June 12, 2025
Modern conflicts are no longer neatly contained within national borders but are increasingly shaped by complex, transnational geoeconomic systems. This event marks the culmination of a five-year Chatham House research programme under the Cross-Border Conflict Evidence, Policy, and Trends (XCEPT) initiative funded by UK international Development. The research explores the evolving dynamics of transnational conflict ecosystems across the Middle East, North Africa, the Sahel, and parts of West and East Africa. The programme investigates how conflict economies — sustained by both licit and illicit supply chains — are reshaping regional power structures and challenging the effectiveness of traditional Western policy responses. As regional middle powers pursue pragmatic, issue-based alignments and military actors evolve into significant political players, the urgency for a more adaptive and strategic Western approach grows.
Speakers:
- Professor Jonathan Goodhand, Professor in Conflict and Development Studies, SOAS, University of London
- Renad Mansour, Senior Research Fellow, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House; Project Director, Iraq Initiative, Chatham House
- Dr Sanam Vakil, Director, Middle East and North Africa Programme, Chatham House
- Mark White, Director, First Call Partners Ltd; Conflict, Security, and Governance Expert
- Moderator: Leslie Vinjamuri, Director, US and Americas Programme, Chatham House