Research

Centre for Middle East Studies

We support the values of justice, peace, human rights, security for all, tolerance, academic freedom and freedom of speech.

Centre lead

Prof. Raphael Cohen-Almagor

Email R.Cohen-Almagor@hull.ac.uk

T: +44 (0)1482 465024

F: +44 (0)1482 466208

The Challenge

Current affairs in the Middle East are most troubling, and the prospects for relaxation, despite American presidents’ good will and initiatives, are still grim. The media are not doing a very good job in educating the public of all the aspects and facts of the present multifaceted conflicts. The coverage is insufficient and often biased. Since 2008, a study-group is convened in the university to discuss Middle Eastern affairs in general, and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular.

The Approach

The Centre for Middle East Studies is a think-tank that brings together people from different disciplines, academic and non-academic, to discuss Middle Easters affairs. Believing that university should be an integral part of the community, the MESC is open to all people who are interested in and engaged with ME politics. The group has been meeting since 2008, usually once a month on the third or fourth week of the month, to discuss pertinent topics. Meetings are usually designed for the discussion of work-in-progress papers, so presenters can benefit from the deliberation prior to publication.

The Study Group conducts research in ME affairs, delivers high quality, relevant academic insights through public presentations, provides forums to consolidate and promote understanding of current affairs, serves as a meeting point for people of different nationalities to converse and debate, and supports justice, human rights, women rights, minority rights, health rights, peace, security, tolerance, the two state solution — Israel and Palestine — as well as freedom of expression and academic freedom.

Aims

To promote understanding of current affairs, serves as a meeting point for people of different nationalities to converse and debate, and supports justice, human rights, women rights, minority rights, health rights, peace, security, tolerance, the two state solution — Israel and Palestine — as well as freedom of expression and academic freedom.

Forums

Prospects for a Palestinian-Israeli Peace Agreement

The Palestinians are worried about a situation in which the world may come to terms with a one state reality, under a Jewish rule, in which the Palestinians have a partial autonomy on 40% of the West Bank. Jews in Israel are worried of becoming a non-democratic state, if one state reality happens.

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The work of the UN promoting human rights in the Middle East

“Human Rights” is a core pillar of the UN Charter and the respect and protection of human rights is considered fundamental to achieving the UN’s primary objective of maintaining international peace and security. This lecture shall outline the evolution of human rights promotion by the United Nations in the context of the Middle East, the tensions that exist within the UN in relation to the promotion and protection of human rights, and the significant challenges that face the UN in promoting human rights throughout the Middle East region.

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Noam Chomsky - A Moment of Peril and Challenge

We are living at a unique moment in human history, facing a confluence of threats to survival of organized human society. The focus of attention is on the pandemic. Unless we heed its lessons, others will follow, probably more severe. But it is the least of the crises we face. It will be overcome, at terrible and needless cost. The grim effects of human heating of the earth will not be overcome. They are in place. We can act to prevent irreversible damage, but time is short. We have lived under the shadow of nuclear war for 75 years. The threat, always severe, it growing steadily.

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From Oslo to Gaza

In his presentation, Singer will explain how the roots of the current situation in Gaza were built into the Oslo Accords’ genetic code, which many observers originally and correctly characterized as the blueprint for the “Gaza First” approach. Singer will also explain why this tragic, seemingly dead-end street was, in fact, inevitable and, further, why there is no feasible way at this time to rectify the deadlock.

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Ambassador Forum- Professor Daniel Kurtzer

The United States’ approach to the Middle East is changing, from something close to regional dominance to selective involvement consistent with narrower national security interests. This will impact at least three key policy challenges: Iran’s nuclear and regional ambitions; regional conflict resolution efforts, including Israel-Palestine; and the role of outside powers, specifically China and Russia, as they perceive a reduction of American influence. Ambassador Daniel Kurtzer will discuss these challenges in light of America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, seeming detachment from the Israel-Palestine peace process, and the difficulty in dealing with Iran.

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Britain in the Middle East: Does it still have a role?

Britain has some strengths in the Middle East –friendships, trade, investment, culture, military presence and aid programmes. But its status as an influencer of events is not assured. The region is unruly and its powers go their own way. Britain lacks leverage and is not a heavyweight in the competition for bilateral advantages. Its reputation for policy innovation, effectiveness and reliability has suffered since 2003. Moreover, its alliances are problematic: Britain’s hand no longer contains EU cards and, as the scramble out of Afghanistan showed once again, the US will always give its own counsels far more weight than it gives relations with Westminster politicians.

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Members

Raphael Cohen-Almagor

Professor and Chair of Politics, Founding Director of the Middle East Study Group

Professor Jo Carby-Hall

Director of International Legal Research in the Centre for Legislative Studies

John Friend

Emeritus Professor of Plant Biology and Head of Department from 1969 at the University of Hull

Professor Gary Edles

Fellow in Administrative Law and Adjunct Professor of Law at American University Washington College of Law, Washington, D.C

Richard Collin

Professor Emeritus at Coastal Carolina University

Lester L. Grabbe

Emeritus Professor of Hebrew Bible and Early Judaism at the University of Hull
Affiliated Members

Dr Marianne Afanassieva

Professor Trevor Burnard

Dr Phil Bielby

Professor Glenn Burgess

Dr Bhumitra Chakma

Professor James Connelly

Professor David Drewry

Professor Tom Lundmark

Professor Gerald Midgley

Lord Professor Bhikhu Parekh

Professor Valery Sanders

Rosalyn Schofield

Professor Niaz A. Shah

Professor Simon Smith

Mr Ahmed Zaky

Ahmed Zaky

International Affiliated Members

Professor Karin Aggestam

Jon Allen

Dr Yossi Belin

Professor Ariel L. Bendor

Dr AIan Brener

Rt Hon. Alistair Burt

Dr Emile Chabal

Professor Naomi Chazan

Sir Richard Dalton

Professor Peter Decherney

Dr Sophia Dingli

Professor Alan Dowty

Professor Donna Robinson Divine

Dr Jacob Eriksson

Sir Vincent Fean

Professor Sir Lawrence Freedman

Professor Saul Friedländer

Professor Mervyn Frost

Professor Boaz Ganor

Jack A. Goldstone

Dr Martin Horton-Eddison

Professor Rusi Jaspal

Inspired?

The Middle East Study Group (MESG) is inviting scholars and practitioners to propose a paper for the next academic year.

The format is one of a think-tank. The ME Study Group meets once a month, usually on the third or fourth week on a Wednesday afternoon/early evening, to discuss pertinent topics. The presenter may send her/his paper two-three weeks in advance, which the group will read prior the meeting.

Please send an expression of interest to R.Cohen-Almagor@hull.ac.uk, by 10 June 2023 at the latest.