Spanning five continents, megacities present numerous economic, demographic, and environmental challenges and opportunities. Those opportunities may differ in scope, but are shared in essence across the board. As such, they present a timely topic for international dialogue and cross-cultural collaboration. In an effort to discuss the opportunities and challenges within megacities, the Hollings Center for International Dialogue conducted a dialogue conference in Jakarta in July 2019. The dialogue featured researchers, urban planners, municipal officials, journalists, architects, and environmentalists representing Baghdad, Cairo, Dhaka, Istanbul, Jakarta, Lahore, Los Angeles, and New York.

Some countries in the GCC face a harsh economic outlook due to unemployment, high debt levels, and strained financial markets. In addition they face climate change and mounting geopolitical and security concerns. A need exists for inter-GCC dialogue and coordination with international partners like the US and the European Union.

The MENA region face great challenges of social integration and economic diversification. The region hosts an unprecedented number of refugees. And while there are many entrepreneurship and livelihood programs in the region, there is a need for sustainable economic solutions for these marginalized communities.

U.S.-Southeast Asia relations remain a strategic concern for both the US and countries in the region, particularly for Indonesia and Malaysia.

DIALOGUE SNAPSHOT REPORT September 2018Istanbul, Turkey Download Workshop Summary The internationalization of quality assurance (QA) and of higher education more generally has expanded significantly during the last ten years. This workshop focused on international education as cross-border educational offerings (defined as when student, teacher, or course materials cross national borders) and the processes to assure […]

The political landscape of the Middle East and North Africa in 2018 is a terrain deeply hostile to nurturing the seeds of democracy planted so spectacularly just seven years prior during the momentous events of the Arab Uprisings. The region today seems characterized above all by violence, instability, social tension, renewed authoritarianism, and humanitarian crisis. […]

The Middle East and North Africa region urgently needs ethical and sustainable solutions for the plethora of challenges it faces, including the pressure of displaced populations, growing unemployment, armed conflict, environmental concerns, and lack of food or water security. Multiple previous Hollings Center dialogue programs have noted the important need for sustainable economic growth and […]

Africa in recent years has attracted the attention of new global actors such as Iran, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and other Gulf states, due to its growing markets, vast natural resources, and geostrategic importance. Non-state actors from the Middle East have also taken an interest in Africa by establishing religious and […]

Numerous studies and efforts seek to understand the conditions in which Da’esh ideology and message spreads, in other words the “root causes” of extremism. Despite these efforts, there is room for more dialogue regarding how communities, civil society, and state apparatuses deal with these root causes. Looking at community-based, local solutions to radicalization as well […]

The Middle East and North Africa region faces growing pressure on its water systems due to population growth, socio-economic development, security issues, urbanization, and environmental degradation. Some of these issues were discussed during the Hollings Center’s May 2014 dialogue conference, High and Dry: Addressing the Middle East Water Challenge. The dialogue, which was cosponsored by […]