This Sustainable Societies Lab (SSL) examines selected models of Israeli-Arab cooperation and pathways to peace in the Middle East. Students explore whether and how governments, businesses, and civil society actors and innovators can work together toward sustainable prosperity in a region marked by historic conflict. The course focuses on practical models of cooperation in the areas of human & planetary health/environmental sustainability, economic development, security, and people-to-people exchanges. Students study peace negotiations and collaborative initiatives, the role of external players like the United States, and future opportunities for regional partnership. Throughout the quarter, students engage with domain experts who have contributed to shaping Middle East policy, peace efforts and development initiatives, including government officials, negotiators, journalists, and social entrepreneurs/innovators. Guest speakers (predominantly by Zoom. Subject to change) include Pulitzer Prize-winning NY Times journalist Tom Friedman, HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, former peace negotiator and US Ambassador to Israel and Egypt Daniel Kurtzer; Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian co-directors of EcoPeace Middle East, and other regional experts, alongside distinguished Stanford faculty in person. Students enrolled in the 3-unit (WAYS-SI) option will work in teams throughout the quarter to develop a practical model of Israeli-Arab collaboration. Enrollment limited to SUSTAIN 40.
1-3 units · Letter or Credit/No Credit · GER: WAY-SI
This Sustainable Societies Lab (SSL) examines selected models of Israeli-Arab cooperation and pathways to peace in the Middle East. Students explore whether and how governments, businesses, and civil society actors and innovators can work together toward sustainable prosperity in a region marked by historic conflict. The course focuses on practical models of cooperation in the areas of human & planetary health/environmental sustainability, economic development, security, and people-to-people exchanges. Students study peace negotiations and collaborative initiatives, the role of external players like the United States, and future opportunities for regional partnership. Throughout the quarter, students engage with domain experts who have contributed to shaping Middle East policy, peace efforts and development initiatives, including government officials, negotiators, journalists, and social entrepreneurs/innovators. Guest speakers (predominantly by Zoom. Subject to change) include Pulitzer Prize-winning NY Times journalist Tom Friedman, HRH Prince Turki Al Faisal of Saudi Arabia, former peace negotiator and US Ambassador to Israel and Egypt Daniel Kurtzer; Israeli, Palestinian and Jordanian co-directors of EcoPeace Middle East, and other regional experts, alongside distinguished Stanford faculty in person. Students enrolled in the 3-unit (WAYS-SI) option will work in teams throughout the quarter to develop a practical model of Israeli-Arab collaboration. Enrollment limited to 40.
Offered in Winter 2026 at Stanford University.