The Levant and Iraq Forum: A Platform for Regional Cooperation and Ultimate Integration
Amidst the persistent geopolitical and economic challenges facing the Middle East, intellectual initiatives that seek to envision a sustainable and prosperous future are of paramount importance. Realizing this need, MERI Forum 2024 was used an opportunity to launch the Levant and Iraq Forum (LIF), a consortium of regional think tanks and a platform for regional dialogue, cooperation and reintegration. Dlawer Ala’Aldeen, President of the Middle East Research Institute (MERI) introduced the concept and evolution of the ideas relating to the LIF initiative. This was followed by an interactive session that featured:
- Said Bahaa Al-Masri, former Cabinet Minister of Jordan and representative of HRH Prince Al-Hassan Bin Talal.
- Luqman Faily, The Iraqi Ambassador to Germany
- Ammar Kahf, Executive Director of Omran Center for Strategic Studies, based in Istanbul.
- Hiwa Othman, Journalist, +964 Media (moderator).
Dlawer Ala’Aldeen described the Levant and Iraq (L&I) as the home to some of the world’s most diverse yet deeply interconnected ethno-religious communities, which have coexisted peacefully and shared a common cultural and historical heritage for millennia. The people of this region have plenty in common across social, political, economic, and security sectors. Unfortunately, over the past century, the region endured divisions, conflicts, and devastating wars, leading to weakened states and increasingly polarized, militarized, and impoverished communities. The ongoing loss of the region’s rich diversity due to sectarian politics, population displacement, and onward migration are highly concerning. Ala’Aldeen believed that now is the time to move beyond conflict and find ways to foster dialogue, recovery, and prosperity across the region. The LIF is therefore designed to engage stakeholders, including policymakers, opinion leaders, and philanthropists at national, regional, and international levels to exchange ideas and explore initiatives that promote inter-community dialogue, cross-border collaboration, economic interdependence, and ultimately, the reintegration of L&I.
The Jordanian Model
Dr Said Bhaa Al-Masri, conveyed HRH Prince Al-Hassan’s greetings, words of wisdom and full support for the LIF initiative. Al-Masri provided insights into how Jordan has maintained stability despite regional turbulence. He attributed this to three key factors: institutional continuity, economic-centric policymaking, and managing diversity through inclusivity. Unlike its neighbours, Jordan has maintained a stable and adaptive governance system that has evolved to meet geopolitical challenges. The Hashemite monarchy’s strategic pragmatism has played a crucial role in ensuring that institutions remain functional and effective despite external pressures.
According to Al-Masri, Jordan has undergone a fundamental shift in governance priorities under King Abdullah II, where economic development has taken precedence over political maneuvering. The government has focused on attracting investment, strengthening economic resilience, and fostering social stability through inclusive economic policies. Jordan’s ability to balance ethnic, sectarian, and political interests has been instrumental in maintaining internal peace. Unlike Iraq and Syria, where sectarian divides have fueled instability, Jordan has adopted a policy of moderation and national integration.
These lessons highlight the importance of economic pragmatism, strong institutions, and inclusive governance in ensuring long-term stability. However, panelists acknowledged that Jordan’s model may not be directly transferable to Iraq, Syria, or Lebanon, as each country faces unique internal challenges.
Iraq’s Challenges
Iraq faces deep governance and economic challenges that have hindered its post-conflict reconstruction and reform efforts. The Iraqi Ambassador to Germany, Luqman Faily, identified systemic corruption, sectarian and political fragmentation, and economic mismanagement as the primary barriers to reform. Decades of political corruption and administrative inefficiency have eroded public trust and weakened state institutions. Political elites prioritize personal and factional interests, making governance reforms difficult.
Iraq’s sectarian power-sharing system has resulted in policy paralysis, where competing factions block critical economic and governance reforms. Unlike Jordan’s centralized governance model, Iraq remains divided along sectarian and ethnic lines, preventing effective decision-making. Despite being one of the world’s largest oil producers, Iraq has failed to diversify its economy or create a competitive private sector. Heavy reliance on oil revenues, coupled with bureaucratic inefficiencies, has stalled economic growth and contributed to high unemployment and social discontent.
Faily emphasized that Iraq must move beyond crisis management and adopt long-term economic planning. Instead of seeking short-term political wins, policymakers should focus on fostering a sustainable business environment, reducing bureaucracy, and investing in human capital. These reforms, however, require strong political will and sustained implementation—an area where Iraq continues to struggle.
Syria’s future
Syria’s prolonged conflict has shattered state institutions, displaced millions, and devastated the economy. Dr. Ammar Kahf stressed that stability in Syria requires a shift from external interventions to internal reconciliation efforts. Civil society organizations (CSOs) have filled governance gaps in opposition-controlled areas, providing essential services where the government has collapsed. However, they remain marginalized in formal political discussions.
