The National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations (NCUSAR) Levant and Middle East Area Studies Program focuses on an area of the Arab region that is often referred to as the “cradle of civilization.”
The term Levant is a historical term referring to a large area of land stretching from the eastern Mediterranean to the deserts of the Arabian Peninsula, and beyond. The Levant is strategically situated at the crossroads of three continents – Africa, Asia, and Europe connecting the East and the West. In fact, the ancient Silk Road passed through the Levant. As one of the oldest inhabited regions in the world, the Levant has seen many early civilizations rise and fall and is considered the birthplace of the major world religions, including Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Understanding the Levant is a key to understanding human history and the contemporary political landscape of the Middle East.
The region includes modern day Levant countries such as Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, Israel, Palestine, and parts of Syria. Some experts include Cyprus and Iraq as part of the Levant.
The National Council Board of Directors, Leadership, and Senior Academic Fellows work collaboratively to promote the Council’s mission and objectives in advancing research activities and scholarly engagement in the Levant and the wider Middle East.
This program emphasizes research and analysis, publications, education, cultural exchange, strategic cooperation, and gatherings centered on scholarly research and analysis.
