Makram Ouaiss is Executive Director of the Lebanese Center for Policy Studies (LCPS). Before joining the center, Ouaiss was a professor of political science and international affairs, with a specialization in conflict analysis and resolution, at the Lebanese American University for nearly 15 years. He is the author of a number of articles and studies on the topics of civil peace, elections, religion and politics, and democratization. He has served as Senior Advisor for Elections to the Minister of Interior, and worked or consulted for international organizations such as the United Nations Development Program, the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, International IDEA, IFES, and the Carter Center, among others. He has served on the board of several civil society organizations working on civil peace, national dialogue, democracy-strengthening, and election observation. Ouaiss holds a PhD from the School of Conflict Analysis and Resolution at George Mason University and a master’s degree in international affairs and economics from the School of Advanced International Studies of Johns Hopkins University.