A World Cup for Qatar or the Middle East?

In 2010, Qatar won the bid to become the first ever Middle Eastern and Arab country to host a FIFA World Cup. Even though all 32 teams will be hosted in Qatar and all 64 games will be played in local stadiums, the state is emphasizing the broader regional character of the event. Join us…

A Century of Football in the Middle East

In this Webinar, the panelists offer a historical perspective of football in the Middle East. Moderator: Abdullah Al-Arian (Georgetown University in Qatar) Panelists: Simon Chadwick (Skema Business School in Paris), Ibrahim Elhoudaiby (Bard College),Yağmur Nuhrat (Bilgi University), Maher Mezahi (Football Journalist), and Zahra Babar (Center for International and Regional Studies at Georgetown University in Qatar)

Russian Foreign Policy Towards the Middle East

The panel discuses the motives behind Moscow’s behavior in the Middle East, considering Russia’s growing role in the region and its desire to protect national interests using a wide array of means. The panel considers Russian involvement in the Middle East from several points and analyze global geopolitical risks affecting Russia's Middle Eastern strategy and…

POMEPS-CIRS Politics of Sports in the Middle East Workshop

On January 14 and 15, 2023, the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS) at Georgetown University in Qatar, in collaboration with the Project on Middle East Politics (POMEPS) convened a two-day closed-door workshop to explore and study the complex relationship between politics and sports in the Middle East. During the meeting invited regional and…

The Evolution of African Regional Organizations Working Group I

On January 29 and 30, 2023, the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS) at Georgetown University Qatar held a book manuscript workshop under its project, “The Evolution of African Regional Organizations.” Several international and regional scholars were invited to present their papers on various African Regional Organizations (ROs) operational on the African continent. During…

African Regionalism: Achievements, Challenges, and Prospects

This CIRS panel offers a discussion of the history and politics of African Regional Organizations. Moderator: Lynda Iroulo (Georgetown University in Qatar) Panelists: Norman Sempiija (Mohammed VI Polytechnic University), Oheneba…