Middle East Research and Information Project

Critical Coverage of the Middle East Since 1971

Sign In Sign Up

Bassam Haddad

Bassam Haddad is director of the Middle East Program at George Mason Univesity and an editor of Middle East Report.

MER Article

The Syrian Regime's Business Backbone

Nearly one year into the Syrian uprising, with more than 7,500 Syrians dead, the protracted conflict is not very well understood or reported despite a deluge of writings. Most track fast-moving events without pausing for sober analysis of Syrian politics and society. Early on, the dominant argument

Bassam Haddad • 6 min read

MER Article

It's Never Time

“It is our great and historic responsibility,” intoned Egyptian President Husni Mubarak on December 26, 2006, “to achieve the essential goal of developing our democracy and political life, while avoiding drifting into uncalculated steps that could threaten the stability of our country and the succes

Bassam Haddad • 3 min read

MER Article

Syria's Curious Dilemma

Seasoned observers of Syria have learned not to make much of apparent political changes in the country. This lesson holds true today, but with a twist.

Bassam Haddad • 17 min read

MER Article

Change and Stasis in Syria

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, observers and citizens of Syria have anticipated a political shake-up that would transform domestic realities and set the country on a new political and economic course. Such anticipation was not groundless: Syria’s geostrategic context in the early 1990s seemed ripe for regional

Bassam Haddad • 19 min read