Facing the security and policy challenges in the Middle East

The Middle East presents numerous strategic challenges to the West and Europe in particular. The promise of the 2011 Arab uprisings is gone, and civil conflict wracks Syria, Iraq, Yemen, and Libya. A military coup and subsequent crackdown in Egypt have shattered hopes of democracy there, while even bright spots like Tunisia see an increase in terrorism. New extremist groups like ISIS present a challenging set of security threats to the region and, importantly, Europe.

In this report, Shadi Hamid and Daniel Byman examine key dynamics and drivers of Middle East conflict in a post-Arab Spring era. The report is divided into six sections, each of which identifies a regional challenge, critically examines past and ongoing efforts to address the problems, and outlines policy implications and recommendations for the European Union, the United States, and other involved actors.

The full report can be accessed below.