Barah Mikaïl, Ph.D.
Department of Political Science
International Relations
Education
- Ph.D. in Political Science - University of Paris-VIII, 2010
- M.A. in Political Science - University of Paris-Dauphine, 2004
- M.A. in International Relations - University of Strasbourg II, 2001
- B.A. in Arabic and Islamic Civilizations - University of Strasbourg II, 1998
- M.A. in Artificial Intelligence - Instituto Europeo de Posgrados (Candidate, 2025-2026)
Research Interests
- Evolutions and Shifts in the System of International Relations
- Geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa
- Geopolitics of Water
- Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its Impact on Education
Publications and Media Placements
Books
Une nécessaire relecture du "Printemps arabe" (A Necessary Re-Reading of the Arab Spring), Éditions du Cygne, 2012.
La Syrie: cinquante mots clés pour comprendre (Syria: Fifty Keywords to Understand), L'Harmattan/Comprendre le Moyen-Orient, 2009.
L'eau, source de menaces? (Water as a Source of Threats), Dalloz/IRIS, 2008.
La politique américaine au Moyen-Orient (American Policy Towards the Middle East), Dalloz/IRIS, 2006 — also published in
Arabic.
Contribution to collective books
"Historical Trajectories and Future Prospects: Iran's Role in Shaping MENA (Un)Stability,"
in Actas del XI Congreso de la Sociedad Española de Iranología (SEI), 2023.
"The Potential Regional Implications of the Syrian War," in Challenges for European Foreign Policy in 2014, FRIDE.
"Religion and Politics in Arab Transitions," in Thinking Globally: A Global Studies Reader, University of California Press, 2014.
"La Syrie dans la ligne de mire" (Syria in the Line of Fire), in Barthélémy Courmont
(ed.), Washington et les États voyous: Une stratégie plurielle?, Dalloz, 2007.
Edited issues
Trajectoires syriennes: refondations internes et résonances géopolitiques (Syrian Trajectories: Internal Re-Foundations and Geopolitical Resonances), Confluences Méditerranée, Winter 2025/2026.
Libye: guerres et convoitises (Libya: Wars and Greed), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 118, 2021.
Syrie: Un chaos pour durer (Syria: Chaos Built to Last), Cahiers de l'Orient, no. 117, Winter 2014.
Tragédie syrienne (Syrian Tragedy), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 89, Spring 2014.
Bouleversements stratégiques dans le monde arabe (Strategic Shifts in the Arab World), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 79, Autumn 2011.
Les médias en Méditerranée (Media in the Mediterranean), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 69, Spring 2009.
Vers un nouveau partage du monde? (Toward a New Sharing of the World?), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 72, Winter 2008–2009.
Les batailles de l'eau (Struggles over Water), Maghreb/Machrek, no. 196, Summer 2008.
L'or bleu, un nouvel enjeu géopolitique (Blue Gold: A New Geopolitical Stake), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 66, Summer 2007.
Articles in academic journals
De l'« axe de résistance » aux « axes d'influence » : la mutation syrienne (From the
"axis of resistance" to the "axes of influence": the Syrian transformation). Moyen-Orient, N° 68.
"Implications régionales et internationales des conflits vengeurs au Moyen-Orient"
(Regional and International Implications of Vengeful Conflicts in the Middle East),
Confluences Méditerranée, no. 131, 2024.
"Géopolitiques méditerranéennes : tourments, tournants et aboutissants d'une région
en constante ébullition" (Mediterranean Geopolitics: Upheavals, Turning Points and
Outcomes of a Region in Constant Turmoil), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 127, 2024.
"Dix ans après le 'printemps arabe' : les recompositions géopolitiques du désordre
moyen-oriental" (Ten Years After the Arab Spring: Geopolitical Reconfigurations of
Middle Eastern Disorder), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 121, 2021.
"Libye, une faillite révolutionnaire ?" (Libya: A Failed Revolution?), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 118, 2021.
"Entretien avec le ministre libyen du Pétrole Mohammed Aoun" (Interview with Libyan
Oil Minister Mohammed Aoun; interview by Tarek Ibrahim al-Shalmani; translation by
Barah Mikaïl), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 118, 2021.
"La quadrature du cercle libyenne: révolution avortée ou reportée ?" (Libya's Quadrature
of the Circle: Revolution Aborted or Postponed?), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 115, 2020.
"Une politique à double tranchant: réalités et implications du lien américanojordanien"
(A Double-Edged Policy: Realities and Implications of the US–Jordan Relationship),
Confluences Méditerranée, no. 110, 2019.
"Géopolitique – Logiques et aboutissements des recompositions géopolitiques" (Geopolitics
– Logic and Outcomes of Geopolitical Reconfigurations), Les Cahiers de l'Orient, no. 131, 2018.
"Le poids de la France dans le monde" (France's Weight in the World), Alternatives Économiques, special issue HS1/no. 113, 2018.
