Credit: Shutterstock/Sun_Shine Lead researchers: Mac Skelton, Joseph Bahout
Partners: American University of Iraq Sulaimani (AUIS), American University of Beirut (AUB), Omran Center for Strategic Studies
Duration: January 2026 – December 2026
Countries: Iraq, Syria, Lebanon
Middle East analysts and Western policymakers have long understood the interconnected geography of Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon – often referred to as the Levant Corridor – primarily through a security lens. This perspective has shaped how cross-border movement is perceived and governed, despite the fact that this route has historically facilitated significant trade, mobility, and informal economic exchange across the region.
This project explores pathways for shifting away from fragmented, security-driven border control toward more coordinated systems of formal trade regulation and governance. It seeks to reframe border management as a space not only of security concern but also of economic integration and regional cooperation.
The Institute of Regional and International Studies (IRIS) is leading a multi-country consortium that includes the Issam Fares Institute (IFI) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) and the Omran Center for Strategic Studies in Damascus.
The project follows a structured three-phase research design. The first phase will develop preliminary policy frameworks addressing customs coordination, cross-border payments, and infrastructure governance. The second phase will test and refine these ideas through fieldwork and consultations with policymakers and practitioners. In the final phase, the research team will share findings through policy dialogues and workshops in Iraq, Syria, and Lebanon.
For more information regarding this research, contact [email protected]