North Africa Initiative
The Foreign Policy Institute (FPI) of the Johns Hopkins Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies launched the North Africa Initiative (NAI), a new program dedicated to enhancing scholarship on the political economies, and internal dynamics of Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Morocco, and Mauritania.
NAI will be dedicated to the study of North Africa, a greater understanding of the region, its shortcomings and potential. NAI will focus on this important region, draw more attention to its vast potential and give these countries and cross-regional issues the attention they deserve on the global agendas.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Hafed Al Ghwell
Executive Director, NAI
Senior Fellow, SAIS Foreign Policy Institute hafed.alghwell@jhu.edu
Lana Bleik
Senior Research Program Coordinator, NAI lbleik1@jhu.edu
Background
North Africa holds great strategic and political importance for the United States and Europe as the region faces many challenges but also has enormous potential. With a combined coastline of 5,800 km (3600 miles), the region encompasses more than 200 million inhabitants with an estimated cumulative GDP of nearly $600 billion. The region is historically, culturally and politically set apart from the rest of Africa and is closely associated with the Middle East and Southern Europe. Its population belonging to the Arab and Amazigh ethno-linguistic groups and is mainly of the Sunni Muslim faith with historically significant Jewish communities throughout the region. North Africa holds many natural resources and is especially rich in oil, natural gas, and phosphates. The beautiful landscape and rich history attract many tourists and the increasingly qualified young population keeps the countries dynamic and bears great economic potential.
Until now, the region remains largely marginal in Washington. Beyond military and security concerns, political and economic interests are also of importance for the United States and Europe. The increasingly Russian and Chinese involved in the region has also increased the importance of the North African region to Western capitals.
Program Outputs
NAI will outline policymakers and key experts’ voices on all aspects of the region. NAI's work is presented in a range of programs including:
Maghreb Weekly Digest: A weekly review of the Maghreb's most topical issues, with a focus on developments that impact the region's dynamics and likely U.S. and European response. Maghreb Weekly includes an overview of the latest published research, studies and reports from think tanks and policy centers, covering long-term perspectives and analyses of the region's challenges and opportunities. To subscribe for the weekly newsletter please contact NAI at naisais@jhu.edu.
Events: The North Africa Initiative intends to hold dialogues on topical issues facing the sub-region. These roundtables discussions will bring together experts, academics and other stakeholders with the desire to analyze, and inform policy on this strategically critical region.
The Maghreb Podcast Mini-Series: The North Africa Initiative is thrilled to present a special mini-series on the Maghreb in collaboration with the SAIS Review of International Affairs' "The Looking Glass", a premiere international relations podcast. This program goes beyond one-dimensional portrayals to offer a rich and multifaceted exploration of Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, Mauritania, and Tunisia. Renowned scholars, policymakers, historians, and regional experts who have intimately witnessed and analyzed the region's transformations engage in stimulating discussions. Subscribe and listen to the podcasts on the SAIS Review, Apple Podcasts, Spotify.