Konference: New trends in power and politics in the Middle East and North Africa (København)

Since the outbreak of the Arab uprisings in 2011, the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) has gone through a multiplicity of interrelated conflicts over power and politics. 

Pre-existing domestic, regional and global conflict potentials have been unleashed, and new dynamics have emerged. 

According to many observers, the region today faces a complex crisis that in its totality surpasses anything the region has experienced since the European decolonization in the middle of the 20th century. 

These conflicts are primarily challenges faced by governments and societies inside the region, but are deeply interconnected with broader patterns in global and international politics and thus also interrelate with foreign and domestic policies of European and American governments.

About the conference

This conference organized by the Danish Institute for International Studies in collaboration with the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs aims to provide an analysis of six key trends in the conflicts over power and politics in the MENA region today. 

These trends include the increasing rivalry and competition between regional powers in the MENA region and they include the protracted domestic conflicts between autocratic governments and militarized societies. 

They encompass the decreasing performance of the region’s rentier-based political economies and the changing forms of American hegemony in the MENA region and the emboldening of its challengers. 

Finally, they cover the changing forms of the European Union’s foreign policy in the region following the nationalist turn in Europe and the increase in migration and terrorism.

The conference, which will be opened by the Danish Minister for Foreign Affairs, offers in-depth presentations by six highly esteemed international scholars as well as comments from four esteemed Danish scholars and experts. 

It also provides and opportunity for the audience to raise question and debate with the speakers.

The event is organized by DIIS in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark.

Speakers

• Anders Samuelsen (LA), The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Denmark
• Stephen Grand, Executive Director, Middle East Strategy Task Force, Atlantic Council
• Kristina Kausch, Senior Research Fellow, The German Marshall Fund of the United States
• Mehran Kamrava, Director, the Center for International and Regional Studies, Georgetown University, Qatar
• Michele Dunne, Director, the Middle East Program, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
• Giacomo Luciani, Co-director, Executive Master in International Oil and Gas Leadership, Graduate Institute, Geneva
• Bassam Fattouh, Director, the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, and Professor, the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Chairs

• Rasmus Alenius Boserup, Senior Researcher, DIIS
• Vibeke Schou Tjalve, Senior Researcher, DIIS
• Helle Malmvig, Senior Researcher and Academic Coordinator, DIIS
• Luke Patey, Senior Researcher, DIIS

Programme

08.30-09.00: Arrival tea and coffee

09.00-09.15: Opening remarks
v/ Anders Samuelsen

09.15-11.00: Session one: changing forms of American and European foreign policy in the MENA region

• Stephen Grand
• Kristina Kausch
• Chair: Vibeke Schou Tjalve

11.00-11.30: Coffee break

11.30-13.15: Session two: current trends in domestic and regional conflict in the MENA region

• Mehran Kamrava
• Michele Dunne
• Chair: Helle Malmvig

13.15-14.00: Lunch

14.00-15.45: Session three: trends and patterns in rentierism and business in the MENA region

• Giacomo Luciani
• Bassam Fattouh
• Chair: Luke Patey

15.45-16.00: Perspectives
v/ Rasmus Alenius Boserup

Practical information

The seminar will be in English and live streamed on diis.dk.

Participation is free of charge, but registration is required. Please use our online registration form no later than Sunday 28 January 2018. Live stream does not require registration.

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