AJCS, Gulf Studies Center to explore new approaches to Gulf security dilemma

AL Jazeera Centre for Studies (AJCS) and Qatar University’s Gulf Studies Center will hold a research conference entitled ‘A New Gulf Security System: Leaving Zero-Sum Approaches Behind’, at Ibn Khaldoon Hall of Qatar University on January 19-20.

The conference aims primarily to analyse the issue of Gulf security and explore new approaches that take into account the interests of relevant parties, AJCS Director Dr Mohammed Mukhtar al Khalil said at a press conference held on Wednesday.

He added: “The preparation for the conference began seven months ago and is unrelated to recent developments in the region, especially in wake of the killing of General Qasem Soleimani.”

Khalil hoped that by the end of the conference, participants would reach practical solutions to the critical issues facing this dynamic region, which help decision-makers formulate policies accordingly defining clearly the features of the future.

Khalil pointed out that the organisers were keen on hosting a diverse group of speakers so as to ensure the discussion of topics from various perspectives.

There will be 25 speakers from the Gulf region and the Arab world in addition to Iran, Turkey, the United States and Europe participating in sessions over the course of two days.

On his part, Dr Mahjoob

Zweiri, director of the Gulf Studies Center at Qatar University, stated that what differentiates this conference from others is its tackling of the dilemma of Gulf security in all its aspects and dimensions, surpassing the traditional concept of security. He said, the conference will address communal, food and cyber security in addition to political, military and economic security.

Zweiri asserted that the conference is open to the public and aims to delve into the threats and challenges that face Gulf states and societies locally and regionally as well as present approaches that take into account constants and variables.

In this regard, the sessions will discuss the significance of the Gulf system and its developments in its defining parties and relations between them, shifting to the position of the Gulf system in the international system and global economy to shed light on the ensuing costs of conflict in the Gulf region.

One of the sessions will discuss the experiences of security systems in the Gulf region by analysing their contexts and the reasons behind their failures. Yet another session will analyse the nature of the current Gulf system, addressing its traditional and more recent threats.

A third session will attend to current security approaches to demonstrate the current Gulf system’s capability of dealing with threats. Finally, the conference will conclude by discussing the features of the desired security system.