The absence of a unified national dialogue prevents political reintegration. Foreign intervention from Iran, Russia, Turkey, and the U.S. complicates governance structures, while the economy remains in freefall, deepening social instability. Kahf emphasized that Syrian civil society must be integrated into any future governance framework, warning that excluding grassroots actors will only prolong instability.
Ways Forward
Facing these challenges, the panelists presented a set of proposed solutions that could contribute to achieving stability and prosperity in the region. They stressed the importance of enhancing trust between peoples and decision-makers through dialogue and continuous and constructive communication. They also called for activating regional cooperation in various fields, especially economic and cultural, by launching joint projects and exchange programs that contribute to bringing viewpoints closer and unifying efforts.
Among the practical proposals are the idea of establishing oil and gas pipelines from Iraq via Jordan or Syria and Lebanon, building roads and railways to facilitate trade and tourism, and exchanging scholarships between universities. Large-scale infrastructure projects such as Iraq’s Al-Faw Port and the Development Road Project could serve as regional economic catalysts. Encouraging cross-border trade agreements could help reduce dependency on external actors, while investing in technology and digital partnerships could modernize economies and create new employment opportunities.
The panelists stressed the need to apply the principles of good governance in all state institutions, by enhancing transparency, accountability and combating corruption. They also called for adopting sustainable development strategies that take into account the economic, social and environmental dimensions, and ensure the achievement of comprehensive and sustainable development.
The Levant and Iraq Forum was also suggested to be a non-governmental and informal platform aimed at providing a space for the peoples of the region to express their concerns and seek to achieve their interests. The importance of political and societal will in achieving these goals was emphasized, along with the need to create a positive narrative for the future.
Various models that could be established for regional cooperation were proposed, such as the Regional Economic and Social Council, the Levant and Iraq Citizens Association, and a water or renewable energy community. The importance of changing the thinking approach from a zero-sum equation to a win-win equation was also emphasized. The panelists pointed out the importance of focusing on improving people’s living conditions, and that political reforms must serve humanity.
Role of the Civil Society, Dialogue and International Models
While a formal regional economic alliance remains unrealistic in the near term, incremental regional cooperation can serve as a stepping stone toward greater economic integration. Civil society must play a greater role in governance discussions, particularly in Syria, where local actors are essential for long-term stability. Participants stressed the vital role that civil society plays in achieving sustainable development, by contributing to the formulation and implementation of policies, monitoring the performance of government institutions, and promoting community participation. Civil society is considered a key partner in the development process, as it represents the voice of the people and reflects their aspirations and needs. The of civil society in Syria could contribute to any future initiative, although its experience is still nascent. The panel stressed the importance of supporting civil society and broadening cross-community communication and collaboration.
As Luqman Faily succinctly stated, “The solution will not come from the West. Our survival depends on our ability to build internal resilience and regional partnerships.” While regional cooperation remains a complex process, the discussion underscored that a strategic, incremental approach to economic, social, and governance reforms is the most viable path toward long-term stability in the Middle East. Dialogue comes in here as an essential factor for stability. Participants stressed the importance of continuous dialogue and communication between the various stakeholders, in order to reach consensus solutions that serve the interests of all the peoples of the region. Dialogue is the best way to resolve disputes and overcome differences, and to build a national consensus on critical issues. Participants pointed to the importance of regional dialogue, with the participation of all actors, including Turkey, in order to achieve stability in the region. The importance of dialogue with the United States, as an influential actor in the region, in order to reach understandings on the future of the region, was also addressed. It was emphasized that the dialogue should be inclusive of all parties, and should aim to achieve stability and improve the living conditions of the people.
There are numerous successful models of integration from which lessons can be drawn. The panel touched upon various international experiences, such as the German experience in integration after the war, and the Japanese experience. In drawing lessons from these experiences, the panel placed emphasis on the need not to replicate them completely, but to benefit from them in a way that suits the specificity of the region. The importance of political will in overcoming crises, as evidenced by the German experience in merging the eastern and western parts of Germany, was emphasized. The Jordanian experience in maintaining stability, and the American experience in supporting integration, were also discussed.
Finally
The achievement of stability and prosperity in the Levant and Iraq requires concerted efforts from all stakeholders, through strengthening trust and regional cooperation, implementing the principles of good governance, and adopting sustainable development strategies. Within this, the role of civil society is important in achieving the desired development, and in involving young people in shaping the future of the region. The importance of dialogue and communication, benefiting from international experiences, and working on the implementation of major economic projects remain vital in catapulting development and regional collaboration forward.
As Dlawer Ala’Aldeen stated at the start, the LIF should become an indispensable platform for collective thinking and working, beyond conflicts, for protecting and re-integrating the diverse communities of the L&I, especially the ethno-religious minorities.
MERI Forum 2024
The Levant and Iraq Forum: A Platform for Regional Cooperation and Ultimate Integration