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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20100109T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20100110T180000
DTSTAMP:20260412T180635
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SUMMARY:Migrant Labor in the Gulf Working Group II
DESCRIPTION:On January 9–10\, 2010\, CIRS convened the second of three planned working group meetings on “Migrant Labor in the Gulf.” Scholars from Europe\, the United States\, Asia\, and the Gulf region assembled in Doha to discuss particular aspects of migrant labor. Among the participants were CIRS Research Grant recipients: Andrew Gardner of Qatar University\, Arland Thornton and Mansoor Moaddel of the University of Michigan\, Mary Breeding of Georgetown University\, and David Mednicoff of the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. The CIRS initiative and grants program expand the depth and breadth of original scholarly research on migrant labor in the Gulf. \n \n \nThe working group participants hailed from a variety of disciplines including\, anthropology\, political science\, legal studies and public policy\, and statistical demography. The scholars analyzed the broad historic\, post-colonial\, and diasporic origins of migrant labor to the Gulf. They examined issues related to the host and sending countries; questions of citizenship\, identity\, and gender politics; demography and migratory processes; policy regulations; economics and remittances\, and nationalization of local labor markets\, among larger issues of long-term social change. \n \n \nThe participants reported on empirical research they had conducted among migrant populations in Kuwait\, Qatar\, and the UAE\, as well as in Nepal\, a key country of origin for labor migrants in the Gulf. While there are some common elements of the experience of migrants across the Gulf\, the group emphasized the need for case-based research because of striking differences across migrant labor communities. They highlighted differences between domestic and industrial labor; high income and low income workers; physical and linguistic boundaries; the reconstruction of social identities and senses of place; as well as the cultural and social practices of local and migrant communities. \n \n \nThe group rejected characterizations that “exceptionalize” the Gulf\, i.e.\, that assume its labor migrants are unlike those in all other societies. On the contrary\, the group believed that the concerns of migrant laborers are chronic to labor systems all over the world. \n \n \nDuring the discussions\, the participants narrowed down the overall themes of the initiative and outlined the missing areas of scholarship that need to be addressed during the project. Many noted the lack of consensus about terminology in current scholarship on migrant labor. Throughout their discussions\, they parsed the socio-political implications of terms like “migrant labor\,” “foreign worker\,” “guest worker\,” and “non-citizens.” Some scholars argued that “temporary labor” in the Gulf does not actually refer to temporal transience as many of these workers have lived and worked in the Gulf for years\, and even generations. The notion of transience is therefore better conceived as a matter of ease of turn-over\, rather than duration of work assignment. \n \n \nThe two-day meeting also involved assigning specific paper topics to all the discussants. The papers will become the bases for chapters of an edited volume titled Migrant Labour in the Gulf (Columbia University Press/Hurst\, 2012). The first working group meeting took place on May 16–17\, 2009. \n \n \n\nRead more about this research initiative\n\n \nParticipants and Discussants include: \n \n \nRogaia Abusharaf\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarAttiya Ahmad\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarZahra Babar\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarMary Breeding\, Georgetown University\, Washington\, DCJane Bristol-Rhys\, Zayed UniversityJohn T. Crist\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarAndrew Gardner\, Qatar UniversityJennifer Heeg\, Texas A&M University in QatarMehran Kamrava\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarPardis Mahdavi\, Pomona CollegeDavid Mednicoff\, University of Massachusetts–AmherstSuzi Mirgani\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarMansoor Moaddel\, University of Michigan\, Ann ArborMahmood Monshipouri\, San Francisco State UniversityCaroline Osella\, School of Oriental and African Studies\, University of LondonFilippo Osella\, University of SussexKasim Randeree\, Oxford UniversityUday Rosario\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarRodney Sharkey\, Weill Cornell Medical College in QatarHélène Thiollet\, Sciences PoArland Thornton\, University of Michigan\, Ann Arbor  \n \n \nArticle by Suzi Mirgani. Suzi is CIRS Publications Coordinator.
URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/migrant-labor-gulf-working-group-ii/
CATEGORIES:Focused Discussions,Race & Society,Regional Studies
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20100110T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20100110T180000
DTSTAMP:20260412T180635
CREATED:20141022T141356Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T110235Z
UID:10000925-1263110400-1263146400@cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu
SUMMARY:President of Slovenia Offers Encouraging Words on State of Democracy
DESCRIPTION:On January 10\, the President of the Republic of Slovenia\, Danilo Türk\, spoke at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar). The lecture\, hosted by the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS)\, drew students\, staff and faculty from across Education City and focused on the state of democracy in our world. \n \n \nPresident Türk began his discussion recalling his last visit to Qatar where he had met a group of students from SFS-Qatar and had been impressed with the interest they showed in issues concerning democracy. The president noted that although there is certainly much more that needs to be done to strengthen democracy on a global level\, it is clear that much progress has been made in the past three decades\, particularly in Europe. “Through this progress\,” Türk stated\, “the world has learned some important lessons.” First\, Türk emphasized that democracy must come from within and cannot be imposed from abroad. However\, he noted that democracy can and should be assisted internationally in a way that is respectful of international principles and standards\, such as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. In evaluating successful democratic transitions\, Türk suggested that a democracy’s efficiency and legal quality should be examined. A democracy that does not adequately and efficiently address the electorate’s expectations poses a threat to the success of that process. \n \n \nFurthermore\, “democracy and rule of law go hand in hand and a democracy cannot flourish without respect for the rule of law\,” added Türk. \n \n \nTürk described human rights as part of the legal fabric of democracy. “Human rights will continue to represent the foundation of democracy\,” he said. To this end\, Türk asserted that human rights need to be ensured in all democracies albeit in way that is compatible with different political traditions and culture. Türk then recounted Indonesia’s successful democratic transition as an example of a process that worked for Indonesia since it came from within. “The model of Indonesia worked because it was Indonesian\, and cannot be replicated exactly elsewhere\,” stated Türk. \n \n \nThe president maintained that other parts of the world had to find their own solutions and that the process of democratization is ongoing\, even in mature democracies. “Europe has seen democracy for quite some time\, people think that it is irreversible but it is not\,” he said. Türk called specific attention to the challenges many democratic European countries were now facing with regards to integrating immigrant communities\, particularly those from Muslim countries. He then suggested two key guidelines to help facilitate this process. First\, he said\, one has to ensure that immigrant communities have access to education and employment. Second\, according to Türk\, immigrants must be ensured the opportunity for upward social mobility. \n \n \nAlthough Türk acknowledged there have been setbacks and periods where democracy has suffered\, he concluded on an optimistic note. Such setbacks\, he said\, “should not detract us from the progress that has been made. We now have to ask how to make democracy more effective and more prevalent in the world.” \n \n \nMehran Kamrava\, interim dean at SFS-Qatar lauded President Türk’s insights and said\, “our students are fortunate to have the opportunity to learn from a scholar on democracy and human rights who has engaged in diplomacy at the United Nations and ultimately became the political leader of his country. I hope that SFS-Qatar students are inspired to pursue their full potential.”
URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/president-slovenia-offers-encouraging-words-state-democracy/
CATEGORIES:American Studies,Dialogue Series,Distingushed Lectures,Regional Studies
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20100111T080000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20100111T180000
DTSTAMP:20260412T180635
CREATED:20141023T155200Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T110229Z
UID:10000946-1263196800-1263232800@cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu
SUMMARY:Robert Lieber on Why the Declinists Are Wrong About America
