Event Description:

Envisioning a Post-Crisis Regional Order in the Sharq Region, organised by Al Sharq Forum, took place in Istanbul at Swissotel the Bosphorus on Oct 8-9, 2016. The event brought together over 90 experts, academics, politicians, high level officials from the region and the West. Around 450 people attended the panels on the 8th. On the 9th, invitation only closed round tables were held, and these reports are produced as a result of these meetings.

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Abstract:

The following note reflects the discussions held during a private roundtable in Istanbul intended to tease out actionable policy recommendations for how international powers and regional powers in the Sharq (MENA) region can form mutually beneficial relationships. These exchanges took place on the margins of Al Sharq Forum’s conference on October 8-9 examining the post-crisis regional order in the region.
There was an underlying sense among participants that new analytical models needed to be developed to more effectively deal with the rapid changes that the region is undergoing, with a particular emphasis on what this means for international powers and their evolving role in the Middle East. It was argued that the ultimate aim of any such a model should be to create a sustainable, stable, multi-ethnic and pluralistic regional order.

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Abstract:

The following note reflects detailed discussions held during a private roundtable in Istanbul on the socio-economic roots of the regional crisis in the Sharq region and ways to mitigate and reverse these crisis conditions. These exchanges took place during Al Sharq Forum’s conference on October 8-9 examining the post-crisis regional order in the Sharq region. Although not dwelt on sufficiently elsewhere in the media sphere, there was a consensus after these discussions that unemployment levels, as opposed to the youth bulge in the region prior to Arab uprisings contributed to regional conflagrations. Unless the region gains stability, it will be very difficult to have a meaningful conversation about the socio-economic dimension. The issue of refugees has put immense pressure on national economies in the region. Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey have taken the brunt of the refugee crisis. At the same time, as in Turkey, refugees have started to contribute to the economy, as they are becoming more and more integrated into the host society by the day.

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Abstract:

On the second day of Al Sharq Forum’s conference “Examining the Post-Crisis Regional Order in the Sharq Region”, which was held in Istanbul on October 8-9, 2016, a private roundtable was organized to discuss the current political landscape in the Al Sharq region.
The discussions revolved around many themes: the political drivers of regional instability, the question of the relationship between majorities and minorities, the conflict between regional powers and its impact on sectarian tensions, and the possible role of intra-regional organizations in finding a way out of the current chaotic situation.
During the discussions, firstly, the underlying causes of regional instability were discussed. Some contributors pointed to local and domestic factors as the primary sources of the current malaise, while others focused more on the role played by regional and international powers.

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