Start Date:

1st-January-2012

End Date:

30th-December-2013

Description:

Funding Organization: European Commission

Consortium Partners: Gulf Research Center (GRC ), Fundacion para las Relaciones Internacionales y el Dialogo Exterior (FRIDE), Institute for European Studies (IES), Free University of Brussels, Environmental Policy Unit of the National Technical University of Athens (EPU-NTUA)

Description:

“Promoting Deeper EU-GCC Relations” is a project in the framework of the Public Diplomacy and Outreach devoted to the European Union and EU-GCC Relations programme. It aims to reinforce cooperation between EU and GCC countries in a number of key strategic areas of mutual interest. The project contains two main areas of activities. Firstly a training part aiming to raise public awareness and understanding of the EU among the GCC society. Secondly, a series of workshops aiming to provide the framework for reflection and debate about EU-GCC relations. These actions are leading to information production which is disseminated as publications and on a devoted website platform.

A training session is held once a year in Brussels, the first one gathering GCC academics and focusing on European Studies at GCC universities and the second one gathering GCC youth focusing on a critically important sector of society in the Arab Gulf countries.

Up to six expert workshops are planned on key areas of potential cooperation between the EU and the GCC, dealing with topics such as enhancing cooperation in higher education, renewable energy, understanding political transformation in the Middle East and its relevance for EU-GCC relations, establishing a foreign policy dialogue; and the future of GCC integration.

Preliminary Schedule:

September 2012 First Training Module for GCC Academics (Brussels)

2013 (dates and place to be confirmed) Workshop on EU-GCC Higher Education Cooperation

March 3 to 4, 2013 Workshop on Political Transformation (Kuwait)

April 28 to 30, 2013 Workshop on Foreign Policy Dialogue (Qatar)

September 2013 Second Training Module for GCC Youth (Brussels)

2013 (dates and place to be confirmed) Workshop on GCC integration and the EU experience

December 2013 Workshop on Cooperation and Renewable Energies (UAE)

Start Date:

January 2010

End Date:

December 2012

Funding Organization:

European Commission

Consortium Partners:

Centre for European Policy Studies, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft-und Raumfahrt – DLR (Germany), Electricity Supply Board International – ESBI (Ireland), Gulf Research Center, Institute of Communications and Computer Systems of the National Technical University of Athens - ICCS-NTUA (Greece), Spanish National Renewable Energy Centre – CENER (Spain), University of Stavanger - Centre for Sustainable Energy Solutions - UiS (Norway), French Agency for the Environment and Energy Management - ADEME (France)

Description:

The project consists of four main components. First to create a network of GCC and EU entities including universities, research institutes, industries and utilities, to support and work on topics of mutual interest in the area of clean energy. Second, to operate and develop the activities of the network including capacity building events and joint research activities. Third, to disseminate information and advice for an increased knowledge among GCC on EU policies in the area of clean energy, and the promotion of joint demonstration projects being mutually implemented in this area. Fourth, to set-up a sustainability strategy for the established network to continue legally and financially.

Start Date:

15th-July-2008

End Date:

15th-July-2010

Funding Organization:

Arab Reform Initiative (ARI), Bertelsmann Stiftung, European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS), Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), National Technical University of Athens (EPU-NTUA), European Commission

Consortium Partners:

Arab Reform Initiative (ARI), Bertelsmann Stiftung, European Institute for Asian Studies (EIAS), Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), National Technical University of Athens (EPU-NTUA)

Description:

The Al-Jisr project’s main objective is threefold. Firstly, it aims to enhance public and well as professional knowledge and understanding of the European Union, its policies and institutions, among GCC citizens. Secondly, it strives to strengthen reflection and debate about EU-GCC relations and contribute to the future of policy-making between the two regions. Finally, closer links between the EU and the GCC will be ensured through the dissemination of information on the EU.

The project consists of five main components which will tackle the question of the promotion of GCC-EU relations to its fullest by addressing all aspects possible from training, debating, research, translating and dissemination.

Start Date:

1st-May-2008

End Date:

31st-October-2009

Funding Organization:

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC), Canada

Description:

The “Politics of Tribalism in post-Saddam Iraq” Project main objective is manifold. It aims to enhance professional knowledge and fill an important gap in the existing Iraq literature. While the Influence of the transformation of tribes in the political processes and political parties in Iraq is acknowledged only lukewarm research has been undertaken with reference to the dynamics of such influence. Given the composition of the current Iraqi parliament, tribal affiliation and loyalty is currently not visible as factor in decision making process. On the other Hand the question of insurgency and counter – insurgency is perceived but still little attention is paid to the issue of the sectarian dimension of violence. The major political blocks in the parliament are based on sectarian and ethnic identity including Sunni and Shia division and Arab-Kurdish identities. These same identities prevent the tribal structure and identitys from emerging as a factor of political power.

