Die Konferenz wurde in Zusammenarbeit mit der Robert Bosch Stiftung, dem Auswärtigen Amt und dem Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen (ifa) realisiert.

Think Tank Veranstaltung
Diskussion
Berlin

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