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In June 2008, only a few weeks after sustained violence across Lebanon led to a settlement known as the Doha Accords, we launched our first Beirut Exchange research conference. It was our belief at the time that Lebanon was in dire need of more direct and diversified understanding, especially for those who are studying the country, influencing public opinion and discourse, or shaping their own country's foreign policies. Given the current situation that finds Lebanon slipping from international focus even as its citizenry is immiserated further by the day, this is - regrettably - more true than ever.

In the years following the first Exchange, we steadily expanded our efforts, hosting more than 50 different Exchanges, including in Tunisia, Iraq, Syria and Turkey as well as on Libya and Yemen. Going into our 14th year, over 1,200 people from 51 different countries have now attended an Exchange, with many alumni returning in later years to join sessions once (or several times) again. [View the lineup of Speakers at the recently concluded 20th Beirut Exchange.]

In 2020, in order to transparently organize and further professionalize our work, we were finally able to establish The Exchange as a US-registered not-for-profit, under the aegis of The Foundation for Global Political Exchange, with the mission of promoting professional and academic enrichment through a variety of small group, direct engagement conferences in Western Asia and North Africa.

Crucially - and since our beginning - all funding for the Exchange comes from only two sources: First, the participants who pay the participation fee and, second, scholarship recipients who benefit from individual, charitable contributions designed to broaden the social, political and geographic diversity of each Exchange table. As such, there is no government, commercial or non-profit support, an aspect that we believe provides a relatively independent platform for dialogue and understanding.

Since 2020 42 students - from China, Peru, Brazil, Pakistan, Mexico, South Africa, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen and Lebanon (to name only a few countries) - have benefitted from our Exchange scholarships, allowing them to listen to, learn from and question leading intellectuals, activists and politicians representing an array of different points of view in a specific country. Our scholarship recipients have also expanded our own understanding of how states in the region are perceived beyond North America and Europe, leading to changes in the themes we explore and the speakers we seek out.

The Exchange Foundation is an effort by the non-profit, 501 (C)3 Foundation for Global Political Exchange to promote professional and academic enrichment through a variety of small group, direct engagement conferences in Western Asia and North Africa.

During their stay, typically lasting five days to one week, participants from around the world listen to and question leading intellectuals, activists and politicians representing an array of different points of view in a specific country.

The first Exchange was launched in June 2008 in Beirut, Lebanon. Now, thirteen years on, more than 850 people from 51 different countries have attended 40 different Exchanges in the region.

Crucially, all funding for the Exchange comes from only two sources: The participants themselves who pay the participation fee or scholarship recipients who benefit from individual, charitable contributions designed specifically to broaden the social, political and geographic diversity of each Exchange table. As such, there is no government, commercial or non-profit support, an aspect that we believe provides a relatively neutral platform for dialogue and understanding.