For almost a year and a half, Lebanon has been assailed by compounded crises. Specifically, an economic and financial crisis, followed by COVID-19, and lastly, the explosion at the Port of Beirut. With the economy now in dire straits, the parameters which govern the shaping of a new Lebanon need examination. Within Lebanon, there is an active and continuous debate on the subject. The debate so far has ranged from short-term measures to stop the bleeding and unlock donor support to comprehensive political and economic reforms of the country – without any agreement in sight while the crisis deepens. It is time to examine a two-stage approach; the first stage focusing on a minimal program to rescue the financial system, buying time to build a consensus on a full reconstruction and reform plan.
In partnership with
Welcome Remarks
James Jeffrey, Chair, Middle East Program, Wilson Center
Opening Remarks
Giampiero Massolo, President, ISPI
Keynote Remarks
David Hale, Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow, Wilson Center
Panel Discussion
Rand Ghayad, Adjunct Professor, Harvard University
Mohsin Khan, Non-resident Senior Fellow; Former Middle East and Central Asia Director, Atlantic Council; International Monetary Fund
Merissa Khurma, Program Director, Middle East Program, Wilson Center
Hung Tran, Non-resident Senior Fellow, Atlantic Council
Chair
Hadley Gamble, Reporter and Anchor, CNBC
ISPI has always been careful to ensure an inclusive working environment and to be attentive to gender diversity and to the plurality of voices represented in its initiatives. When this is not reflected in one of our publications or events, it is due to the unavailability of the consulted experts to participate or to challenges in identifying specific profiles in our network.