The project consists of two main components which will tackle the Question of political pluralism, the role of the civil society organizations and the relationship between the state and the society, particularly where the state is a totalitarian one, and where the society is divided within itself.

Start Date:

1st-July-2008

End Date:

29th-January-2009

Funding Organization:

Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI)

Description:

The Gulf Research Center conducts a feasibility study on the further development of sustainable economic development of three regions, i.e., Rabigh, Al Qunfudah, and Al Leith regions in the Makkah Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The major focus of the study is on agricultural development and cluster-based economic and industrial growth. Specific attention is being paid to infrastructural requirements as a framework for sustainable development of backward regions. It is believed that, while, on the one hand, the booming Saudi industrial economy sets the opportunities and limitations for the local community in these regions, the cities are themselves facing significant challenges for further growth on the other hand. Therefore, it is pertinent to strive for holistic development strategies in order to integrate the backward regions with mainstream national development plans and simultaneously address the imminent challenges facing the major cities.

Start Date:

1st-October-2008

End Date:

Spring 2009

Funding Organization:

Gulf Research Center

Description:

Buy Now

Violent Non-State Actors in Contemporary World Politics - a volume edited by Dr. Klejda Mulaj - has as its overarching theme the relations of violent non-state actors (VNSAs) with the state. In exploring the correlation between VNSAs and the environment that creates and nurtures them, this project seeks to unravel conditions which give rise to violent non-state actors and afterwards sustain them with a view to identifying suitable policy responses.

Violent non-state actors are non-state armed groups that resort to organized violence as a tool to achieve their goals. Whereas non-violent actors have received extensive attention in the literature, violent non-state actors have only recently attracted sustained interest. Yet, given that our era is being defined by a US-led war on terrorism, the understanding of violent non-state actors (some of which are targets of the said war) is crucial in order to ensure that sound policy responses are devised and implemented.

Start Date:

Spring 2007

End Date:

Autumn 2008

Funding Organization:

Gulf Research Center

Description:

Russian and CIS Relations with the Gulf Region: Current Trends in Political and Economic Dynamics – a volume edited by Dr. Marat Terterov – has as its overarching theme the relations between both Russia and the Gulf States on the one hand, and the ex- Soviet and Gulf regions on the other.

The Soviet Union exercised an energetic foreign policy towards the Arabian Gulf and the broader Middle East during the late-Cold War Period. Following the dismantling of the Soviet state, Moscow’s influence in the region rapidly declined although the Gulf retained a high level of strategic significance for the Kremlin’s foreign policy makers. In recent years, a number of pivotal factors, including international terrorism and Islamic militancy, Russia’s vast expansion in the export of its primary energy commodities to global markets, the international arms trade and nuclear non-proliferation, are all compelling Moscow to commit greater foreign policy resources into engagement with the Gulf region.

As bilateral ties between these regions grow, numerous questions arise among scholars, government policy-makers and the international business community about the scope and nature of such new-found relations.

Start Date:

1st-June-2008

End Date:

Funding Organization:

Gulf Research Center

Description:

It’s truly the time of reckoning for Gulf and the Asian region, both strategically positioned in the new world order. The dynamics of international relations in both the regions are undergoing broad and fundamental changes that are reverberating around the world. Primary among the catalysts of change is the rise of Asia as the engine of world economic growth, as a significant voice in multilateral diplomacy, and as a proactive power in international institutions; and Gulf region’s increasing trade and economic relations with Asia. Against this background, it is therefore crucial to understand the dynamics that have contributed to the recognition of Asia as a significant economic ally for the Gulf countries and the scope for intensifying interaction in the political and security scenarios. With Asia currently accounting for about 30 percent of the world’s oil demand and touted to increase a great deal more during the next two decades, cooperation between the biggest producers and consumers of oil has no other way, but forward. The fact that the Gulf countries have called for prioritizing economic cooperation with Asian countries and adopted a ‘Look East’ policy is evidence of the growing camaraderie. Interestingly, the robust engagement in the economic realm also comes at a time of introspection among the Gulf countries in the political and circumspection in the security arenas. This is certain to influence and impact the long-term political economy of the countries in the region and shape international relations in the years ahead. It is widely felt that, since Gulf-Asia relations are evolving in the environment of wide ranging geopolitical and geoeconomic changes in the post 9/11 era, it is apt to explore and assess the changing contours of international relations from the regional perspective. In this regard, GRC is pursuing a book volume to be edited by Dr. Samir Pradhan, (Senior Researcher, Gulf-Asia Program, can be contacted at spradhan@grc.ae)

With in-depth assessments by leading experts, this groundbreaking volume shall offer the timeliest, up-to-date, and comprehensive analysis on the future contours of vibrant Gulf-Asia relations and their bearing on the contemporary discourse on international relations. Providing the best overview we currently have of the changing geopolitical balance in both Gulf and the Asian continent, this accessible volume will be essential reading for anyone concerned with contemporary Gulf-Asian affairs. It may be noted that GRC considers Gulf region from the geopolitical point of view comprising six GCC countries namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE along with Iran, Iraq and Yemen. Similarly, Asia represents the whole region comprising, Australia, Japan, Korea, China, ASEAN, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Nepal.

