
The Golda Meir Institute for Political and Social studies
We are living through one of the defining moments in modern history which has a huge number of conflicting versions of the future. Many socio-political processes depend on global trends and actions of key actors.
The Golda Meir Institute has a goal to form a research agenda in Israel by bringing together leading experts in various fields of political science, philosophy, sociology.
The Golda Meir Institute focuses on:
- Encouraging decision-makers, regardless of their affiliation with governments or political parties, to think long-term to avoid the risk of an unfavorable future and to increase chances of positive development;
- Stimulating strategic thinking by identifying important trends and potential threats;
- Researching the implications of political and social analytical developments that will help meet current global challenges and take advantage of changing political and economic architecture;
- Playing a trendsetting role in the national research field and forming a hub for think tanks in the USA, Europe, and Israel;
- Promoting Golda Meir’s concepts of nation and state building.

The institute is named after Golda Meir, who served Israel in a multitude of official capacities including Ambassador to Moscow, Foreign Minister, and Prime Minister during the difficult period of the Yom Kippur War.
She was a very modest person, totally devoted to the cause of Zionism. She could always see right to the heart of a situation or topic.
David Ben-Gurion called her “the best man in the government“. Among the 37 signers of Israel’s Declaration of Independence were only two women, one of whom was Golda Meir.
Being one of the key figures in creating the State of Israel, Golda Meyer laid down basic principles of the foreign and domestic policy of the Jewish State, which are still relevant today.
Main research topics in 2025
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The Great Game in the Greater Middle East
The Iranian nuclear program is an unresolved problem that concerns the greater Middle East. The current geopolitical situation in the Middle East may become exacerbated due to an increase in active military actions from the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran along with the direct participation of the United States and the State of Israel. The official reason for escalated tensions will be the unrealistic nature of all parties reaching a "nuclear deal," where by Iran agrees to suspend its nuclear program in return for financial aid, or other benefit to the country.
Exactly 10 years ago, the main initiator of the withdrawal from the "nuclear deal", the official name of which is the "Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action" (JCPOA), was President Donald Trump. Following his reinstatement on January 20th, Trump will continue to maintain a tough approach to resolving the situation in the greater Middle East.
However, President Trump’s hard-line negotiations may face new challenges, considering Iran and Russia are signing a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Agreement. This agreement, which covers politics, economics, modern technologies, information and cybersecurity, peaceful nuclear energy, defense, and military matters, is important to analyze in order to correctly assess the degree of participation of the Russian Federation and the level of its readiness in military actions on the side of the Iranian Republic.
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Ukraine the day after the war
According to the Institute's experts, the war between Russia and Ukraine will end in 2025. The chance of holding peace talks in mid-2024 were high, but did not take place due to the Ukrainian military operation on the territory of the Russian Federation, specifically the Kursk region. As a result, the Golda Meir Institute has established the task of determining the most likely version of the future peace treaty. In addition, the institute will attempt to determine the course of presidential elections in Ukraine and its results, which will have a direct impact on the future of Ukraine in light of this potential treaty.
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East European Jewry. New story
The State of Israel is currently at a fateful crossroads in the issue of bilateral relations. Taking into consideration the fact that the countries of Eastern Europe still have the lowest level of anti-Semitism, Israel finds itself needing to focus on relations with the countries of both Central and Eastern Europe.
The domestic political situation in the Central and Eastern Europe can mostly be described as stable compared to the rest of the world, which is leaves open the potential for growth opportunities. According to experts, countries of Central and Eastern Europe have the potential for economic growth against the backdrop of stagnation in the economies of Western Europe. Israel, for its part, can help these Central Eastern European countries achieve their economic potential by becoming a source of investments and technology.
The Golda Meir Institute intends to develop a program for the exchange of relevant information, ideas, and to search for synergies in the implementation of joint business and socially significant projects between the East European countries and the State of Israel.
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The Turkish factor
The decline in the volume of direct gas purchases by the EU from Russia and the lack of progress on the issue of gas supplies to China and the development of the “Power of Siberia – 2” project allows Turkey to dictate its terms to the European market. As a result, two factors must be considered.
First, Turkey via Azerbaijan has gained control over that part of the Karabakh territory through which the new Turkmenistan/Turkey/EU gas pipeline may pass. Secondly, after the fall of the Assad regime in Syria, Turkey resumed dialogue on the construction of the Qatar/Turkey/EU gas pipeline.
Chaotic changes in international relations, changing world order, and formation of a new balance of power stimulate the evolution of foreign policy vectors for the Republic of Turkey. Until recently, Turkey's role as a global and regional player seemed insignificant due to internal weaknesses compared to its political and historical legacy.
Now the Turkish factor is beginning to play an important role in almost all issues on the international stage, especially in the context of the processes taking place in the Middle East.
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Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Identification and relief of PTSD in the military and among civilians is a global trend of the 21st century due to the huge number of military conflicts, terrorist acts and natural disasters.
An estimated 3.9% of the world population has experienced PTSD at some point in their lives. The number of PTSD patients from combatants, former hostages, healthcare workers, refugees, witnesses of terrorist acts or natural disasters and others increases every year and is reaching peak figures compared to historical accounts. Researchers and academics agree that current therapies are inadequate, indicating a need for new approaches to the issue.
The Golda Meir Institute aims to identify and promote new approaches to address this growing social problem.
