Resources & Tools
part of the Center for Conflict Analysis and Prevention
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Overall, Syria has marginally benefited from the war in Iraq at both the regional and international levels. After watching the U.S. military unseat the Baathist regime next door in 2003 with unprecedented speed, it looked to many observers—including some in Damascus—as if Syria would be next in line. Countries: Iraq, Syria
| Issue Areas: Civil-Military Relations, Conflict Management and Resolution, Economics and Development, Governance, Human Rights, International and Regional Organizations, Mediation and Facilitation, Negotiation and Diplomacy, Nongovernmental Organizations, Political Systems and International Relations, Terrorism and Political Extremism
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The recent war in Gaza has again underscored the tensions involved in brokering sustainable peace in the Middle East. USIP has actively explored the critical role neighboring countries in the Middle East play in the success of creating peace throughout the region. In this "On the Issues," USIP presents a collection of resources and tools about the role of Syria in peacebuilding efforts. Building upon the foundation started in 2005 with the Syrian Working Group, USIP has held a number of recent events, activities, and programs resulting the development of some recent resources. |
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Since 2004, USIP's "Iraq and its Neighbors" initiative has sponsored track II dialogues and ongoing research on relations between Iraq and its six immediate neighbors. As part of this work, the Institute--in partnership with the Stimson Center--sponsored a bipartisan, independent, and unofficial Study Mission to Syria and Saudi Arabia in mid-January 2009. The delegation met with a wide variety of leading political figures, businesspeople, NGOs and foreign policy experts in both countries, including President Bashar Assad of Syria and Prince Turki al-Faysal of Saudi Arabia. |
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Iraq’s Persian Gulf neighbors supported the U.S. invasion of Iraq in order to preserve the status quo--a weak and self-absorbed Iraq--rather than to impose a new one. However, the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and its aftermath have not brought stability to the Gulf States as much as they have shifted the most serious challenges from external threats (of a hostile Baghdad) to internal threats (the threat of conflict spillover from Iraq). Countries: Bahrain, Iraq, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates
| Issue Areas: Post-Conflict Activities
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The United States faces a set of unparalleled challenges in the Middle East at a moment when its capacity to respond is circumscribed and the regional and global situations are deteriorating. It is far more likely that things will get worse before they get better, though there are ways of trying to improve the odds. Countries: Iraq
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Stepped-up regional diplomacy initiatives on Iraq have brought new attention to the role of Iraq's neighbors. A March 10 conference in Baghdad brought together regional powers, including Syria and Iran, together with American and Western diplomats, and marked the most significant diplomatic gathering in Iraq since 1990. As the tempo of diplomacy gains momentum, there is renewed focus on Syrian-Iraqi ties and whether Syria can help bring stability to Iraq. |
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Against the backdrop of intensified regional diplomacy, a high-level group of foreign policy and national security figures from Iraq and its six neighbors (Iran, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Turkey) engaged in a wide-ranging, constructive, non-official dialogue on ways to stabilize Iraq and improve regional security. |
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Countries: Israel, Palestinian Territories
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President Bush's visit to Jordan this week has brought new attention to the role of Iraq's neighbors. As part of the Institute's Iraq and its Neighbors initiative, Scott Lasensky has completed an in-depth study on Jordan and the myriad of challenges it now faces because of a weak Iraq. Countries: Iraq, Jordan
| Issue Areas: Conflict Management and Resolution, Negotiation and Diplomacy
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