Research Library

Armed conflict in Gaza, Sudan, and Syria has made millions reliant on humanitarian assistance. Experts Kelsey Norman and Salah Ben Hammou from the Baker Institute's Center for the Middle East joined Baker Briefing to discuss parallels between the dire situations in Gaza, Sudan, and Syria and the challenges of delivering humanitarian aid to war-torn regions.

While voters tend to base their decisions heavily on candidates’ domestic policies, it is very prudent for voters and candidates to pay attention to international issues as well, especially given the high stakes of current global events for U.S. citizens, writes Richard J. Stoll.

The Middle East is in a new era of mass displacement, with millions uprooted after a year of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza, with a new front in Lebanon. In a recent commentary featured in The Conversation, Kelsey Norman and coauthor Nichols R. Micinski examine the long-lasting effects of the region’s humanitarian crisis, highlighting the urgent need for a ceasefire to enable displaced communities to return home and rebuild.

In response to the ongoing war in Gaza, the Houthi Red Sea campaign has caused significant economic disruptions — underscoring geopolitical shifts in the region. A new brief from the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East and the Center for Energy Studies summarizes a conversation in which experts outline how the Houthi challenge has evolved over time and against the backdrop of Yemen’s ongoing conflicts.

Despite its uncertain future in the context of energy transitions, oil remains the largest global energy source, and oil markets will continue to demand attention in the near term given their economic and geopolitical impacts. Mark Finley discusses global oil production, demand, and implications.

Two specific issues — the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas war — have propelled foreign policy to the forefront of this year’s election. Both conflicts are ongoing and have severely tested Biden and his foreign policy team, and ahead of November, Biden has little room for error.

Climate change, conflict, and displacement in the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region present overlapping challenges to policymakers. This new joint report from the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East and United States Institute of Peace examines four key components — natural resources, urban fragility, gendered impacts, and international financing — and makes specific recommendations to address these complex issues.

Will OPEC+ begin to reverse large production cuts at its June 1 meeting? In large part, it will depend on whose oil market outlook is closest to the mark, writes Mark Finley, fellow in energy and global oil. He examines several forecasts and outlines the issues in a new commentary.

President Biden’s announcement that the U.S. is preparing to open a maritime corridor to Gaza highlights a deteriorating relationship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and attempts to address voter concerns ahead of the November election.

Experts from the Edward P. Djerejian Center for the Middle East explore the challenges facing the world’s 36 million refugees and internally displaced people.