DESCRIPTION:Robert Lieber\, Professor of Government and International Affairs at Georgetown University in Washington\, DC\, delivered the January CIRS Monthly Dialogue on the topic of “Why the Declinists are Wrong About America.” \n \n \nLieber examined the recurring nature of comments regarding America’s decline\, both at home and abroad\, and argued that critics have been predicting the fall of the United States for decades. The current financial crisis and its impact on American economic and geopolitical power has again stoked these criticisms\, but\, he said\, the United States has been through far worse in its history\, and has managed to overcome even greater obstacles. \n \n \nReviewing the history of the various setbacks that the United States has experienced\, Lieber noted that “declinists’ proclamations about America have appeared ever since America’s founding.” Further down the line\, in the 1930s\, America experienced its worst financial crisis and a total economic collapse. During these years\, a quarter of the American work-force was unemployed and there was a significant drop in the GNP. This\, he said\, was a profound crisis that prompted many public intellectuals to wonder whether the “liberal democratic model” could survive. \n \n \nThe power of the United States as a world leader was again questioned in the 1950s after the Soviets successfully launched the Sputnik satellite\, “which was the first man-made object in the history of humanity to leave Earth’s orbit.” This act showed that the Soviets had mastered rocket propulsion and “had the capacity to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles\,” triggering a concern that America had become stagnant and was falling behind in terms of scientific prowess. \n \n \nSimilarly\, the leadership of the United States was condemned in the 1970s after the withdrawal from Vietnam\, the Soviet incursion into Afghanistan\, and the seizure of the U.S. embassy in Tehran. In the 1980s and 1990s\, the United States was often compared\, unfalteringly\, to Japan\, which was revered internationally as a model of economic development and success. Lieber argued that “it can be instructive to compare current arguments and prescriptions of the new declinism with the ideas of earlier eras.” Current declinist statements\, Lieber explained\, are the product of exaggerated and ahistorical claims. In particular\, they reveal “a lack of appreciation for the robustness and staying-power of the United States.” \n \n \nExamining current declinist pronouncements\, Lieber argued that there are two propositions that are widely asserted. The first is that the United States\, as a society\, in terms of its economics\, political power\, and its ethos\, is in decline domestically. The second proclamation is that due to globalization in the context of a multi-polar world\, a counterbalancing of power is taking place and America’s world role has diminished and it is becoming “one among equals.” \n \n \nDuring the Bush administration\, and in the aftermath of the war in Iraq\, the United States was regarded as having lost not only its hegemony\, but also its legitimacy. The enfeeblement of the United States has been attributed to “military overstretch\,” and its involvement in two costly wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Lieber responded to these criticisms regarding exorbitant military costs by arguing that “the total cost of the American defense budget today is somewhere around 4.5% of Gross Domestic Product – a GDP of 14 trillion dollars. In absolute terms\, it is an enormous amount of money\,” but\, he said\, “in relative terms\, by historical standards\, it is modest.” \n \n \nThe current challenges that the United States faces\, Leiber explained\, include an aging population\, which will put enormous pressures on the infrastructure of the country\, especially in relation to the healthcare system and social security; a continued dependence on imported oil; political polarization; deficits in the annual budget; huge national debt; as well as the future problems that will be faced in relation to the rise of China. \n \n \nLieber concluded by arguing that “America’s problems are real\, and it would be absurd not to recognize those\, but I would also add that we’ve always had problems\,” and the United States has overcome them by fostering an exceptional environment for entrepreneurialism. “America’s competitiveness\, its scientific research infrastructure\, its universities\, its commitment to competition and free markets\, and its efficient capital markets are all important factors.” \n \n \nIn order to assert that declinist proclamations are exaggerated and hyperbolic\, Lieber noted that “since the early 1970s\, the U.S. has represented somewhere between a quarter and a fifth of world economic activity\,” and its economic growth has far outpaced the rest of the world. \n \n \nDuring the public Q&A session after the conclusion of the lecture\, Leiber was asked whether America’s unilateralism and preemption\, which in the Bush era led to a decline of America’s stature around the world\, a noticeable rise in anti-Americanism\, and an erosion of American soft power globally\, suited America’s interests. He responded by asserting that “internationally\, the U.S. plays a role that no other country can\, or will\, do in meeting the world’s most urgent and deadly problems.” The principal problem to avoiding America decline at home and abroad\, Lieber said\, is less a material one\, than it is one of political institutions and political will. \n \n \nRobert Lieber is an authority on American foreign policy and U.S. relations with the Middle East and Europe\, and has held fellowships from the Guggenheim\, Rockefeller\, and Ford Foundations\, the Council on Foreign Relations\, and the Woodrow Wilson Center for Scholars. He has also taught at Harvard\, Oxford\, and the University of California\, Davis.  \n \n \nArticle by Suzi Mirgani. Suzi is CIRS Publications Coordinator.
URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/robert-lieber-why-declinists-are-wrong-about-america/
CATEGORIES:American Studies,Dialogue Series,Regional Studies
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20100123T170000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/Moscow:20100124T030000
DTSTAMP:20260412T180635
CREATED:20140925T042415Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20240314T110221Z
UID:10000801-1264266000-1264302000@cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu
SUMMARY:Political Economy of the Gulf Working Group I
DESCRIPTION:On January 23–24\, 2010\, CIRS held the first of its “Political Economy of the Gulf” working group meetings. The “Political Economy of the Gulf” is a CIRS research initiative that examines key aspects of the Gulf’s contemporary economic and political situations and the region’s long-term transition from an oil-based economy to a knowledge-based one. Ten prominent Gulf specialists with expertise in various aspects of the Gulf’s political economy participated. \n \n \nOne of the most significant aspects of the Gulf’s political economy is the prominence of so-called rentier states. Working group participants considered the relationship between rentier economies and the development of democratic models of governance. In extreme cases\, rentierism reduces political participation\, but consequently leads to regime stabilization. \n \n \nThe role of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) in Gulf economies has received much attention. Unfortunately\, as participants noted\, data regarding the exact size of SWFs in GCC states is insufficient\, unreliable\, and largely speculative. Gulf states’ SWFs are used for general long-term investments that follow international indexes; for smaller strategic investments into specific projects such as bauxite mines and technology companies; or for investing in tools to develop local industries. \n \n \nThe working group also considered Islamic banking systems and how they fit within contemporary Gulf states’ overall financial infrastructures and capital markets. Particularly\, the differences between Sunni and Shi’a Islamic banking principles in the GCC states and Iran were examined. In either case\, Islamic banking has become a popular and profitable business strategy for Gulf countries. \n \n \nOne presenter assessed the prospects of a monetary union among GCC states. Some economic consequences of such a merger include the removal of exchange rates\, increased trade among members\, and improved international credibility for GCC financial markets. A successful monetary union would also enhance the Gulf’s international bargaining power. However\, the group also questioned the viability of a GCC monetary union in light of pressure exerted from a variety of external forces. \n \n \nA general theme running throughout the meeting was the diversification of Gulf state economies\, with a special emphasis on the move away from oil and gas toward knowledge-based economies with thriving financial centers based on management of assets. Educational institutions and intellectual property industries are of particular importance to this new economic philosophy and infrastructure. \n \n \nAlso under examination during the working group meeting was the rise and fall of the “Dubai Model” of diversification\, and how this differed from past strategies that the state has employed. Despite the recent problems that the government of UAE has experienced\, the general understanding\, both locally and internationally\, is that this is a temporary hiccup in Dubai’s life cycle. Although devoid of oil wells\, Dubai has managed to attract oil wealth and carve out a niche for itself as a fully-functional financial hub. \n \n \nParticipants identified demographic and economic circumstances that will likely affect the Gulf’s political economy in the future. The consequences of differences between Iran’s population pyramid and those of the Gulf for future economic development were considered. Also\, drawing from trade statistics and market data\, some participants assessed the prospects of trade integration among the states of the GCC and how this will affect their trade relations with the rest of the world. Free Trade Zones within Gulf economies were considered especially significant in this regard. \n \n \nThe research initiative is expected to run for a year with at least one more meeting taking place in 2010 at which the participants will present papers. Eventually\, these papers will be revised and published as an edited volume titled The Political Economy of the Persian Gulf (Columbia University Press/Hurst\, 2012). \n \n \n\nRead more about this research initiative\n\n \n  \n \n \nParticipants and Discussants include: \n \n \nAlexis Antoniades\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarZahra Babar\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarKai-Henrik Barth\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarSven Behrendt\, Carnegie Middle East Center in BeirutMary Breeding\, Georgetown University\, Washington\, DCJohn T. Crist\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarChristopher Davidson\, Durham UniversityNada Eissa\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarSteffen Hertog\, Sciences PoMehran Kamrava\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarMassoud Karshenas\, School of Oriental and African Studies\, University of LondonSuzi Mirgani\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarHamid Naficy\, Northwestern University in QatarDjavad Salehi-Isfahani\, Virginia TechGanesh Seshan\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarJean-François Seznec\, Georgetown University\, Washington\, DCKristian Coates Ulrichsen\, London School of EconomicsDaniel Westbrook\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in QatarRodney Wilson\, Durham University and Qatar Foundation’s Qatar Faculty of Islamic StudiesNicola Zaniboni\, Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar  \n \n \nArticle by Suzi Mirgani\, CIRS Publications Coordinator
URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/political-economy-gulf-working-group-i/
CATEGORIES:Focused Discussions,Race & Society,Regional Studies
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