Like almost everything else on the global scene, the Middle East of today is significantly different than the region that has been such a locus of conflict over the past 50 years. Key actors seem to be refocusing their political and diplomatic efforts from war to peace and are beginning to build a new network of relationships that transcend old rivalries. Some of this reflects a growing awareness that local leaders, not those in Washington, Moscow, or elsewhere, are likely better equipped—and certainly better motivated—to govern in the interest of the people who actually live in the region.

In this context, Jordan, under the leadership of King Abdullah II, is playing a major role. Although—or, perhaps, because—the country lacks water and other resources and has been badly impacted by the Syrian civil war over the past decade, Jordanian diplomacy has kicked into high gear in this search for a new, positive future.

Our guest this week, Ambassador Dina Kawar is both an observer and participant in this transformation. She is currently Jordan's ambassador to the United States, having previously served as her country's ambassador to the United Nations, France, Portugal, the Vatican and UNESCO. Listen as she parses the possibilities, good and bad, of this rapidly changing region.

What do you think?