Broad Themes/Contents (Tentative)

Part 1.  Contextualizing Gulf-Asia Relations in the Global Geopolitical Perspective

1.1 Unfolding the Legacy: Historical Overview
1.2 Beyond Geo-economics: Reconceptualizing Gulf-Asian Relations
1.3 Gulf Perspectives on Gulf-Asia Relations

Part 2. Economic Dimensions

2.1 Gulf-Asia Economic Relations: World Perspective
2.2 Regional Economic Integration: Comparative Analysis (GCC with ASEAN, SAARC, and FTAs)
2.3 Country/Regional overview: Issues and Challenges

Part 3. Political and Security Dimensions

3.1 Country/regional overview
3.2 The Crisis of Security in Gulf and its Relevance to Asia
3.3 Presence of Superpowers and Implications for evolving Strategic Ties in Gulf-Asia
3.4 Non-Traditional Security: Energy Security 

Part 4. Partnership for Development

4.1 Learning from Each Other

Part 5. Towards a Trajectory

5.1 Globalization and Gulf-Asia Relationship
5.2 Common Agenda and Action Points

Conclusion

Start Date:

1st-June-2008

End Date:

1st-June-2010

Funding Organization:

Arab Reform Initiative (ARI), GRC Foundation

Consortium Partners:

Arab Reform Initiative (ARI), GRC Foundation

Description:

The project aims at conducting original research to throw light on the capabilities and attitudes of the private sector towards economic and political reform, opening the door to a more sophisticated understanding of its evolving reality.

The proposed research plan is divided in two parts: the first aims at evaluating the private sector capabilities and degree of dependence on government spending or protection; the second aims at discussing the actual and potential role of the private sector in promoting economic and political reform.

Several workshops are envisaged, beginning with a workshop in Jeddah in October 2008

Start Date:

1st-February-2008

End Date:

1st-June-2011

Funding Organization:

European Commission

Consortium Partners:

Ramboll Oil & Gas, Centre for European Policy Studies, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, CESI RICERCA S,p.A., Energy Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences,, Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Förderung der angewandten Forschung e.V., Gulf Research Center Foundation, Lietuvos Energetikos Institutas, Observatoire Méditerranéen de l’Energie (co-ordinator), Paul Scherrer Institut, Technische Universität Dresden, The University of Bath, Vienna University of Technology Energy Economics Group

Description:

The SECURE project will build a comprehensive framework that considers all the issues related to the topic of security of supply, including geopolitics, price formation and the economic and technical design of energy markets inside and outside the EU. Tools, methods and models will be developed to measure and assess EU security of energy supply both outside the EU and inside the EU. The objective is to evaluate the vulnerability of the EU to the different risks which affect energy supplies in order to help optimize the Union’s energy insecurity mitigation strategies, including infrastructure investment, demand side management and dialogue with producing countries. This project will develop energy security indicators for all the major energy sources in order to identify the risk factors and quantify the EU exposure to volume and price risks in the short and long terms, including impacts of severe accidents and terrorist threats. Costs and benefits (both measurable and perceived) of energy security will be evaluated for different energy supply/demand scenarios to help policy makers provide the most appropriate institutional, political and industrial solutions. All major energy sources and technologies (oil, natural gas, coal, nuclear, renewables and electricity) will be addressed from upstream to downstream with both a global and sectoral analysis studying in depth issues such as technical, economic/regulatory and geopolitical risks. The analysis will also integrate demand as a key issue related to energy security. The SECURE project has both a strong quantitative and qualitative component and will at the end not only provide a comprehensive methodological and quantitative framework to measure energy security of supply, but it will also propose policy recommendations on how to improve energy security taking into account costs, benefits and risks of various policy choices.

The GRC Foundation is especially involved in the analysis of all geopolitical aspects; it also leads the task on oil and plays a major role in the task on gas.

Start Date:

1st-January-2003

End Date:

1st-January-2003

Description:

The Gulf security environment is a sensitive one. Major conflicts have taken place in the region over the past two decades, tensions exist over suspected proliferation initiatives and the region remains the primary source of energy for much of the world. Though many analysts look at events within and between the countries of the region, there is also a critical maritime dimension to Gulf security. The region, indeed, can be characterized as one in which maritime events play a – if not the – critical role in overall stability.

