The GRC-FIRST Series of Lectures are organized by the Gulf Research Center (GRC) and the Fraunhofer Institute for Computer Architecture and Software (FIRST). This first series of lectures will discuss: the Future of Information Technology (IT); some Information and Communication technology (ICT) research topics being developed in Germany-based FIRST; and the Fraunhofer model of innovation. Technology highlights will include digital dome projection systems and applications in the fields of medical and Electroencephalography (EEG) technologies. More generally, the lectures will highlight the future impact and challenges of informatics and ICT, emphasizing the merging trends between the media, communication and information technologies. From a broader perspective, various frameworks to promote innovation and private-public partnership will also be discussed, based on Fraunhofer best practices.
Dr. Thomas Demmelhuber, lecturer at the Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg in
In the Gulf, according to Demmelhuber, there is a much more limited EU foreign policy approach despite a comprehensive package of trade and security interests. Negotiations for a free trade agreement with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) have been suspended in December 2008 after more than one decade of negotiations. Demmelhuber asked the question: Is it only the factor “oil” that makes the normative agenda towards the Gulf region less absolute? He argued that the EU faces political, economic, and social settings in the Gulf that are simply not conducive for the effective deployment of standard EU forms of cooperation. On both sides the lack of sufficient institutional capacity, the supremacy of geo-economic issues, the retaining strong bilateral ties of some EU member states, and the lack of political will in particular on behalf of the EU are responsible for the low profile of EU foreign policy in the region. Demmelhuber concluded by saying: “I even dare argue that the EU is now paying the price for the decades-long neglect. It does not show the flexibility to come up with an alternative foreign policy concept that might work vis-à-vis the Gulf.”
After his 40 minutes talk the floor was opened for the Q & A section with much of the questions and comments revolving around the reasons for the neglect of the Gulf in the EU foreign policy. Whereas some asked about any possible blueprint for EU/ GCC relations arising from EU’s foreign policy in other regions, others stressed the necessity to be a bit more patient. The EU has only recently started to embark on a more active role in the region, so one should give both sides more time.
India - one of Asia’s vibrant democratic states is poised at a great moment of her history. India’s soft power advantage especially her huge service-oriented human resources are increasingly reshaping her destiny in the global political economy. Simultaneously, India’s hard power posturing by acquiring nuclear weapons is gradually increasing her stake in global power configuration.
The lecture addressed the fate of national security states in light of globalization. The nature of economic globalization was analyzed and the effect of globalization on national security states and relations between such states was discussed for various classes of national security states. It was concluded that there is little evidence that globalization has transformed national security states significantly. They still constitute the primary form of organization and are the principal means of interaction. Some global effects and entities were noted but the current situation is that national security states are alive and well.
Filling a major gap in the Middle Eastern literature the book provides a comprehensive examination of the political and economic issues in the Arab world with a rigorous analysis of the data for the region.
The purpose of this lecture presentation (to be followed by a discussion) is to illustrate the important role of market-based instruments or economic instruments in tackling different environmental problems. As a means of achieving environmental management objectives, non-economic regulatory measures have been adopted worldwide as well as in the Gulf region. Economic instruments are now being increasingly implemented in many countries, both developed and developing. The use of economic instruments should be of some relevance to GCC environmental policies at present as these countries are proceeding with economic restructuring, diversification, liberalization and privatization.
Dr Aryeh Neier, President, Open Society Institute, New York, will deliver a lecture on “International Norms versus Local Realities: Why International Law Matters” and discuss issues related to the rule of law in areas that have relevance to the Middle East. A roundtable thereafter will address matters such as crimes of war (on which a publication was prepared a few years ago) and prisoners of war.
Whether currencies, oil or offshore investments, every crucial economic factor in the Gulf countries is highly dependent on the US dollar, which shows increasing signs of structural weakness. In his lecture, Dr. Lips, a worldwide renowned gold and currency expert, will discuss how the Gulf countries can escape potential financial disaster and how they could act in the current economic environment. Dr. Lips will also look at how the Gulf countries can preserve their investment capacities most effectively given that the ongoing boom in oil and commodity prices is reminiscent of the stagflation scenario of the seventies. In that respect, he will pay special attention to the huge supply deficit in the gold sector and the efforts that have been undertaken to address this problem.
Gulf Research Center will host a lecture entitled Role of the Arab Research Centers During the Current Developments
The death of Yaser Arafat on November 11, 2004, after 35 years as Chairman of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) and 10 years as President of the Palestinian Authority (PA), was widely heralded in the international community as providing an opportunity to resume the
There is indeed a window of opportunity for positive change in Palestinian politics on both the domestic and external fronts, but this is likely to pass unfulfilled and eventually lead to even greater domestic strife if it is not matched by a similar shift on the Israeli side. Such a shift appears exceedingly unlikely. Indeed, all indications are that Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, parties of the Israeli nationalist-religious Right, and the powerful settler lobby see an opportunity of a very different type: to extend even further and legitimize the colonization of the West Bank and East Jerusalem, while deferring for at least a decade, if not permanently, discussion, let alone resolution, of the status of East Jerusalem and the rights of Palestinian refugees.
This deeply worrying prospect is reinforced by the uncritical support provided to the Government of Israel (GoI) by the US Administration, which has ushered in a sea-change in the
The central argument of this talk, therefore, is that the most likely prospect for
The Gulf Research Center had the pleasure of hosting Nato Deputy Secretary-General Alessandro Minuto Rizzo who lectured on Nato looking for partners in the Middle East
The Board of the German Business Council Dubai in partnership with the
Gulf Research Center, Dubai, had the pleasure to introduce Prof. Dr. Peter Scholl-Latourwho lectured on "A New Balance of Power in the Middle East
Professor Weidenfeld Director of the Center for Applied Policy Research (C·A·P), Munich and the Member of the Executive Board of the Bertelsmann Foundation conducted round table discussion "The Future of the enlarged European Union and its neighborhood"
Lecture and Discussion "The New Economic situation in the region post Iraq war and
European Union role in the region."
In forecasting a bleak demographic character of Europe -- which is likely to see its next generation reduce by half, consequently shrinking its labor force and hurting the economy as well, the Deutsche Bank chief economist identified one crucial and viable area of cooperation with the Middle East. Since the region boasts of an abundant human resource base, Europe and Middle East and North Africa (MENA) could work towards demographic compatibility. EU enlargement by roping in Eastern European countries is no solution for the future demographic imbalance; apart from being the hub of energy suppliers, the Middle East has demographic strength too.
Wednesday, 22th October 2003
7:30 PM Dubai World Trade Center 33rd Floor
Lecture and discussion "The Arab Gulf and International Relations: Past, Present and Future"
Based on the premise that dialogue is the essence of life, Professor Fred Halliday suggested that the future of the Arabian Gulf would depend on the way the evolving politico-socio-economic changes are managed. The long-term challenge in the region, in his opinion, is to ensure a working relationship between the Arab Gulf countries and Iran , and especially between the three big regional players Saudi Arabia , Iran and Iraq .
He also suggested that conflicts in the region are not based on historical struggles as much as being rooted in nationalism the Iran-Iraq struggle was essentially a result of a clash between anti-Persian and anti-Arab sentiments...
Monday, 20th October 2003
6:30 PM Dubai Chamber of Commerce
