BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Center for International and Regional Studies - ECPv6.15.15//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-WR-CALNAME:Center for International and Regional Studies X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Center for International and Regional Studies REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Asia/Qatar BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:+03 DTSTART:20230101T000000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Qatar:20241104T173000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Qatar:20241104T190000 DTSTAMP:20260407T085651 CREATED:20241028T064545Z LAST-MODIFIED:20250411T071808Z UID:10001302-1730741400-1730746800@cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu SUMMARY:Book Talk with Professor Trish Kahle DESCRIPTION:How much risk—whether bodily\, environmental\, economic\, or political—is acceptable in a democratic energy system? And\, just as importantly\, who should bear that risk? What do energy producers and energy consumers owe to each other and how did we come to see these obligations as legitimate? Who constitutes the proper community of interest in energy decision-making? How should we evaluate the fairness of their energy system? Can energy systems ever really be democratic for all the people who are part of it? These questions have a long history. Indeed\, they were at the core of energy policy-making in the modern United States which was about not only managing fuels but also negotiating the relationship between coal miners and the rest of the country\, which depended on the electric power and steel produced with the coal they mined. Energy governance cuts to the heart of persistent questions about justice\, democracy\, and equality. \n\nThe conversation considered the uncertain relationship between coal and democracy in US history as miners’ democratic aspirations confronted the deadly record of the country’s coal mines. Miners and their communities bore the burdens of energy production while reaping far fewer of the benefits of energy consumption. But they insisted that death in the mines\, far from being inevitable\, was a political choice. As coal miners’ struggled to democratize the workplace\, secure civil and social rights\, and obtain restitution for the human toll of progress\, they reshaped U.S. laws\, regulatory administrations\, and political imaginaries. \n\n\n\n\n\nSpeakers:Trish Kahle\, Georgetown University in QatarFirat Oruc\, Georgetown University in QatarVictoria Googasian\, Georgetown University in Qatar \n\nModerator: Zahra Babar\, Executive Director – CIRS\, Georgetown University in Qatar URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/book-talk-with-professor-trish-kahle/ LOCATION:Education City\, Al Luqta St\, Ar-Rayyan\, Doha\, Qatar CATEGORIES:Panels ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/09/Untitled-design-8.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Qatar:20241119T130000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Qatar:20241119T140000 DTSTAMP:20260407T085652 CREATED:20241104T120511Z LAST-MODIFIED:20260105T095105Z UID:10001306-1732021200-1732024800@cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu SUMMARY:CIRS Lunch Talk: Darfur's Role in Sudan's Ongoing Power Struggle DESCRIPTION:On November 19\, 2024\, the CIRS Lunch Talk dove into “Darfur’s Role in Sudan’s Ongoing Power Struggle” with Dr. Hamid E. Ali\, a Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies\, and Professor Rogaia Abusharaf\, Professor of Anthropology at Georgetown University in Qatar. Professor Ali pushed back against the common belief that Darfur’s conflicts are separate from Sudan’s bigger problems. Instead\, he highlighted how Darfur is actually at the heart of Sudan’s identity and political struggles. When discussing Sudan’s difficult history\, which includes 17 coups since the country became independent\, he criticized how political leaders have misused democracy\, treating it just as a way to grab power while ignoring the real changes needed in education\, the economy\, and society. Professor Ali explained that the current problems with the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) aren’t just random events but are connected to these deeper issues in Sudan’s political system. He was especially critical of looking to Western countries for solutions\, saying this approach hasn’t worked and isn’t the right path forward. Instead\, he pointed to Sudan’s younger generation as a source of real hope\, noting how young people are trying to move beyond the old divisions based on tribes and colonial history that have held the country back. While there are voices on social media that talk about the separation of  Darfur from Sudan\, this is not a majority opinion.  