In addition to the indigenous navies of the region, several extra-regional navies operate there routinely – most notably the U.S. Navy, which maintains a Fleet Headquarters in Bahrain. The British and French Navies maintain a continuous presence, and others operate in the region frequently in support of UN and other mandates.

But it is not just the volume of naval and general maritime activity which poses the danger. It is the twin facts that: a) the bulk of the world’s vital supply of crude oil moves through narrow straits in the region; and b) that considerable antagonism exists between one regional state (Iran) and several others which are maritime powers in the region, including the U.S. Added to this, the waterway is a vital lifeline for the countries of the region, as there is no rail or road transportation network of any significance.

view entire project 

Start Date:

1st-July-2009

End Date:

31st-December-2010

Description:

Gulf Research Center and the Ministry of External Affairs of India have joined forces for an eighteen month joint research project on ‘GCC-India Relations’. The primary objective of the study is to assess the current trends and patterns of GCC-India relations from economic, political, security, educational, cultural, environmental and international political economic perspectives; and projecting a near and medium term horizon for deepening multifaceted relations. Particular emphasis would be given to identify the potentials as well as challenges to visualize a future trajectory in order to devise enabling policy regimes. The broad themes to be covered in the study can be identified as follows:

• Economic Relations: Trade, Investment and Labor Supply
• Political Relations in terms of the changing Geopolitical Spectrum and Foreign Relations
• Security and Strategic Aspects including
• Energy and Environment
• Social and Cultural issues such as education ties, the social implications of the large Indian presence in the Gulf and the need for a new public diplomacy strategy to enhance understanding and build people-to-people contact.

The project output will focus on the medium (5-year) and long-term (10-year) scenario for GCC-India relations and will work out policy recommendations to be implemented to take advantage of the scenarios as laid out. Within the project framework, there will be several workshops in both the GCC states and India

The following is the composition of the relevant composition of the teams:

The GCC Team

Mr. Abdulaziz Sager, Chairman, Gulf Research Center

Prof. Abdel Karim Al Dekhyel, Professor of Administrative Science, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Dr. Mustafa Alani, Senior Advisor & Research Program Director, Security & Terrorism Studies Program, Gulf Research Center

Dr. Hamad Al-Sheikh, Vice-Rector, King Saud University; Dean of the King Abdullah Research and Studies Institute, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Dr. Christian Koch, Director for International Relations, Gulf Research Center (Project Director)

Dr. Abdullah Al-Shayeji, Associate Prof. of Int’l Relations and US Politics, Kuwait University

Dr. Eckart Woertz, GCC-Economic Program Manager, Gulf Research Center

Prof. Baqar Al Najjar, Professor of Sociology, Bahrain University, Bahrain

Prof. Baqar Al Najjar, Professor of Sociology, Bahrain University, Bahrain

Prof. Isam Al-Rawas, Dean of the Art and Social Sciences College, Sultan Qaboos University, Sultanate of Oman

Dr. Samir Pradhan, Senior Researcher - GCC Economics and Gulf-Asia Program, Gulf Research Center

Dr. Fatima Al-Shamsi, Secretary-General, UAE University

Prof. Giacomo Luciani, Director, Gulf Research Center Foundation, Geneva

Abdulaziz Al-Mahmoud, Director, Center for Strategic Studies, Ministry of Defense, Qatar

Dr. Mohammed Aly Raouf, Program Manager – Gulf Environment Research Program, Gulf Research Center

The Indian Team:

Ambassador Ranjit Gupta, Project Director

Mr. Kapil Kaul, Deputy Director, National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS), New Delhi, India

Prof. Girijesh Pant, Vice Chancellor, Doon University, Dehra Dun, India; Former Director of the Gulf Studies Centre at Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Prof. Zikrur Rahman, Director, Indo-Arab Cultural Centre and Officiating Director, Centre for West Asian Studies, Jamia Milia Islamia University, New Delhi, India

Prof. A K Pasha, Director, Gulf Studies Programme, Centre for West Asian Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India

Dr. Prasant Pradhan, Associate Fellow, Institute of Defence Studies and Analyses, New Delhi, India

Start Date:

1st-January-2003

End Date:

1st-January-2003

Description:

The Gulf Research Center is the Middle East regional focal point for the Global Trade Alert Project. Global Trade Alert provides real-time information on state measures taken during the current global downturn that are likely to affect foreign commerce. It goes beyond other monitoring initiatives by identifying the trading partners likely to be harmed by these measures. For more details, browse

http://www.globaltradealert.org/about