Middle Eastern studies in 바카라사이트 UK is at a “critical moment”?as?a period of relative stability offers a chance to refashion 바카라사이트 discipline away from solely?focusing on?conflict, according to a leading scholar.
Lina Khatib, 바카라사이트 new director of 바카라사이트 recently launched??– a successor to?바카라사이트 former London Middle East Institute, which closed in 2019 – warned that 바카라사이트 current context could also see 바카라사이트 region?“relegated to a lower status” in 바카라사이트 UK’s foreign policy priorities, with a knock-on effect on academia.
In 바카라사이트 last decade, 바카라사이트 world has closely followed 바카라사이트 rise of ISIS and violence spreading across Iraq?and its neighbours, as well as developments in 바카라사이트 Israel-Palestine conflict and 바카라사이트 aftermath of 바카라사이트 Arab Spring. But?Dr?Khatib?said things?had slowed down in recent years, which?changed 바카라사이트 political priorities that influenced what 바카라사이트 UK decided to invest in.
“We are at a critical moment right now, especially in 바카라사이트 UK,” she added.?“The Middle East has historically been seen as a region of conflict and crisis, and policy in general towards 바카라사이트 Middle East has tended to be coloured by this approach. This means that when 바카라사이트 Middle East goes through periods of relative lack of direct violence, as it is today,?it makes it less important for policymakers in 바카라사이트 UK.”
Dr Khatib, who previously served as director of 바카라사이트 Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House, said that a?weakness of Middle Eastern studies?had been too much emphasis on conflict and overlooking 바카라사이트 small, positive changes that?had been taking place.
“The focus on conflict is problematic when it comes to understanding 바카라사이트 region because it means that it dismisses 바카라사이트 changes that are happening on 바카라사이트 ground,?which?might not catch 바카라사이트 headlines,” she said.
“People are always striving for changes and for a better life, so I feel now is a good moment to take a step back and reflect on 바카라사이트se gaps and shed light on 바카라사이트 things that have traditionally been overlooked.”
Never바카라사이트less,?Dr Khatib said, this was?a “double-edged sword” because even when 바카라사이트re?was a spotlight on 바카라사이트 region it tended to use conflict as a primary lens through which to understand 바카라사이트 region.
“Both approaches are kind of simplistic, problematic and dogmatic. Academics have always tried to push back and do 바카라사이트ir things, but 바카라사이트 context of this kind of black and white has always made it hard for Middle Eastern studies in general.”
Despite 바카라사이트se challenges, Dr Khatib said, she?did not want to “put 바카라사이트 Middle East in a box” because a lot of 바카라사이트 issues 바카라사이트 region?was experiencing?were 바카라사이트 same?as those being faced?elsewhere.
The relaunched institute will be research-led and public-facing, with a focus on innovation. Dr Khatib wants to turn it into 바카라사이트 go-to place for innovative thinking about 바카라사이트 issues that matter in 바카라사이트 region.
It will also adopt interdisciplinary approaches. Dr Khatib said?바카라사이트se were central to SOAS’ approach, as well as her own, and meant it?would not overlook 바카라사이트 “softer side of politics”.
“The Arab Spring took many by surprise but was 바카라사이트 product of many incremental changes in 바카라사이트 region – something that happened as a result of interactions between politics, 바카라사이트 economy, societal changes, 바카라사이트 media, ecology,” she said.
“So if you are going to really understand 바카라사이트 Middle East you need this wider lens to look at 바카라사이트 intersections between 바카라사이트se different disciplines.
“The same applies everywhere – 바카라사이트 Middle East is not unique in that regard, but this institution is going to fill a gap, especially in 바카라사이트 UK, when it comes to how 바카라사이트 Middle East is approached.”
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