Africa and Middle East
The division's work is focused on social and political transformation, domestic and regional conflicts, as well as questions relating to external and security policies in Africa and the Middle East.
Head
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Areas of Expertise
- Iran
- Defence and security policy / Armed forces
- Elites and elite change
- Political systems
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Areas of Expertise
- Southern Africa
- Human rights
- Migration
- Strategic partnerships
- Sustainability governance
Staff
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Areas of Expertise
- Israel
- Middle East
- Palestinian Territories
- Syria
- Civil wars
- Fragile states
- Middle East conflict
- Political systems
- Regional and interstate conflicts
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Areas of Expertise
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Areas of Expertise
- Libya
- Sahel
- Civil wars
- Fragile states
- Regional and interstate conflicts
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Areas of Expertise
- Ethiopia
- Horn of Africa
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Sudan
- Civil wars
- Conflict prevention
- Peacebuilding
- UN missions
- United Nations Security Council
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Areas of Expertise
- Arabian Peninsula
- Kurds in the Middle East
- Middle East
- Jihadism
- Political Islam / Islamism
- Terrorism
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Areas of Expertise
- Sahel
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Civil wars
- Defence and security policy / Armed forces
- Political systems
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Areas of Expertise
- East Africa
- Ethiopia
- Horn of Africa
- Somalia
- South Sudan
- Sudan
- Civil wars
- Fragile states
- Jihadism
- Political systems
- Regional and interstate conflicts
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Areas of Expertise
- Algeria
- Maghreb / North Africa
- Morocco
- Tunisia
- Arab Spring
- Elites and elite change
- Political Islam / Islamism
- Political systems
Research Support
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Areas of Expertise
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Areas of Expertise
- North Africa and Middle East
Social Media
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SWP Publications
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Multipolaritäten – Die Ordnungsvorstellungen der anderen
SWP-Studie 2026/S 07, 05.03.2026, 50 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2026S07
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Strategic Raw Material Cooperation between Africa and Europe
Making EU External Instruments Fit for African Industrial Drive and European Resilience
SWP Comment 2026/C 07, 09.02.2026, 8 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2026C07
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A Fourth Saudi State
The Crown Prince’s Reforms in Politics, Society and the Economy
SWP Research Paper 2026/RP 04, 06.02.2026, 31 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2026RP04
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Sovereign Wealth Funds and Foreign Policy
How Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar Invest in Their Power
SWP Research Paper 2026/RP 03, 04.02.2026, 31 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2026RP03
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Nachhaltiges Friedensengagement in Zeiten kurzlebiger »Deals«
in: Mit, ohne, gegen Washington: Die Neubestimmung der Beziehungen Europas zu den USABeitrag zu einer Sammelstudie 2026/S 03, 22.01.2026, 92 Pages, pp. 44–48
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Mit, ohne, gegen Washington: Die Neubestimmung der Beziehungen Europas zu den USA
SWP-Studie 2026/S 03, 22.01.2026, 92 Pagesdoi:10.18449/2026S03
External publications
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How Mojtaba Khamenei Became the Supreme Leader
And What It Means for Iran’s Domestic and Foreign Policy
in: Iran Analytica, 11.03.2026 -
Nahost-Experte: Iran nutzt Konflikt zwischen USA und Israel
Im Krieg zwischen den USA, Israel und dem Iran, könnte Teheran von unterschiedlichen Interessen seiner Gegner profitieren. Der Nahost-Experte Guido Steinberg von der Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik sagt, dass die USA und Israel in dem Konflikt nicht unbedingt dieselben Ziele verfolgten.
Interview von Laura Koppenhöfer, in: SWR Aktuell, 11.03.2026 -
Wollten die Saudis diesen Krieg?
Saudi-Arabiens Kalkül könnte ein anderes sein, als viele denken. Zwar fliegen Raketen und Drohnen auf Doha, Dubai und auch auf Riad. Doch einiges spricht dafür, dass sich das Königreich vom Irankrieg auch Vorteile erhofft.
in: Qantara.de, 06.03.2026 -
After Khamenei: What Iran, and the World, Face Next
in: Time, 02.03.2026 -
The War of Regime Change Has Begun
An Early Assessment of the U.S.-Israeli War Against Iran
in: Iran Analytica, 28.02.2026 -
Gegen den Strich: Die Zukunft des Iran
in: Internationale Politik, 23.02.2026