Professor  Ali stressed that Darfur needs to be properly included as part of Sudan\, not pushed away or treated as less important. The discussion also looked at how past colonial rule and outside interference have affected Sudan\, suggesting that these influences have often made things worse rather than better. Professor Ali called for a new kind of leadership that puts the country’s needs before personal gain\, along with major improvements in education. He said Sudan needs to build a new vision for itself that brings people together instead of dividing them based on where they’re from or what group they belong to. To achieve real peace and development\, he argued\, Sudan needs to find solutions that come from its own people and communities\, with Darfur playing a key role in this process. Professor  Ali ended with a message of cautious hope\, suggesting that while Sudan faces serious challenges\, there’s a path forward if the country can work together and make the deep changes needed\, rather than just dealing with surface-level problems. This change needs to start from within Sudan itself\, with all regions and communities\, including Darfur\, working together to build a better future. \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n \n \n\n\nSpeaker: Hamid E. Ali is a Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies (DI) and served as the Dean of the School of Economics\, Administration\, and Public Policy from 2020 to 2023. He also held a research position at the US Government Accountability Office (GAO)\, where he substantially contributed to several reports for US congressional committees. He has been a distinguished invitee at forums hosted by the US Institute for Peace\, the US State Department\, and Chatham House. Ali has teaching experience from institutions like Texas State University and Southern Methodist University. He is a member of the Task Force of the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA)/ IASIA and the IASIA Board of Management. He previously served as the President of the Association of Middle Eastern Public Policy and Administration. Currently\, he is the Chair of the International Commission on the Accreditation of Public Administration and Training Programs (ICAPA) and is an active member of the NASPAA Diversity and Social Equality Committee. Additionally\, Hamid participates in the College Board and the Public Policy Leaders’ group for the International Public Policy Association (IPPA). He published in international journals including Public Administration Review\, Peace Research\, Food Policy\, Defence and Peace Economics \n\nModerator: Rogaia Abusharaf\, Georgetown University in Qatar \n\nArticle written by CIRS Research Assistant\, Haala Qamar (Class of ’26) URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/cirs-lunch-talk-darfurs-role-in-sudans-ongoing-power-struggle/ LOCATION:Education City\, Al Luqta St\, Ar-Rayyan\, Doha\, Qatar CATEGORIES:Regional Studies,Sudan ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/Sudan-feature.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Qatar:20241121T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Qatar:20241121T170000 DTSTAMP:20260407T085652 CREATED:20241112T090344Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241112T090346Z UID:10001308-1732176000-1732208400@cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu SUMMARY:Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine: Assessments\, Implications\, Prospects - Roundtable Discussion DESCRIPTION:On October 25\, 2024\, the Center for International and Regional Studies at Georgetown University in Qatar hosted a closed-door roundtable discussion to examine the Russian invasion of Ukraine and discuss how it has not only reshaped the geopolitical landscape in Europe but also the repercussions it has had across many regions. The event brought together experts from multiple disciplines to analyze the ongoing situation and its global implications and tried to lay the groundwork for future discussions and partnerships aimed at addressing complex geopolitical challenges. The discussion was structured around three fundamental questions: the war’s impact on Western powers (both direct and indirect)\, its implications for non-Western players\, and the most practical endgame scenarios. \n\nThe discussion was divided into three sessions with the first session looking at the Impact of Three Years of Conflict on Key Players and Alliances. During the conversation it was highlighted that the conflict has led to a reevaluation of strategic partnerships\, debunking the myth of Russia as an anti-colonialist ally. There is growing recognition of Chinese undercurrents and its gains from the situation\, alongside evolving mediation efforts. Prior to 2022\, mediation centered around US-EU dynamics\, but the Middle Eastern nations have shown success in targeted mediation efforts post-2022. the increased threats to European security were also highlighted\, with an alarming number of Europeans still conflating Ukraine with Russia. The need for clear strategic objectives was stressed\, recognizing that neutrality would not resolve current challenges. Significant internal changes were observed in Russia\, leading to a more consolidated regime that has become resilient against