Middle East and North Africa

Blog

1st July 2025

‘A new era for Lebanon’: can an end to political posters in ...

Advertising billboards in Beirut are showcasing diverse (and divisive) approaches to memorialisation of the recent past and to the ongoing conflict wi...

Read Blog

Middle East and North Africa Lebanon Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

Research report

24th June 2025

Working in fragile and conflict-affected border areas

Nathan Shea, Tabea Campbell Pauli

Key findings for policymakers and practitioners from seven years of the XCEPT Local Research Network.

Read Research report

South Asia and Southeast Asia Middle East and North Africa Horn of Africa and the Sahel Conflict Dynamics Borderlands

Event

26th June 2025

Webinar – Localising conflict research: lessons from XCEPT

This XCEPT webinar explored practical approaches to supporting locally led research in conflict settings.

See Event

South Asia and Southeast Asia Middle East and North Africa Horn of Africa and the Sahel Conflict Response Conflict Dynamics Borderlands

Research report

16th June 2025

Why peacebuilding fails and what to do about it

Renad Mansour, Mark White

As geopolitical fragmentation deepens, conflicts are increasing in complexity and number, and internationalising in new ways as states, armed groups, ...

Read Research report

Sudan Middle East and North Africa Libya Iran Transnational Flows Organised Crime Migration Conflict Economies Conflict Dynamics

Event

12th June 2025

Chatham House-XCEPT event: navigating protracted conflicts i...

Following the conclusion of the Chatham House XCEPT research initiative, this event unpacks key findings and explores how policymakers can better resp...

See Event

Middle East and North Africa Horn of Africa and the Sahel Violent Extremism Transnational Flows Organised Crime Migration Governance Conflict Response Conflict Economies Conflict Dynamics Borderlands

Blog

12th May 2025

The impact of trauma survey: breaking cycles of trauma and v...

Sam Hibbs

The role of trauma and mental health problems in driving continued violence, or in blocking reconciliation efforts, is under-researched.

Read Blog

South Sudan Middle East and North Africa Lebanon Iraq Horn of Africa and the Sahel Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

Article

2nd May 2025

The ides of November: navigating the shifting sands of Iraq’...

Inna Rudolf, Douglas A. Ollivant

As Iraq gears up for its pivotal parliamentary elections, regional volatility, the fracturing Iran-led resistance axis, and unprecedented divisions wi...

Read Article

Middle East and North Africa Iraq Violent and Peaceful Behaviour Governance

Event

24th June 2025

XCEPT Conference 2025 – Beyond borders: conflict responses i...

The XCEPT Conference 2025 was held in London on 24-25 June.

See Event

South Asia and Southeast Asia Middle East and North Africa Horn of Africa and the Sahel Violent and Peaceful Behaviour Transnational Flows Climate Change Borderlands

Podcast

17th April 2025

From rebels to rulers: Who are Syria’s new leaders?

Nafees Hamid, Nils Mallock, Rahaf Aldoughli, Broderick McDonald

Dr Nafees Hamid, Dr Rahaf Aldoughli, Nils Mallock, and Broderick McDonald discuss their research surveying and interviewing Syrian rebel fighters both...

Listen to Podcast

Middle East and North Africa Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

Podcast

17th April 2025

Babel podcast: the politics of memory, from Mosul to Beirut ...

Craig Larkin

While there’s been a lot of focus on physical rebuilding, Dr. Craig Larkin argues there’s not enough focus on how communities heal.

Listen to Podcast

Middle East and North Africa Violent and Peaceful Behaviour

Blog

2nd April 2025

Lebanon needs a new approach to migration governance

Christianne Aikins, AnnaSophia Gallagher

Since 2019, the number of people attempting to flee Lebanon via irregular boat crossings has drastically increased. The new government in Lebanon, led...

Read Blog

Middle East and North Africa Lebanon Transnational Flows Migration

Briefing paper

2nd April 2025

Gendered mobility dynamics and human security risks in irreg...

AnnaSophia Gallagher, Christianne Aikins, Valeria Spagnolo

Irregular maritime migration from Lebanon has risen dramatically over the last three years, driven by compounded political, socio-economic, and securi...

Read Briefing paper

Middle East and North Africa Transnational Flows Migration Gender

Briefing paper

31st March 2025

Localisation of Research and Evidence Generation in Conflict...

Zaki Ullah, Pamela Combinido

Practical lessons and guidance from the X-Border Local Research Network (LRN)’s experience on supporting equitable, locally embedded research in fragi...

Read Briefing paper

Southeast Asia South Asia and Southeast Asia South Asia Sahel Middle East and North Africa Middle East Horn of Africa and the Sahel Horn of Africa Conflict Dynamics Borderlands

Blog

31st March 2025