The Middle East faces a web of complex crises driven by historical legacies, regional power struggles, and ongoing geopolitical tensions. Among these crises, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict stands out as a deeply entrenched issue, marked by competing national aspirations and territorial disputes. The region’s challenges are further compounded by a mix of deeply rooted conflicts, sectarian divides, and the influence of both regional and global actors. These crises have far-reaching implications, affecting global security, economic stability, and international diplomacy. Understanding the dynamics of these conflicts requires a comprehensive view of their historical contexts and current geopolitical shifts. In this interview, our columnist Helmut Sorge hosts Charles Kupchan, Senior Fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR). Kupchan shares insights into the underlying factors shaping the Middle East's past and ongoing crises, including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He explores the roles of major international players and discusses potential paths toward resolution, shedding light on the region’s complex landscape and its broader impact on global affairs.
RELATED CONTENT
-
November 06, 2026In this episode, Dr. Andreas Østhagen examines how climate change and geopolitical competition are reshaping the Arctic’s strategic importance. The discussion also explores the opportunit ... -
November 4, 2026Brazil’s presidential election, which concluded on October 25, 2026, was above all a digital battle. This is nothing new; the impact of social media on elections has been widely analyzed since Barack Obama's 2008 win marked a turning point for digital campaigning worldwide. Almost two decades later, social media is an entirely different breed, with a life of its own – and still very little regulation within electoral politics. The danger, however, is that digital players now also in ... -
October 29, 2026Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s victory brings to an end one of the most closely contested elections in Brazil’s recent history. Before any broader analysis, however, a qualification is necessary. Supreme Court Justice Cristiano Zanin’s controversial decision to extend voting hours sparked debate over the electoral process. Although the measure was not mathematically decisive in Lula’s come-from-behind victory, the episode risks fuelling challenges to the result and further eroding poli ... -
October 28, 2026Depuis 2016, le Policy Center for the New South et le Centre de Géopolitique de l’école HEC Paris organisent chaque année deux éditions des « Dialogues Stratégiques ». Cette plateforme d’analyse et d’échange réunit des experts, des chercheurs provenant de différents think-tanks et du mo... -
October 23, 2026Ce Policy Paper analyse les élections législatives marocaines du 23 septembre 2026 à travers l’articulation entre participation, implantations partisanes et conversion des suffrages en sièges. Il s’appuie sur les résultats des 92 circonscriptions locales, les données démographiques et socio-économiques du Haut-Commissariat au Plan et une comparaison avec le scrutin régional. L’analyse met en évidence une mobilisation très inégale, marquée par la faible participation de plusieurs gra ... -
October 22, 2026Strategic hedging is rational when it preserves a worthwhile choice at a tolerable cost while respecting existing commitments. Drawing on the literature on hedging and Latin American autonomy, this Policy Brief examines contrasting illustrations of that proposition. It distinguishes ambiguity about future alignment from uncertainty about existing obligations and explains how clearly bounded commitments can reconcile autonomy with credibility. The cases reveal different vulnerabiliti ... -
October 20, 2026In October 2026, Brazil will elect its president. It will also renew the entire lower legislative chamber and two-thirds of the upper chamber, elect governors in all states, and renew state legislatures. What will be the impact of these elections nationally, regionally, and internationally? Who are the main presidential candidates, and what are their agendas? What are the main challenges facing Brazil over the coming years? These are the questions that this Policy Brief seeks to ans ... -
October 16, 2026The author of this opinion, Chaimae Bourjij, is a 2019 alumna of the Atlantic Dialogues Emerging Leaders Program. An election result tells only part of a country’s political story. The rules that turn votes into seats also shape which voices reach Parliament, how local interests are represented, and whether any party can claim a clear mandate. Morocco’s 2026 vote invites this wider reading: not only who came first, but how the electoral framework distributes political ... -
October 15, 2026The UN Secretary-General’s report of October 1, 2026 marks an important stage in the evolution of the political process concerning the Moroccan Sahara. As the first report issued since the adoption of Resolution 2797 (2025), it highlights renewed diplomatic momentum, marked by the resumption of substantive four-party negotiations led by the United States with United Nations support.This development reflects a gradual shift in a debate long focused on the territory’s final status tow ... -
October 15, 2026Le rapport du Secrétaire général des Nations Unies du 1er octobre 2026 marque une étape importante dans l’évolution du processus politique relatif au Sahara marocain. Le premier présenté depuis l’adoption de la résolution 2797 (2025), le rapport met en évidence une dynamique diplomatique nouvelle, caractérisée par la reprise de négociations substantielles à quatre sous l’impulsion des États-Unis et avec l’accompagnement des Nations Unies. Cette évolution traduit un déplacement ...
