Current Issues in the Middle East

 One of the longest-running and most sought-after offerings in the ILR Middle East program, Current Issues in the Middle East, examines the rapidly evolving dynamics of this pivotal region. Each week, major developments in the news are presented, analyzed, and crucially placed in their proper historical context. Guided by a career educator and regional specialist, participants will move beyond headlines to understand how the past continues to shape present-day realities. The course emphasizes historical grounding as essential to interpreting current events, identifying key actors, tracing shifting alliances, and assessing regional and global implications. Weekly topics are driven by the news. Anticipated themes include U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East; the long-term implications of the U.S.–Israel war with Iran; evolving regional alliances; vulnerabilities among Arab Gulf states; competing perspectives on the Palestinian–Israeli conflict; prospects for Gaza; Israeli operations in Lebanon; and Syria’s reintegration into regional and global affairs. Additional challenges will be incorporated as they arise, including persistent authoritarianism, youth unemployment, economic diversification, water scarcity, and the impact of climate change.