Dividing Lines: Reimagining Social Division in ‘Divided Societies’
Read this SEPAD project and FPC publication.
Programme
The Future of the Middle East – SEPAD Partnership
The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), together with the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project based at Lancaster University’s Richardson Institute are working together, exploring the realm of ‘The Future of the Middle East’ through events, publications, and parliamentary engagement.
Publications in this programme
Saudi Arabia and Iran: The Struggle to Shape the Middle East
The fractious rivalry between Saudi Arabia and Iran and its impact on the Middle East.
Articles relating to this programme
Op-ed | The First Election in The New Syria: A Missed Opportunity
On Sunday, 5th October 2025, Syria held its first parliamentary elections since the fall of Bashar Al-Assad. However, these “elections” were a deeply flawed process, and failed to meet even…
Expert Briefing: ‘Syria’s transition nine months on: Examining frameworks for international justice and accountability’
On 9th September 2025, the Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI) and the University of Lancaster’s Sectarianism, Proxies and Desectarianisation project (SEPAD) co-hosted a…
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The Death of a General: What’s next for Iran, Iraq and the wider Middle East?
Following the United States (US) assassination of Qasim Soleimani - the erstwhile commander of the Quds Force, the elite wing of Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps, - close to Baghdad airport,…
Events in this programme
Syria’s transition nine months on: Examining frameworks for international justice and accountability
Roundtable hosted by the International Bar Association’s Human Rights Institute (IBAHRI), the University of Lancaster’s SEPAD Project and the Foreign Policy Centre On 8th December 2024, a coalition of armed opposition groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the government of Bashar al-Assad, marking the end of the Assad family’s over 50 year rule in Syria. The country has now entered a pivotal phase of transition, with an ...
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Speakers
Sana Kikhia, Executive Director, Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP)
Dr Maria Kastrinou, Senior Lecturer in Anthropology at Brunel, University of London
Alan Haji, Lead for Case Building, Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC)
Mariana Karkoutly, Co-Founder and Board Member, Huquqyat
Professor Simon Mabon, Chair in International Politics at Lancaster University and Director of the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project
Yumen Hallaq, Senior researcher at the Syrian Network for Human Rights
Chair – Mark Stephens CBE, Co-Chair of the IBAHRI Council
When
September 9, 2025
17:00 - 18:30 BST
Where
House of Lords
The Middle East in 2025: Current Developments and Prospects for the Future
The Middle East is in the midst of a geopolitical crisis. On Friday 13th June, Israel launched an attack on Iran and escalations have led to a war between the two long standing enemies. Bombs and missiles have been exchanged and Israel has attacked central parts of Iran’s nuclear programme. Casualties in Iran and Israel grow. After speculation whether the US would become directly involved, on Saturday 21st July ...
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Speakers
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Professor Simon Mabon, Chair in International Politics at Lancaster University and Director of SEPAD Dr Lina Khatib, Associate Fellow at the Chatham House MENA Programme Professor Clive Jones, Professor of Regional Security at Durham University Chair – Alice Copland, FPC Policy and Parliamentary Affairs Manager |
When
July 2, 2025
12:30 - 13:30 BST
Where
Zoom – Register using this link.
The Future of the Middle East
The Foreign Policy Centre (FPC), together with the Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation (SEPAD) project based at Lancaster University’s Richardson Institute are working together to host a one-day, in-person conference on ‘The Future of the Middle East’ This event will bring together academics, experts, civil society, policymakers and parliamentarians to share perspectives on the future of the Gulf-MENA and how the UK Government can approach the region. More information ...
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Speakers
View full list of speakers here
When
December 3, 2024
Where
London
Contested Citizenship: Understanding national identity in the Middle East and North Africa
This event, organised by the FPC and the SEPAD (Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation) project at the Richardson Institute for Peace at Lancaster University, aims to examine how ten years after the Arab Uprisings, the struggle between rulers and ruled continues to shape the contours of political life across the MENA region. Central to these struggles are questions about citizenship and its capacity to order political and social life through drawing ...
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Speakers
Professor Simon Mabon, Director of SEPAD and the Richardson Institute for Peace
Dr Nour Abu-Assab, co-founder and co-director of the Centre for Transnational Development and Collaboration (CTDC)
James Verini, author and features writer for The New York Times Magazine
Professor Noora Lori, Assistant Professor of International Relations at the Pardee School of Global Studies
Chair: Wayne David MP, Former Shadow Minister for the Middle East
When
December 13, 2021
2:00pm-3:30pm (UK time)
Where
This event will be taking place on Zoom.
Building a lasting peace? Power sharing and sectarian identities in Yemen
The FPC is working again with the SEPAD (Sectarianism, Proxies and De-sectarianisation) project at the Richardson Institute for Peace at Lancaster University on a series of virtual public seminars focused on peacebuilding in Lebanon, Bosnia, Syria and Yemen. The project will address each country situation individually but it will seek to learn from the experiences of Lebanon and Bosnia (both the successes and ongoing/growing problems) in terms of power sharing and ...
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Speakers
Maysaa Shuja Al-deen, Non-resident Fellow at the Sana’a Center for Strategic Studies
Professor Simon Mabon, Director of the SEPAD project
Nadwa Al-Dawsari, Non-resident Scholar at the Middle East Institute
Kate Nevens, Non-resident Consultant with the Yemen Policy Center
Chair: Wayne David MP, Shadow Minister for the Middle East and North Africa
When
March 2, 2021
5:00pm-6:30pm (UK Time)
Where
The event will take place on Zoom.