Exploring the political landscape of the Middle East: Exeter’s ‘Global Conversation’ comes to Sharjah

Internationally-acclaimed researcher Professor Gareth Stansfield, Professor of Middle East Politics and the Al-Qasimi Chair of Arab Gulf Studies from the University of Exeter will lead the high-profile event on Saturday 6 February 2016 at the Dr Sultan Al-Qasimi Centre of Gulf Studies in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.

The event is the latest in a series of worldwide lectures organised by the University of Exeter, called Global Conversation, which showcase some of the latest developments in world-leading research.

Professor Stansfield will consider the ‘new’ Middle East, the rise and return of new forces in the region and the durability of established political orders. Speaking ahead of the event he said “Since the events of the Arab Spring(s) of 2011, the landscape of political life and order has been transformed in the Middle East and North Africa. As established orders have been weakened, a ‘new’ Middle East is emerging.”

The event is presented under the patronage of His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi, Supreme Council Member of the UAE and Ruler of Sharjah, an alumnus and major supporter of the University of Exeter.

Dr Shaun Curtis, Director of Global Engagement and Development said “We are indebted to His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed Al-Qasimi for his continuing support of the University of Exeter. Hosting this Global Conversation for our alumni and guests in Sharjah is the latest example of his longstanding commitment and support of the University.”

Initiated in March 2015 in Hong Kong, the Global Conversation series explores how the University of Exeter, working in collaboration with its partners across the world, is having an impact on many of the shared global challenges we face. Events in the series focus on common issues, from Mental Health Care to Water Security, and encourage conversation between experts in their fields, guests and a wider public audience. To date events have taken place in Hong Kong, Paris, Toronto, New York and San Francisco. This is the first Global Conversation event to take place in the Middle East.

Launching Global Conversation, Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive Professor Sir Steve Smith said: “We want to share our thinking and our world-leading research, to open up discussion and debate around these issues. By stimulating conversation between our academics and other leading experts in their fields, we can make a positive contribution to our collective global understanding of issues which affect us all.”

For more information regarding this, and other lectures in the Global Conversation series, please visit the Global Conversation OLD webpage.

Join the Conversation today by following @UoEGlobalConvo on Twitter. If you are based in UAE, connect with your alumni community by joining the UAE LinkedIn group.