Regional Dialogue and the Levant and Iraq Forum (LIF)

Project Description

The Levant and Iraq are home to the World’s most diverse ethno-religious communities, that had been integrated for millennia until the post WWI partition. Tragically, over the last century, the people of Levant, encompassed by the modern states of Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Jordan, suffered largely externally driven divisions, conflicts and devastating wars.  This legacy of conflict and external intrusion has generated immense challenges culminating in weakened states with polarised, militarised and largely impoverished communities. Drawing on a long history of shared resources, culture and traditions, it is time to focus policy makers and public minds on visions for long-term peace, stability and prosperity.

During MERI Forum 2024, we launched the Levant and Iraq Forum (LIF) as a new, regionally led, platform to promote closer regional cooperation in the Levant, one which draws on the common history of the region, the close ties of its peoples and a common desire to escape the legacy of almost a century of violent conflict. Since then, the LIF has been actively growing into a regional cross-border network of think tanks with joint initiatives for the future.

Coordination and contribution to the LIF is one of the focus areas of MERI’s research, which includes organisation of:

• Track 2 dialogue
• Roundtables and workshops under Chatham House Rules

Publication of policy briefs and policy reports with recommendations.