Social and Political Change

The Middle East Program's Martin Pimentel examines how Lebanese civil society organizations are addressing the waste crisis and a lack of government leadership by becoming more integrated and supporting innovative new approaches to waste management.

Jon B. Alterman, director of the Middle East Program, argues that Israel is facing a third juncture in its history. The current judicial reform bill will shape the kind of democracy it becomes and risks permanently disenfranchising millions of Israelis.

Anti-refugee sentiment is on the rise in the MENA region as economic crises worsen and aid decreases. In a new commentary, Will Todman calls for innovative solutions from global actors to ease host community burdens, shelter victims of violence, and mitigate hostilities.

Libyan authorities are trying to silence independent voices in the run-up to planned elections, but the crackdown undermines the work of civil society more broadly. Lubna Yousef and Will Todman argue that this strategy is self-sabotaging.

With unemployment in the Middle East reaching alarming levels, Jon B. Alterman explores the potential consequences of the region's economic growth and energy transition on its youth population, and with it, the critical choices governments should make to avoid crises.

Dr. Jon B. Alterman calls attention to a transition in the Middle East that receives little attention, and how the United States can help regional states approach the looming changes to the benefit of U.S. strategic interests.

Dr. Jon Alterman discusses progress and setbacks in Saudi Arabia's sociopolitical reform efforts and what these mean for U.S. engagement (or disengagement) with the kingdom in the future.

CSIS's Will Todman answers four timely questions about the formation of Lebanon's new government after a year of stalemate.