The New Middle East: the geopolitical changes and their impact The geopolitical landscape in the Middle East will continue to see deep changes in the coming decade; shaped by regional as well global transformational forces. The Arab world’s budding youth uprisings are seeking democracy, Islamist are emerging as the immediate political leadership alternative, off-shore finds are breeding tensions in the eastern Mediterranean, ethnic struggles for survival are defining national alliances, new Israeli election are set for early 2013 and a growing number of countries are possibly opting for entering a regional nuclear race. Globally, the region’s role is being redefined by its relative importance as an energy source for USA, Europe and China, while the global agenda is being re-charted in terms food and water security, global governance, cyber security, chronic financial imbalances and severe income disparities. How will the geopolitical landscape look like by the end of the decade? What will be the impact of the region’s geopolitical transformation on business? ?

participants:
Introduction: Major Gen (res.) Amos Gilead, Head of the Political-Military and Policy Bureau, Ministry of Defense
Dr. Sven Behrendt, Funder and Managing Director, GeoEconomica
Dr. Gregory F. Treverton, Director, RAND Center for Global Risk and Security
Haluk Sur, Senior Board Member in Emlak Konut RIET; Chairman
of the Turkish Green Building Council
Concluding Remarks: Lieutenant General (ret.) Gabi Ashkenazi, Chairman of The Board of Directors of "Shemen"- Oil and Gas Resources, Chairman of the Executive Committee, Rashi Foundation, former Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF).
Moderator: Sherif El Diwany, Egyptian-Swiss business strategy advisor and Chief Business Officer, MyDocumenta, Barcelona-Geneva