Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS)
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The Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS), located in Doha, Qatar, is a center for international and regional affairs. The Center is a part of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar). The Center works closely with SFS-Qatar Faculty to create research and publications, organize events and manage outreach activities.
Founded in 2005, the Center works mainly in four areas: research, events and conferences, outreach and publications. The first Director, Mehran Kamrava, still directs the Center.
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[edit] History
The Center for International and Regional Studies is founded in 2005 with the initiatives of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar. Since its conception, the Center focuses on comprehensive studies and events on international and regional studies with an emphasis on the Gulf and Middle East region.
[edit] Research
The Center has been engaged in three areas of research and scholarship:
The Iraqi Refugee Crisis in Syria and Jordan: In collaboration with Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of International Immigration (ISIM), CIRS conducted a study on the conditions and impact of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan. The study investigates the ways in which the two countries accommodate, absorb, or expel incoming refugees. Dr. Patricia Fagen from ISIM authored the report.[1]
America’s Role in the World Working Group: In partnership with the Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD), the Center has been working on a scholarly initiative to examine the role and nature of American foreign policy in the coming years. The Working Group tries to identify the geopolitical challenges that a new administration can face beginning in 2009. The study does not aim to provide policy prescriptions, but rather deliver a comprehensive agenda of issues that could require attention. The Working Group consists of 55 experts on American foreign policy.[2]
Qatar and the Gulf in the International Economic and Political System: This three-year study consists of three phases of research. The first year of the research focuses on “The International Relations of Qatar and the Gulf”, followed by “International Political Economy of the Gulf and Qatar in its second year. Finally, the study will focus on “Qatar and the World in the Twenty-First Century: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges”, touching upon domestic, social, economic, and political dynamics of Qatar. The Center has allocated more than $100,000 to support fieldwork and research on this project.[3]
[edit] Events and Conferences
CIRS sponsors events and conferences throughout the year. Model United Nations and Monthly Dialogue Series are ongoing events that the Center hosts.[4]
Model United Nations: This CIRS-sponsored conference is a forum for high school students to debate current global issues and gain insight into international politics and policy-making. High school students from around the world come to Doha, Qatar to debate on contemporary international politics. Following 2007 annual conference, the Center hosted another one in January 2008.[5]
Monthly Dialogue Series: This monthly event hosts scholars from SFS-Qatar and elsewhere about their latest academic research. Some of the events in this series were “Living in the Past: Cairo Women of the darb” by Prof. Amira Sonbol, “The Ambassadors of Islamic spirituality and the Encounter of Religions” by Prof. Patrick Laude and the “A Public Good? Palestinian Businessmen and the British Colonial State 1939-1946” by Dr. Sherene Seikaly.[6]
CIRS also hosts other relevant events on international and regional studies:
[edit] 2007
Speaker: Mehran Kamrava Date: September 2007
- America and the Middle East after the Bush Presidency: The View from the Outside[11][12]
Date: October 2007
- US 2008 Elections
Speaker: Prof. Gary Wasserman Date: November 2007
- A Short History of British Diplomacy
Speaker: Ambassador Stephen Day Date: November 2007
Date: November 2007
- Lecture by Hany El Banna, President of Islamic Relief
Date: December 2007[15]
[edit] 2008
- Distinguished Lecturer: Dr. John Esposito
Date: February 2008
- Innovation in Islam
Date: April 2008[16]
[edit] Publications
CIRS publishes newsletters and occasional papers. There are two newsletters published in September 2007 and January 2008. The Center also published a research on “Iraqi Refugees: Seeking Refuge in Syria and Jordan”.[17]
[edit] References
[edit] Notes
- ^ The Iraqi Refugee Crisis in Syria and Jordan. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ America's Role in the World. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ Qatar and the Gulf in the International Economic and Political System. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ Events at CIRS. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ Model United Nations. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ Outreach. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ "West misused Islam for Political Reasons, meet told", The Peninsula, October 26, 2007.
- ^ "US-Iran War Highly Unlikely, says Expert", The Peninsula, September 12, 2007.
- ^ "Only 30% Likelihood of US Attack on Iran, says Expert", Gulf Times, September 12, 2007.
- ^ "Lecture on US-Iran Standoff", Gulf Times, September 9, 2007.
- ^ Sarmad Qazi. "US Presidency will have to Rediscover Diplomacy", Gulf Times, October 25, 2007.
- ^ "Seminar on Future of US Policy in Mideast", The Peninsula, October 18, 2007.
- ^ "Experts Discuss Impact of Industrialisation on Environment", The Peninsula, November 14, 2007.
- ^ "Expert Study Industry Impact on Environment", Gulf Times, November 14, 2007.
- ^ Events at CIRS. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ Events at CIRS. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
- ^ CIRS Publications. CIRS. Retrieved on 2007-01-10.
[edit] Further Reading
- Patricia Fagen, Iraqi Refugees: Seeking Stability in Syria and Jordan (pdf file)
- CIRS, CIRS Newsletter: September 2007 (pdf file)
- CIRS, CIRS Newsletter: January 2008 (pdf file)
[edit] External Links
