Crown Center at 20: The Future of the Middle East
The Crown Center marks 20 years of bridging scholarship and real-world insight on the Middle East.
Our anniversary symposium on April 23–24, 2025, brought together leading Crown scholars — past and present — to explore two pressing questions: What are the biggest challenges facing the Middle East? And where are the opportunities for optimism?
We kicked off on April 23 with a keynote by Suzanne Maloney of the Brookings Institution, followed by a panel on Iran’s evolving regional and global challenges. On April 24, we held three panel discussions on the future of Egypt and North Africa, Israel, Syria, and the Levant, and Turkey, Iraq, and the Gulf.
View the full list of speakers | Watch the recordings of our anniversary programming
Wednesday, April 23 | Opening Day
| Event | Video Recording |
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Welcome Remarks |
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Keynote Address: The Middle East’s Dangerous New Normal |
Watch Now |
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Iran’s Regional and Global Challenges Moderator: Naghmeh Sohrabi Panelists: Daniel Amir, Hadi Kahalzadeh, Gary Samore, Sanam Vakil |
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Thursday, April 24 | Envisioning Regional Futures
| Event | Video Recording |
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| Welcome Remarks | |
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The Future of Egypt and North Africa Moderator: Eva Bellin Panelists: Candace Lukasik, Andrew F. March, Jeannie L. Sowers, Ian VanderMeulen |
Watch Now |
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The Future of Israel, Syria, and the Levant Moderator: Peter Krause Panelists: Shai Feldman, Daniel Neep, Jillian Schwedler |
Watch Now |
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The Future of Turkey, Iraq, and the Gulf Moderator: Killian Clarke Panelists: Ondřej Beránek, Nader Habibi, Nihal Kayali, Kerem Uşşaklı |
Watch Now |
| Closing Remarks – Gary Samore |
“Twenty years ago, Brandeis University’s Crown Center for Middle East Studies was founded on a dual conviction: Understanding the modern Middle East can be achieved only through balanced and dispassionate research of the highest quality, and making that research available to relevant opinion and decision-makers is essential. Two decades later, our unbiased approach and resolve to transcend stereotypes and assumptions has never been more vital.”
Gary Samore
Crown Family Director and Professor of the Practice of Politics