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Yehya Iskandarani and Selina Riachi
AUBMUNC, known initially as BEYMUN, has continually evolved and is now in its most influential and transformative form yet. This evolution stands as a testament to the growth of this small university-led initiative, recognized for its academic impact and prestigious reputation. Over more than a decade, successful editions have brought together dedicated thinkers from various disciplines to achieve significant milestones, culminating in the 2025 edition, which drew over 650 delegates.
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 Gulnar Kajan
In early September 2025, Israel attacked Hamas’ negotiation team in a densely populated area of Doha, including civilian and diplomatic infrastructure. Chief negotiator Khalil Al-Hayya’s son was killed alongside his office director, 3 Palestinian bodyguards, and a Qatari security officer.  Sam Chaaban
Peace negotiations are usually headline events: the handshake, the camera flash, and the possibility of a brighter future. However, beneath these promises of reconciliation lies a harsher reality. Nearly 40%of peace agreements made since 1975 fail within five years. Behind these failures is a blind spot that policymakers and mediators can no longer afford to ignore: the enduring impact of trauma and the persistent exclusion of women from peace processes.  ضحى عيسى
.بعد مضيِّ عامٍ على ما أطلق عليه عدوّ لبنان "الهدنة"، لا يزال الجنوب يصارع في حربٍ غير معلنةٍ، ولا يد امتدّت له  Sara Azzi
Lebanon is one of the most politically saturated countries in the region, where public life is shaped by sectarian arrangements, geopolitical pressures, and the consequences of state collapse. Yet surveys show that a striking majority of young Lebanese have turned away from formal politics. A recent study finds that nearly 70% of Lebanese youth express little to no interest in politics, while 90% report dissatisfaction with Lebanon’s governance system. [1] For a generation that mobilized in the hundreds of thousands during the 2019 Thawra, this detachment demands explanation  Natalie Dergham
In a country marked by significant political instability, the United States is erecting one of its largest embassies, an almost billion-dollar fortress overlooking the hills of Awkar. The irony is striking: at a time when financial instituions have failed, the government is facing economic and political challenges, Washington’s financial commitment is expanding, not contracting. What is the rationale behind this? What does the U.S. genuinely desire in Lebanon? Why does it continue to pour resources into a country that seems to be perpetually on the edge of failure?  Lama Chatila
In a world full of wars between distinct cultures and perspectives, different religions and sects, one third party plays an important role in writing the narrative of the war or conflict to the public and in being a link between the conflicting sides; this party is the translator. The role of a translator in a political conflict is not just converting a source text in one language to a target text in another. A translator has an impact on the public narrative of a war, facing political, cultural, emotional, and ethical challenges in reporting a conflict objectively, without bias or falsification.  Maria Ward
When we think of the Arab world, we too often imagine a battleground between colonizers and the colonized, forgetting a culture that has endured for millennia and laid the foundations of modern civilization. Long before “Arab” became an ethnic marker, it denoted membership in the Arabic‑speaking world: a world that produced groundbreaking discoveries in the sciences, medicine, architecture, philosophy, and the humanities. Yet in today’s media landscape, Arab contributions are frequently minimized or appropriated under Western narratives, leaving many unaware of the true origins of everyday practices and ideas.  Nagihan Toka
In the course of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, which was initiated by Israel's missile strike on Tehran on June 13, Türkiye was one of the most strategically attentive and diplomatically engaged actors in the region, despite not being a direct participant in the conflict. Ankara's position, deeply rooted in historical policy trends and current geopolitical calculations, reflected a nuanced balance between regional stability, national security, and international diplomacy.  Sam Habib & Lilya Yatim
The recent escalation in regional tensions incited by Israel’s attack on Iran, specifically targeting the Islamic Republic’s nuclear and military sites, has spurred a new crisis in the Middle East. Although the Trump administration alleged that Israel acted unilaterally against Iran, the ongoing strikes align with Washington’s objective of defanging Iran through dismantling its network of paramilitary allies, often called the “Axis of Resistance.” Further, Israel’s attack emerged amid the United States’ failure to achieve an Iranian nuclear deal. Thus, it may signal Trump’s willingness to use his Israeli allies as leverage to reinforce US power in the region, while simultaneously limiting Iran’s regional influence and military capabilities. |
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The views expressed on this blog are solely those of the authors, and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy & International Affairs.