The project aims to causes, reality and consequences of a possible modification of the balance of power in favor of the Shia in the Middle East to study. To this end, the evolution of the political, security and religious situation in several countries will be examined in the region. The project is made up of two major parts: - Research based on an identification and analysis of existing research and literature, carried out by a researcher Egmont; - The organization of an international conference on this issue, with the top international experts on the subject. The conference will be coordinated by the UCL and Ghent and will be organized during 2nd half of 2009. The results from the conference will be published.