"Les défis de la Libye" (The Challenges of Libya), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 94, 2015.
"Introduction. Syrie : de la révolution à l'état d'exception" (Syria: From Revolution
to a State of Exception), Les Cahiers de l'Orient, no. 116, 2014.
"Syllogismes arabes, ou le secret de la longévité du régime syrien" (Arab Syllogisms:
The Secret of the Syrian Regime's Longevity), Les Cahiers de l'Orient, no. 116, 2014.
"Syrie : regards géopolitiques" (Syria: Geopolitical Perspectives), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 89, 2014.
"Comment le 'Printemps arabe' a-t-il négligé la question palestinienne ?" (How Did
the Arab Spring Overlook the Palestinian Question?), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 86, 2013.
"Les organisations combattantes irrégulières du Yémen" (Irregular Fighting Organizations
in Yemen), Stratégique, no. 103, 2013.
"La France et les mutations arabes" (France and the Arab Transformations), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 79, 2012.
"Ni islamiste, ni laïque : un Moyen-Orient rationnel" (Neither Islamist nor Secular:
A Rational Middle East), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 83, 2011.
"Les grandes puissances et le Moyen-Orient : vers une rémanence du facteur américain
?" (The Great Powers and the Middle East: An Enduring American Factor?), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 80, 2010.
"Les États-Unis et l'Égypte ou la loi du pragmatisme" (The United States and Egypt:
The Law of Pragmatism), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 75, 2011.
"L'Iran et la Méditerranée, ou l'illusion de la puissance" (Iran and the Mediterranean:
The Illusion of Power), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 74, 2010.
"Une 'diplomatie du pragmatisme' aux euets limités au Moyen-Orient ?" (A 'Diplomacy
of Pragmatism' with Limited E_ects in the Middle East?), Revue internationale et stratégique,
no. 77, 2010.
"Information ou propagande ? Le cas de la Metula News Agency (MENA)" (Information
or Propaganda? The Case of the Metula News Agency (MENA)), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 72, 2010.
"L'« Afpak » : vers une stratégie de l'échec annoncé?" ('Afpak': Towards a Strategy
of Foretold Failure?), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 76, 2009.
"Éditorial" (with Charlotte Lepri), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 76, 2009.
"Le malheur est-il dans le pré? Pour une lecture géopolitique de l'agriculture" (Is
Misfortune in the Field? A Geopolitical Reading of Agriculture) with Sébastien Abis
and Pierre Blanc, Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 73, 2009.
"Editorial," Confluences Méditerranée, no. 69, 2009.
"Al-'Alam: Expression d'un échec médiatique iranien?" (Al-'Alam: Expression of an
Iranian Media Failure?), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 69, 2009.
"Les chrétiens de Syrie: Un statut enviable, ou une sérénité simulée?" (Christians
in Syria: An Enviable Status, or a Simulated Serenity?), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 66, 2008.
"Les États-Unis et le Proche-Orient : Vers une perpétuation des politiques sismiques?"
(The United States and the Near East: Toward Perpetual Seismic Policies?), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 65, 2008.
"Le paradoxe diplomatique du Qatar comme moyen d'accès à la consécration" (Qatar's
Diplomatic Paradox as a Path to Consecration), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 69, 2008.
"Syrie : bouleversements accélérés" (Syria: Accelerated Upheavals), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 67, 2008.
"Embûches méditerranéennes : De la crise irakienne au dilemme iranien" (Mediterranean
Pitfalls: From the Iraqi Crisis to the Iranian Dilemma), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 63, 2007.
"Désamorcer la bombe hydraulique planétaire" (Defusing the Global Hydraulic Bomb),
Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 66, 2007.
"L'eau entre guerre et paix : La gestion nord-américaine des ressources hydrauliques,
un modèle exportable?" (Water Between War and Peace: North American Water Management—An
Exportable Model?), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 66, 2007.
"L'eau au Maghreb: Une prise de conscience perpétuellement inachevée?" (Water in the
Maghreb: An Eternally Unfinished Awareness?), Confluences Méditerranée, no. 58, 2006.
"L'eau, un enjeu environnemental aux répercussions géopolitiques" (Water: An Environmental
Issue with Geopolitical Consequences), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 60, 2005.
"Le bâton sans la carotte: Une nouvelle politique américaine au Moyen-Orient?" (Stick
Without Carrot: A New US Policy in the Middle East?), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 59, 2005.
"Extrémismes religieux: L'intégrisme juif et la colonisation dans les Territoires
palestiniens occupés" (Religious Extremisms: Jewish Fundamentalism and Settlement
in the Occupied Palestinian Territories), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 57, 2005.
"La loi sur le voile vue du Moyen-Orient" (The Headscarf Law Seen from the Middle
East), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 55, 2004.
