A graphic featuring a close-up map of the Middle East, showing countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey. Overlaid text reads: “OP-ED — Beyond Rhetoric: Earning Trust in the Middle East’s Governance Crisis.” Below it, the author is listed as Khaldoun AbouAssi. The bottom section includes the American University of Beirut logo and the Global Engagement Initiative branding.

What happens when citizens stop believing their governments can deliver?

Part 2 of our op-ed series explores the Middle East’s deep crisis of trust—and what it will take to rebuild it.

Read: tr.ee/oped2 @abouassi.bsky.social #AcademicSky #PoliSciSky

PMRC2026 Submissions Submit a proposal to PMRC 2026 through the Online Submission System, which requires creating an account. Please review the information and due dates carefully.

Submit your proposals for @pmra-1991.bsky.social's #PMRC2026 hosted by @au-spa.bsky.social.

👉 Deadline: November 10, 2025

www.american.edu/spa/pmrc2026...

Don't miss this insightful conversation on rebuilding a stable statehood in the Middle East, co-hosted by SPA and @DiscoveringAUB.bsky.social.
Panelists: SPA Prof. @AbouAssi.bsky.social, AUB Profs. Tania Haddad and Simon Neaime. 🗓️9/18 🕑 12-1 PM📍New York City
👉 bit.ly/4oX9rQs

🎉 AU SPA is thrilled to host #PMRC2026 next June in Washington, D.C.—the ❤️ of public affairs and policy.
Prepare for an unforgettable gathering of scholars and practitioners! 🇺🇸📍
Email pmrc2026@american.edu for more information.
@pmra-1991.bsky.social #PMRC2026 #PublicManagement #SPAProud #PMRCinDC

🎉 We’re thrilled to welcome everyone to #PMRC2025 — the conference officially kicks off today! 🎉

Here’s to a powerful, engaging, and unforgettable experience! Let’s get started! 💥

Stepping in as Public Management Research Association's Treasurer is an opportunity to contribute to an organization we all care about. Special Thx to Zach Mohr for his efforts.

Looking forward to working with PMRA's Pres, VP, & Board.

Can't do it alone- Need your support
www.pmranet.org/donate

I am deeply honored and incredibly thrilled to be promoted to Full Professor at @au-spa.bsky.social.

Huge Congratulations Dr. Prince.

A huge shoutout to my wonderful mentors for their advice and support, especially over this last year - @annaamirkhanyan.bsky.social, @nathanfavero.com , @abouassi.bsky.social, @jaclynpiatak.bsky.social.

Last month, SPA students traveled to Nairobi, Kenya 🌍 with Prof. @abouassi.bsky.social for the Development Governance & Management course—meeting with organizations like UN Habitat and others driving impact in the different communities.

Lebanon's sectarian power-sharing system undermines a genuine social contract between the state and its citizens. SPA Prof. @abouassi.bsky.social notes that reform demands a fundamental shift in political culture and a process of individual self-reflection. Read the op-ed below. #SPAintheMedia

A Genuine Direct Social Contract for the Lebanese and their State  | The Asfari Institute for Civil Society & Citizenship In Lebanon, sectarian power structures overshadow a genuine social contract, fostering fragmentation and weakening accountability. According to Dr. Khaldoun ...

It was a privilege to write my first op-ed for The Asfari Institute for Civil Society and Citizenship on the need for a real direct #SocialContract between the #Lebanese & their State.

asfariinstitute.org/2025/04/16/g...

THANK you to all organizations for the time & energy & to American University Abroad Nairobi center staff for incredible support during @au-spa.bsky.social field visit to #Nairobi 🇰🇪
Plenty of food for thought and powerful real-world illustrations of #Development, #Governance & #Management.
🙏✨

SPA students with Prof. Khaldoun @abouassi.bsky.social are in Kenya! 🇰🇪 Follow their visits to the Kenyan Senate, African Development Bank, and KIPPRA. Good luck on the rest of your trip!

International Dialogue on Refugee Camp Management YouTube video by American University School of Public Affairs

The #Governance of #Refugee #Camps

A new article with Laila El Baradei and Alison Jacknowitz:

Passport to #public affairs: Insights on #international #study tours www.tandfonline.com/doi/citedby/...

Inside The #Camp: Reimagining #Refugee #Governance For A Changing World

11 compelling contributions rethinking what governance means in contexts of refugee camps, with an introduction by Jasmin Diab, Tina Nabatchi and me.

soas.lau.edu.lb/images/refug...

The Global #Risk Report is out.
www.weforum.org/publications...

Foreign funding, accountability and contention: exploring self-regulatory practices in Georgian civil society The impact of Western development aid on civil society organisations’ (CSOs’) behaviours in developing countries has gained a growing amount of scholarly attention, however, less is known about ind...

Foreign #funding, accountability and contention: exploring self-regulatory practices in #Georgian #civil #society, Najmin Kamilsoy's new article in Contemporary Politics: www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1...

Turn data into stories! 📊 Explore IPUMS microdata (Census, ACS) with @graykimbrough.bsky.social to analyze population, economics, & time use.
🗓 Feb 22-23 (in-person)
📚 SPA-085/685-005, SPA-085-905
Bonus: Complete 3 SAMI classes for a certificate!
Learn more: bit.ly/3ZBz913

This is an excellent opportunity to serve @pmra-1991.bsky.social

@pmra-1991.bsky.social's revamped website is LIVE. Check it out.
Huge thank you to the team!
www.pmranet.org/home

العودة إلى دمشق: المدينة التي كرهتها وأحببتها دوماً (1) على عكس كل الماضي، نتنفس الصعداء أننا خرجنا من لبنان إلى سوريا. مفارقة سياسية تفضح ما آلت إليه أحوال لبنان.

Such a great series about #Damascus by Yusuf Bazzī

العودة إلى #دمشق: المدينة التي كرهتها وأحببتها دوماً (1) www.almodon.com/politics/202...

The Potential of Associations in Addressing Systematic Racism - PA TIMES Online The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization. By David Berlan and Khaldoun AbouAssiDecember 20, 2024 The myth of colorblindness linge...

David Berlan and I wrote a short piece in PATimes on the "Potential of #Associations in Addressing Systematic #Racism".

patimes.org/the-potentia...

Congrats to all @au-spa.bsky.social graduates

💪💪💪🧑‍🎓👩‍🎓👨‍🎓🎓🎓
#2024AUGrad

I am humbled and THANK YOU!

انهيار فضل عبد الغني على الهواء لحظة الإعلان عن وفاة المعتقلين YouTube video by Syria TV تلفزيون سوريا

Hundreds of thousands of #MissingPeople in #Syria are probably dead... #Al-Assad slaughtered them!

youtu.be/r1s3igRC-Vw?...

‏ما طار طير وارتفع الا عاد ووقع