To advance peacebuilding in the MENA region by equipping youth with knowledge and strategies for fostering non-confrontational, incremental reform in non-democratic contexts. We aim to empower youth not only with local knowledge but also with regional and universal perspectives on leveraging conflicting local, regional, and international agendas to enable meaningful local change.

Key Research Areas and Guiding Questions:

1. Institutional Reform in Non-Democratic Contexts

• Focus: Investigate methods for initiating reforms within key state institutions such as the military, judiciary, and bureaucracy in non-confrontational ways.
• Goal: Develop frameworks that promote gradual change, allowing for civic engagement while working within existing power structures.

Research Questions:

• What are effective, non-confrontational strategies for initiating institutional reforms within non-democratic systems?
• How can civic engagement be fostered within existing power structures in non-democratic states?
• What role do institutions like the military and judiciary play in either supporting or obstructing peacebuilding efforts?

2. Economic Policies as Pathways to Reform

• Focus: Examine the potential of economic reforms to serve as indirect routes to political liberalization by fostering targeted growth and public freedoms.
• Goal: Understand how economic incentives can be utilized to introduce gradual political and social freedoms without triggering direct confrontations.

Research Questions:

• How can targeted economic reforms promote political and social liberalization in non-democratic settings?
• In what ways can economic incentives serve as non-confrontational mechanisms for gradual political reform?

3.What economic policy frameworks have succeeded in facilitating peaceful transitions in similar global contexts?

3. Security Sector Reform

• Focus: Explore strategies to professionalize and depoliticize security forces, reducing state violence and building public trust.
• Goal: Develop blueprints for security reform that are realistic, sustainable, and able to satisfy both local stability needs and international human rights expectations.

Research Questions:

• How can security sector reform contribute to building public trust in non-democratic states?
• What strategies can depoliticize and professionalize security forces in a manner that aligns with peacebuilding goals?
• How can security sector reform address both local stability and international human rights expectations?

4.Balancing Sovereignty with Global Human Rights Standards

• Focus: Examine frameworks for aligning MENA states with international human rights norms, respecting national sovereignty while encouraging gradual reform.
• Goal: Create policy approaches that enable states to maintain their authority while progressively incorporating human rights standards.

Research Questions:

• How can MENA states balance sovereignty with the adoption of international human rights norms?

• What policy approaches can gradually introduce human rights practices without challenging state sovereignty?
• How can peacebuilding initiatives respect national sovereignty while promoting universal human rights?

5. Education for Civic Awareness and Youth Engagement

• Focus: Design and implement educational programs that promote civic awareness, critical thinking, and shared values in a non-partisan way.
• Goal: Cultivate a culture of peaceful advocacy and active citizenship among youth, equipping them with the tools to support peacebuilding and resilience within their communities.

Research Questions:

• What are the most effective educational approaches to fostering civic awareness and critical thinking among youth in non-democratic settings?
• How can non-partisan civic education promote peaceful advocacy and resilience in youth?
• In what ways can educational programs empower youth to engage in peacebuilding while navigating political sensitivities?

6. Leveraging Local, Regional, and International Agendas for Local Change

• Focus: Explore methods of using local, regional, and international agendas to support local peacebuilding efforts and promote sustainable reforms.
• Goal: Enable youth to navigate and use diverse agendas to create positive change within their communities.

Research Questions:

• How can conflicting local, regional, and international interests be harnessed to support local peacebuilding efforts?
• In what ways can youth in the MENA region utilize a global understanding of politics to drive change in their communities?
• How can regional and international agendas be aligned to support non-confrontational reforms in the MENA region?