"Du wait and see à l'anticipation rhétorique : la redéfinition forcée de la stratégie
politique syrienne" (From Wait-and-See to Rhetorical Anticipation: The Forced Redefinition
of Syrian Political Strategy), Revue internationale et stratégique, no. 51, 2003.
Policy briefs and working papers
"Radicalisation in the Sahel." Tactics Institute, 2020.
"Sectarianism in the Middle East and Asia", Middle East Institute, November 2019.
"France's Shifting Middle Eastern Alliances," FRIDE, November 2014.
"Avoiding Iraq's Fragmentation," FRIDE, April 2014.
"Libya's Turbulent Transition: The Pressing Need for Security Sector Reform", POMED,
December 2013.
"Can the Syrian War Be Ended?," FRIDE, December 2013.
"Foreign Funding in Post-Revolution Libya," FRIDE, June 2013.
"Refugees in the MENA Region: What Geopolitical Consequences?," FRIDE, July 2013.
"Sectarianism after the Arab Spring: An Exaggerated Spectre," FRIDE, June 2012.
"Assad's Fall: How Likely, How Desirable?," FRIDE, April 2012.
"Algeria's Deceptive Quiet," FRIDE, Mar 2012.
"Religion and Politics in Arab Transitions," FRIDE, February 2012.
"The Multiple Challenges of Libya's Reconstruction," FRIDE, January 2012.
"Militaries, Civilians and Democracy in the Arab World," FRIDE, December 2011.
"Transition Challenges in the Arab World," FRIDE, December 2011.
"The Role of New Media and Communication Technologies in Arab Transitions," FRIDE,
December 2011.
"State Reform in Arab Transitions," FRIDE, November 2011.
"France and the Arab Spring: An Opportunistic Quest for Influence," FRIDE, October
2011.
"Syria: The Limits of External Influence," FRIDE, June 2011.
"Pakistan: Assessing Democracy Assistance," FRIDE, May 2011.
Media Placements (since 2019) -Major Outlets
"Le tournant iranien: entre rééquilibrages régionaux forcés et mutation sociale" (The
Iranian Turning Point: Between Forced Regional Rebalancing and Social Transformation),
Géostratégiques, Winter 2025/2026.
"Syria after Assad: How to Rebuild from the Ashes of War," Middle East Eye, February 2025.
"La lucha de Libia por la estabilidad" (Libya's Struggle for Stability), Política Exterior, February 2025.
"Syria after Assad: Europe Must Play a Constructive Role or Risk Irrelevance," Middle East Eye, December 2024.
"Europa no está preparada para la inminente crisis de refugiados libaneses," The Conversation, Nov. 4, 2024.
"Europe is not prepared for the looming Lebanese refugee crisis," The Conversation, Oct. 28, 2024.
"Por qué ceder a otros países el control de la emigración a la UE es violento, caro
e ineficaz," The Conversation, June 5, 2024.
"The EU's outsourced migration control is violent, expensive and ineuective," The Conversation, June 3, 2024.
"El islam español contemporáneo" (Contemporary Spanish Islam), Política Exterior, Aug. 2022.
"En busca de un futuro para Libia" (In Search of a Future for Libya), in Informe África 2022, Fundación Alternativas.
"Macron et le Moyen-Orient: les contradictions du président-marketing" (Macron and
the Middle East: The Contradictions of a Marketing President), Middle East Eye, Dec.
2021.
"La régression libyenne" (Libyan Regression), Middle East Eye, Dec. 2021.
"From Gaddafi to Haftar: France Plays Both Sides in Libya," Middle East Eye, June
2019.
"De Kadhafi à Haftar: les raisons d'une passion française" (From Gaddafi to Haftar:
The Reasons for a French Passion), Middle East Eye, April 2019.
"Qui est responsable du chaos libyen?" (Who Is Responsible for the Libyan Chaos?),
Middle East Eye, June 2019.
Analyses and Commentaries – Observatory on Contemporary Crises
"Europe's Southern Neighbourhood Fatigue," 2024.
"Lebanon's Perpetual Collapse: Between Exhaustion and Resilience," 2023.
"Iran and the Gulf States: Detente or Illusion?," 2023.
"The Sahel's New Map: Regional Rivalries and Security Vacuum," 2022.
"Libya's Elections – The Day After," 2021.
"Celebrating Syria's Destruction," 2021.
"Migrations – The EU Should Stop Sitting on the Fence," 2021.
Media Analyses and Interviews
Analyses and contributions have appeared across leading international and regional
outlets, including Le Monde, El Mundo, El País, La Razón, CNN, BBC World Service and BBC Arabic, Al Jazeera
English and Arabic, Al Arabiya, TF1, France 5, France 24, RTVE, Canal 24, Cadena SER,
Radio France Internationale, Radio Algérie Internationale, Medi 1 (Morocco), TRT World,
Euronews, TV5 Monde, and ARTE. Coverage has focused on the geopolitics of the Middle East and North Africa, regional
security dynamics, and international relations.