Center for International and Regional Studies

The Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS), located in Doha, Qatar, is a center for international and regional affairs. The Center is a part of Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar (SFS-Qatar). The Center works closely with SFS-Qatar Faculty to create research and publications, organize events and manage outreach activities.

Founded in 2005, the Center works mainly in four areas: research, events and conferences, outreach and publications. The first Director, Mehran Kamrava, still directs the Center.

Guided by the principles of academic excellence, forward vision, and community engagement, the Center for International and Regional Studies's mission revolves around five principal goals: To provide a forum for scholarship and research on international and regional affairs; To encourage in-depth examination and exchange of ideas; To foster thoughtful dialogue among students, scholars and practitioners of international affairs; To facilitate the free flow of ideas and knowledge through publishing the products of its research, sponsoring conferences and seminars, and holding workshops designed to explore the complexities of the twenty-first century; To engage in outreach activities with a wide range of local, regional and international partners.Fact|date=October 2008

History

The Center for International and Regional Studies was founded in 2005 with the initiatives of the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service in Qatar. Since its conception, the Center focuses on comprehensive studies and events on international and regional studies with an emphasis on the Gulf and Middle East region.

Research

The Center engages in particular areas of academic endeavour, including:
# Conferences and Events
# Research and Scholarship
# Publications
# Community Outreach

The following are some of the research initiatives undertaken by the Center:

"The Iraqi Refugee Crisis in Syria and Jordan:" In collaboration with Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of International Immigration (ISIM), CIRS conducted a study on the conditions and impact of Iraqi refugees in Syria and Jordan. The study investigates the ways in which the two countries accommodate, absorb, or expel incoming refugees. Dr. Patricia Fagen from ISIM authored the report. [cite web | title=The Iraqi Refugee Crisis in Syria and Jordan | work=CIRS | url=http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/37889.html | accessdate=2007-01-10]

"America’s Role in the World Working Group:" In partnership with the Georgetown University’s Institute for the Study of Diplomacy (ISD), the Center has been working on a scholarly initiative to examine the role and nature of American foreign policy in the coming years. The Working Group tries to identify the geopolitical challenges that a new administration can face beginning in 2009. The study does not aim to provide policy prescriptions, but rather deliver a comprehensive agenda of issues that could require attention. The Working Group consists of 55 experts on American foreign policy. [cite web | title=America's Role in the World | work=CIRS | url=http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/37890.html | accessdate=2007-01-10]

"International Relations of the Gulf:" This year-long study consists of two phases of research. The first phase of the research focuses on “The International Relations of the Gulf”, followed by “The Gulf and the World in the Twenty-First Century: Domestic Responses to Global Challenges”, in its second phase, touching upon domestic, social, economic, and political dynamics of the Gulf.

Events and Conferences

CIRS sponsors events and conferences throughout the year. Model United Nations and Monthly Dialogue Series are ongoing events that the Center hosts. [cite web | title=Events at CIRS | work=CIRS | url=http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/about/CIRS/events/ | accessdate=2007-01-10]

"Model United Nations:" This CIRS-sponsored conference is a forum for high school students to debate current global issues and gain insight into international politics and policy-making. High school students from around the world come to Doha, Qatar to debate on contemporary international politics. Following 2007 annual conference, the Center hosted another one in January 2008. [cite web | title=Model United Nations | work=CIRS | url=http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/about/CIRS/MUN/30279.html | accessdate=2007-01-10]

"Monthly Dialogue Series:" This monthly event hosts scholars from SFS-Qatar and elsewhere about their latest academic research. Some of the events in this series were “Living in the Past: Cairo Women of the darb” by Prof. Amira Sonbol, “The Ambassadors of Islamic spirituality and the Encounter of Religions” by Prof. Patrick Laude and the “A Public Good? Palestinian Businessmen and the British Colonial State 1939-1946” by Dr. Sherene Seikaly. [cite web | title=Outreach | work=CIRS | url=http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/about/CIRS/outreach/37762.html | accessdate=2007-01-10]

CIRS also hosts other relevant events on international and regional studies:

2007

*The United States and Iran: A Dangerous but Contained Conflict [cite news
title=West misused Islam for Political Reasons, meet told
publisher=The Peninsula
date=October 26 2007] [cite news
title=US-Iran War Highly Unlikely, says Expert
publisher=The Peninsula
date=September 12 2007] [cite news
title=Only 30% Likelihood of US Attack on Iran, says Expert
publisher=Gulf Times
date=September 12 2007] [cite news
title=Lecture on US-Iran Standoff
publisher=Gulf Times
date=September 9 2007] Speaker: Mehran Kamrava Date: September 2007
*America and the Middle East after the Bush Presidency: The View from the Outside [cite news
title=US Presidency will have to Rediscover Diplomacy
author=Sarmad Qazi
publisher=Gulf Times
date=October 25 2007] [cite news
title=Seminar on Future of US Policy in Mideast
publisher=The Peninsula
date=October 18 2007] Date: October 2007
*US 2008 ElectionsSpeaker: Prof. Gary Wasserman Date: November 2007
*A Short History of British DiplomacySpeaker: Ambassador Stephen Day Date: November 2007
*Environmental Degradation and Conservation: Challenges and Prospects [cite news
title=Experts Discuss Impact of Industrialisation on Environment
publisher=The Peninsula
date=November 14 2007] [cite news
title=Expert Study Industry Impact on Environment
publisher=Gulf Times
date=November 14 2007] Date: November 2007
*Lecture by Hany El Banna, President of Islamic ReliefDate: December 2007 [cite web | title=Events at CIRS | work=CIRS | url=http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/about/CIRS/events | accessdate=2007-01-10]

2008

*Distinguished Lecturer: Dr. John EspositoDate: February 2008
*Innovation in IslamDate: April 2008 [cite web | title=Events at CIRS | work=CIRS | url=http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/about/CIRS/events | accessdate=2007-01-10]

Publications

CIRS publishes newsletters and occasional papers. There are two newsletters published in September 2007 and January 2008. The Center also published a research on “Iraqi Refugees: Seeking Refuge in Syria and Jordan”. [cite web | title=CIRS Publications | work=CIRS | url=http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/about/CIRS/publications | accessdate=2007-01-10]

References

Further reading

* Patricia Fagen, [https://guqshare.qatar.georgetown.edu/CIRS/Public%20documents%20%20for%20website/Iraqi%20refugees.pdf "Iraqi Refugees: Seeking Stability in Syria and Jordan"] (pdf file)
* CIRS, [http://www1.georgetown.edu/sfs/qatar/about/cirs/publications/newsletterpdf.pdf "CIRS Newsletter: September 2007"] (pdf file)
* CIRS, [https://guqshare.qatar.georgetown.edu/CIRS/Publications/Newsletter%20-%20CIRS/newsletter2-1.pdf?uniq=-k7eq4g "CIRS Newsletter: January 2008"] (pdf file)

External links

* [http://cirs.georgetown.edu/ CIRS Official site]
* [http://cirs.georgetown.edu/about/ About CIRS]
* [http://cirs.georgetown.edu/events/ CIRS Conferences and Events]