external pressures. Bureaucratic replacements have strengthened the central authority over traditional elites. Discussion included the historical trajectory of US-Ukraine relations\, transitioning from minimal involvement to recognizing the conflict as a vital concern. Despite Russia’s framing of its actions as resistance to American interests\, the US continues to focus strategically on its competition with China. Complexities involving territorial and security concerns complicate potential resolutions. Participants explored the roles of nuclear deterrence\, sanctions\, and engagement with the Global South\, emphasizing varied international mediation strategies. The need to understand historical contexts in planning future security arrangements was reiterated\, alongside discussions of required victory conditions and implications for global order. \n\nThe second session\, Assessing the War’s Impact on Global South International Relations\, addressed the perspectives from various regions\, including the Middle East\, Central Asia\, and China. The decline of Western influence was acknowledged\, with China strategically moving to fill vacuums left in global governance. It aims to cease hostilities without direct involvement\, despite its EU trade relations. Central Asian countries are balancing relations while heavily dependent on Russian infrastructure\, leading to an identity crisis among youth. For example\, nations like Kazakhstan have expressed support for Ukraine while dealing with economic ties with Russia. Arab nations approach the conflict cautiously\, weighing the risks and opportunities it presents while maintaining diplomatic relations with the US. Their responses vary across international forums\, influenced by potential food security and oil trade implications. Iran’s foreign policy reflects a “look East” strategy\, emphasizing strong neighborly relations and resilience against Western sanctions. Its complex relationship with Russia is economic and strategic\, favoring independence in its foreign relations. \n\nThe last session\, End Game Scenarios\, tried to bring the conversations from the first two panels together and examine potential ways forward to end the conflict. It was discussed that the future trajectory of the war remains contingent on various factors\, with both Russia and Ukraine committed to continuing the conflict. Analysts presented three main policy options for external powers: facilitate a peace settlement favoring Ukraine\, achieve a cessation of hostilities\, or continue supporting Ukraine indefinitely. Each choice carries significant risks\, particularly regarding potential escalation or instability in Ukraine. Western powers are urged to pursue the first option\, aligning closely with Ukrainian objectives while ensuring robust military and economic support. The discussion highlighted the potential for a long-term stalemate\, with time not favoring Ukraine. The US’s engagement and coherence in strategy are deemed critical for Ukraine’s eventual success\, with calls for a reinvigorated assessment of NATO’s posture against Russian threats. It was highligthed that the current dynamics could lead to a prolonged conflict\, with Russia’s perceived victories potentially becoming a strategic liability for the West. The need for a decisive shift in international strategies toward Russia was emphasized\, highlighting the crucial upcoming years in determining the global order and European security landscape. \n\nIn conclusion\, these sessions collectively showcased the multifaceted nature of the conflict and its broad geopolitical ramifications\, illustrating the complexities faced by global powers and regional actors involved. \n\nArticle written by Misba Bhatti\, Research Analyst\, CIRS URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/russias-invasion-of-ukraine-assessments-implications-prospects-roundtable-discussion/ LOCATION:Education City\, Al Luqta St\, Ar-Rayyan\, Doha\, Qatar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2014/09/events_15496_9066_1411054566-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Asia/Qatar:20241124T080000 DTEND;TZID=Asia/Qatar:20241124T170000 DTSTAMP:20260407T085652 CREATED:20241119T070619Z LAST-MODIFIED:20241119T071437Z UID:10001543-1732435200-1732467600@cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu SUMMARY:Writings from the Pitch: Qatar's Perspectives on Football\, Identity\, and Global Influence DESCRIPTION:This panel discussion is hosted in collaboration with the Qatar Olympic and Sports Museum Library. \n\nModerator: Gerd Nonneman\, GU-Q \n\nSpeakers: \n\nDanyel Reiche\, GU-QAisha Al-Kuwari \n\n\nRegister URL:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/event/writings-from-the-pitch-qatars-perspectives-on-football-identity-and-global-influence/ LOCATION:Education City\, Al Luqta St\, Ar-Rayyan\, Doha\, Qatar ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://cirs.qatar.georgetown.edu/wp-content/uploads/sites/3/2024/11/JAS-featured-image.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR