BUC Centre for Global Affairs

With the ongoing assault in Gaza, any criticism levied against the actions of the Israeli state has been met with accusations of antisemitism. The Zionist state and its supporters routinely call upon antisemitism to shield them from valid criticisms. The weaponizing of antisemitism had been previously discussed in 2020 by our own Farah Rasmi. Read more about her ever more pertinent analysis in the paper below.

Weaponizing Antisemitism.pdf

Since the dawn of mankind, war has plagued most of humanity. This week we ask: "What would it take to live in a world where war is a relic of the past?"

Let us know what you think in the comments!

On the 14th of November, 2023, the BUC Centre for Global Affairs, in collaboration with the University of Central Florida, organized a roundtable discussion regarding the future of the United States’ policy in the Middle East. The event’s guest speaker was Dr. David Dumke, who serves as the Executive Director of the University of Central Florida’s Global Perspectives and International Initiatives and is currently a visiting professor at the AUC. The discussion centered around the ongoing siege on Gaza and how the US’s unconditional support to Israel has always rendered it an unfair broker. This resulted in the loss of the credibility of the United States in the eyes of many in the region and the world. Public opinion on the Palestinian issue in the West has drastically changed with many marching in solidarity with Palestine; however, most Western governments do not seem to mirror the public’s sentiment. Several other issues were tackled in the discussion, such as the region’s many failing states and how they have been ignored, the changed nature of the geopolitical climate in the region, and the future of human rights. Finally, it was emphasized that the future of the United States in the Middle East is uncertain, and as long as the United States continues to fervently support Israel’s violent overreaction, it is risking its own interests and those of Israel.

نظم مركز جامعة بدر للدراسات الدولية بالتعاون مع جامعة سنترال فلوريدا، حلقة نقاش حول مستقبل سياسة الولايات المتحدة في الشرق الأوسط وذلك يوم الثلاثاء الموافق 14 نوفمبر 2023. وكان المتحدث الرئيسي في هذا الحدث هو الدكتور دايفيد دامكي،والذي يشغل منصب المدير التنفيذي للمنظورات العالمية والمبادرات الدولية لجامعة سنترال فلوريدا ويعمل حاليا أستاذا زائرا في الجامعة الأمريكية بالقاهرة. وتمحورت المناقشة حول الحصار المستمر على غزة وكيف أن دعم الولايات المتحدة غير المشروط لإسرائيل جعلها دائمًا وسيطًا غير عادل. وأدى ذلك إلى فقدان مصداقية الولايات المتحدة في نظر الكثيرين في المنطقة والعالم.
لقد تغير الرأي العام حول القضية الفلسطينية في الغرب بشكل جذري مع قيام الكثيرين بمسيرة تضامنية مع فلسطين؛ ومع ذلك، لا يبدو أن معظم الحكومات الغربية تعكس مشاعر شعوبها. وتناولت المناقشة العديد من القضايا الأخرى، مثل العديد من الدول الضعيفة في المنطقة وكيف تم تجاهلها، والطبيعة المتغيرة للمناخ الجيوسياسي في المنطقة، ومستقبل حقوق الإنسان، وأخيراً، تم التأكيد على أن مستقبل الولايات المتحدة في الشرق الأوسط غير واضح، وطالما تستمر الولايات المتحدة في دعم رد الفعل الإسرائيلي العنيف والمبالغ فيه، فإنها تخاطر بمصالحها ومصالح إسرائيل في الشرق الأوسط.

News media outlets are always working to serve certain political agendas. As such, Western media is constantly working to advance the West’s political agenda. Looking at the current siege of Gaza and attacks on the West Bank, the Western media has been working overtime to amplify the voice of the oppressor while vilifying the innocent. Read more about the hypocrisy present in Western media in coverage of the ongoing events in Palestine in Namat Abulebada’s paper.

Israel's 9_11 Palestine's 24_7 Final.pdf

The canvas of violence within the Gaza Strip continues to be painted by the blood of innocent civilians. There is an attempt to portray Hamas's attack on the 7th of October as the first stroke of violence on a blank canvas. This ignores the reality of Israel's inherent violence which stems from its existence as a colonial apartheid state. Read more about the ongoing siege of the Gaza Strip in Adham Shebl's "Banging on the Sides of Tank."

Palestine_Banging on the Sides of the Tank.pdf

The United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran have recently struck a ‘deal’ which has resulted in the swapping of prisoners, and in the United States unfreezing 6 billion dollars’ worth of Iranian funds. As glorious as this sounds for foreign policy analysts, it is important to question whether this deal is indeed diplomatically significant, as most news media outlets are painting it out to be, or are there other ulterior motives that could be driving it? Read more about the 'deal' in Naamat Abulebada's recent paper.

US-Iran Prisoner Swap.pdf

With the Kingdom playing offense, making moves on, and scoring some of the biggest names in football history, it is important to question what exactly is the driving force behind this. In other words, what does the Kingdom stand to gain from spending millions of dollars to recruit these players? Read more about Saudi's big sports moves in Namat Abulebada's recent paper.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1OofW0E_eUPPFpZlAgKELQXP0Wre9w4Qb/view?usp=sharing

KSA Football.pdf

To read more about our latest in-house event and its key points, take a look at this event brief.

PMC Event Brief.pdf

نظم مركز جامعة بدر للدراسات الدولية حلقة نقاش في يوم الثلاثاء الموافق الخامس من سبتمبر ٢.٢٣ بعنوان "الشركات الامنية الخاصة و أثرها في الصراعات الدولية". هدفت المناقشة الى تحليل الوضع الحالي للشركات الأمنية العالمية مثل ڤاجنر و بلاكووتر. ركز النقاش على الأخطار التي تمثلها هذه الشركات على الامن العالمي و الحديث عن ضعف القانون الدولي في مواجهة هذه الشركات. و في الختام اوصت النخب السياسية الحاضرة بضرورة الحاجة الى اطار سياسي موحد للرقابة على هذه الشركات و الحد من انتشارها

On the 5th of September, 2023, the BUC Center for Global Affairs organized a roundtable discussion to address Private Military Companies and their effect on theaters of war. The discussion focused on the analysis of current global PMCs such as Wagner and BlackWater, and the danger they pose to the international world order. The participants of this discussion stressed the need for a unified political framework in order to guard against these companies.

With the speed in which BRICS is gaining popularity and momentum, Namat Abulebada delves deeper into understanding the potential impact that BRICS could have on the global order and, more specifically, on Egypt.

BRICS Final1_merged.pdf

After the end of the Cold War, private military companies as a profitable venture began to gain traction within theaters of conflict. In the present day, just about every actor on the global stage, whether state or non-state, employs private military companies to some capacity to advance their agendas. What does this development mean for state sovereignty and the general conduct of war from actual combat to agenda setting? The risk that private military companies pose is not as most policy-makers believe. As it would seem, most policy-makers believe that PMCs are primarily a concern for weaker states and that established powers need not worry about the possible consequences of heavily relying on PMCs. Read more about this in Adham Shebl’s paper as he assesses the impact that PMCs are currently having on State sovereignty regardless of the strength of said state.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1g3JXLGGLeJEnApU-dfwBB8fwYH_jKelZ/view?usp=sharing

PMC 21st century Pandora's Box.pdf

Namat Abulebada examines the current normalization of relations with the Syrian regime and its possible impact on the fates of the millions of Syrian refugees. Recent years have witnessed a rise in anti-refugee sentiments, pushing many refugee-hosting states to push for repatriation. With the ongoing wave of normalization, repatriation could very well become accelerated. However, the repatriation of refugees needs to follow a certain criterion, something that is being ignored by many host states. It is essential to tackle the issue of the Syrian refugees going back home and their safety once back within their home country.

Normalization_merged.pdf

On the 25th of July, 2023, The BUC Centre for Global Affairs held a seminar titled “The Impact of Digital Drugs on Consciousness.” The main speaker was Dr. Jasmin El-kholy, Ph.D. of Emergency Medicine. The seminar aimed to raise awareness about digital drugs and binaural notes. It focused on how these notes can impact mental and psychological states, which may cause addiction. Dr. El-kholy highlighted that once the body develops tolerance to these digital drugs, it may lead the consumers to seek hard drugs in order to experience the high they had attained from consuming digital drugs. The participants of the seminar included deans, deputy deans, and faculty from Badr University. It was agreed that further research on the phenomena would be conducted by the Director of the Academy of Sciences for Scientific Research.

نظم مركز جامعة بدر للدراسات الدولية ندوة بعنوان "تأثير المخدرات الرقمية على الوعي" في الخامس والعشرين من يوليو 2023. تداولت د. ياسمين الخولي دكتور طب الطوارئ. وقد أشارت الندوة إلى المخاطر التي تتسبب فيها المخدرات الرقمية علي الوعي وركزت على كيفية تأثير هذه المخدرات على الحالة العقلية والنفسية للفرد ، مما قد يدفعهم إلى البحث عن هذه المخدرات باستمرار. الخطرالذي أبرزته الدكتورة الخولي في ندوتها هو أنه بمجرد أن تعتاد الأذن علي سماع ترددات معينة ، يؤدي ذلك بالمستمعين إلى البحث عن بديل أقوي من أجل تحقيق أعلي مستوي للنشوة. وقد شارك في الندوة عددا من عمداء ووكلاء الكليات بجامعة بدر ، وأثارت الندوة اهتمام السيد الدكتور مدير أكاديمية العلوم للبحث العلمي بالجامعه وأظهر إهتماما بإجراء مزيد من الأبحاث حول هذه الظاهرة.

Within both the private and public spheres of Egyptian society, financialization has become an ever-growing presence in day-to-day activities. BUC Centre for Global Affairs team critically examines the feasibility of the introduction of financialization into higher education.

Student Loans Policy Brief.pdf

2023 is the Year of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Adham Shebl & Seif Hendy explore the symbiotic development between a collective identity and a broader economic integration. Find out more in their paper "African Trade and the Construction of a United Identity."

African Trade and the Construction of a United Identity - Final.pdf

The problem of drugs in Egypt needs to be viewed as part of a larger framework of social, political, and economic issues. This perspective aims to move beyond the reductive views on drug consumption and circulation as isolated problems resulting from moral failings. By examining the origins of the problem and how it has traversed Egyptian society, the paper seeks to evaluate the existing corrective policy approach to the problems associated with narcotics and illicit substances. A critique of this punitive approach is posited, and an alternative set of policy proposals is identified. Read more about this perspective as it relates to Egyptian society in Seif Hendy's latest publication – "Drugs in Egypt: A Reconsideration of Punitive Policy."

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NBe0t1hjpB3lo4tHm53RfB6M2Ps0v2Kj/view?usp=sharing

Drugs Egypt Final.pdf

On the 23rd of May, 2023, The BUC Centre for Global Affairs and the Libya Center for Strategic and Future Studies held a virtual roundtable. The discussion aimed to analyze and examine the impact of the Sudan crisis on the forthcoming Libyan elections. The participants were from various sectors: media personalities, politicians, academics, and bureaucrats. The discussion focused on whether the Libyan army’s focus being divided between securing the border and the elections simultaneously would hamper the elections. While others present argued that the crisis may be beneficial for the election cycle and allow elections to run their course as the armed Sudanese militias/mercenaries that were in Libya would be relocated to Sudan.

نظم مركز جامعة بدر للدراسات الدولية بالتعاون مع مركز ليبيا للدراسات الإستراتيجية والمستقبلية حلقة نقاشية عبر الفيديو كونفرانس بعنوان "تداعيات الأزمة في السودان على الانتخابات في ليبيا" في الثالث والعشرين من مايو 2023. هدفت المناقشة إلى تحليل ودراسة تأثير الأزمة السودانية على الانتخابات الليبية المقبلة. وكان المشاركون من مختلف القطاعات: الإعلاميين والسياسيين والأكاديميين والبيروقراطيين. وركز النقاش على ما إذا كان تقسيم تركيز الجيش الليبي بين تأمين الحدود والانتخابات في وقت واحد سيعيق الانتخابات. كما تناولت الحلقة الوضع الامنى فى الجنوب الليبى و وضع الميليشيات السودانية المنتشرة ، و مدى امكانية ان تكون هذه الصراعات دافع لتوحيد المؤسسة العسكرية و الاسراع فى العملية الانتخابية و تحقيق الاستقرار السياسى الليبي.

On March 6, we were privileged to host the Vietnamese Ambassador, H.E. Mr. Nguyen Huy Dung, and his ambassadorial team during his visit to Badr University.

Ambassador Nguyen Huy Dung met with BUC leaders and the Centre for Global Affairs. During this session, the two sides discussed the possibility of cooperation between BUC and Vietnamese think-tanks and research centers for academic exchanges in fields of mutual interests such as economic, social, and cultural development.

We hope this is the first step that can help us build close relations with the Vietnamese Embassy in Egypt to promote educational cooperation between the two countries.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken began his three-day trip to Egypt, Israel, and the West Bank with a dialogue with rising Egyptian leaders at the AUC The American University in Cairo's Tahrir Campus. Among them was our very own Senior Researcher Adham Shebl. Adham was invited to the event by U.S. Embassy Cairo, and had the opportunity to discuss global affairs while showcasing the Centre’s ongoing work in Egyptian public policy.

The BUC Centre for Global Affairs is eager to welcome its newest team members!

We are really excited to start work with Habiba, Farah, Nadine, & Peter. We look forward to seeing their growth and progress during this Winter internship.

Welcome aboard!

نظم مركز جامعة بدر للدراسات الدولية بالتعاون مع المركز الوطني للدراسات ورشة عمل بعنوان "التغير المناخي..إدارة المخاطر و استكشاف الفرص" فى الثامن عشر من اكتوبر 2022 ، شارك فيها دكتور/محمود محي الدين -رائد المناخ للرئاسة المصرية لمؤتمر اطراف اتفاقية الامم المتحدة للتغير المناخي ؛النائب الاول لرئيس البنك الدولي - عبر فيديو مصور موضحاً خلاله مدى مسئولية مراكز الفكر والجامعات للاهتمام بموضوعات تغير المناخ

و كان المتحدثين الرئيسيين فى الحدث هم د/ رضوى عويشة (مدرس الميكروبيولوجيا و المناعة بكلية الصيدلة جامعة الاسكندرية)، أ/ وليد عتلم (باحث مشارك بالمركز الوطنى للدراسات) ، د/ ريم حسام الدين (مدرس و باحث فى الجغرافيا البيئية بمركز جامعة بدر للدراسات الدولية) ، عرضت رضوى عويشة بحثها عن مفهوم التغيرات المناخية، والتهديدات التي تفرضها آثار تلك التغيرات على كافة جوانب الحياة ، ثم ناقش وليد عتلم التداعيات المحتملة وركز على البعد الاقتصادى مع الاشارة الى اخطر التهديدات الجيوستراتيجية ، ثم استعرضت ريم حسام الدين عدة مسارات للتخفيف من الاحترار إلى أقل من 2 درجة مئوية ، ووضحت ان تغير المناخ لا يرتبط بالمخاطر فحسب ، بل بالفرص أيضًا ، ، كما استعرض الدكتور/ محمد اسماعيل (مدير ادارة السياسات الدولية بوزارة البيئة) ابرز الجهود التى اتخذتها الدولة المصرية فى التصدي لآثار تداعيات تلك التغيرات ، وفي ختام ورشة التغيرات المناخية قام الأستاذ الدكتور/ سامى عبد العزيز بأقتراح توصية بإجراء دراسة ميدانية لاستطلاع اتجاهات الرأى العام بشأن قضايا التغير المناخى و تداعياتها

Social media has become a fixed component in the lives of Egyptians. Over the past decade and half, it has had a profound impact on Egyptian society and politics. In its evolution, it has proved to be a force for positive change as well as a potential threat to be exploited by nefarious actors. Read more about the dangers posed by social media and the possible frameworks for resolving these dangers in Seif Hendy’s latest publication – “Social Media and Egyptian National Security.”

Social Media and Egyptian National Security - Threats and Potential Solutions.pdf

Egyptian private investment’s role in the Egyptian economy is declining. Such a development results in the Egyptian public sector being forced to increase its investment spending, which removes funds from social safety nets and public services. The government is aware of this problem and seeks to encourage the rise of private investments in the country. However, there seems to be a missing link between the investors, manufacturers, and the government. Read more about the challenges and possible solutions for developing official communication channels between all necessary parties in Adham Shebl’s latest publication – “Thawing Capital Strikes: Private Investments in Egypt and the State.”

Thawing Capital Strikes.pdf

Education serves as one of the most essential building blocks for sustained growth and development within any given society. Egypt’s education system, as of 2019, ranked 134 out of 144 according to indicators issued by the World Economic Forum. This paper analyzes the underlying factors that hinder education in Egypt. Additionally, this paper looks at current policies that seek to improve that situation and proposes future pathways of developing the Egyptian education system. Read more about the challenges and future of Egypt’s education system in Jouna Khaloun's latest publication - "Public Education in Egypt."

Public Education in Egypt.pdf

On the 8th of August 2022, the Centre for Global Affairs hosted a stimulating roundtable discussion. The main speakers for the event were Ms. Dalia Youssef, a former member of the Egyptian Parliament, and Mr. Mohamed Elmenshawy, a writer and journalist based in Washington, D.C. In her presentation, Ms. Dalia Youssef brought to the attention of all in attendance the atypical threats facing the Middle East. Her comprehensive research on various topics, ranging from demographic changes to social media usage among different age groups to brain drain and education, proved highly enlightening. During his talk, Mr. Mohamed Elmenshawy offered the audience his unique analysis of current U.S. foreign policy. He did so by looking at U.S. policy on three levels: (1) general-level, (2) regional-level/Middle East, and (3) state-level/Egypt. His analysis considers the aspirations of the different decision-making nuclei in the U.S.


قام مركز جامعة بدر للدراسات الدولية بإعداد حلقة نقاش شيقة في الثامن من أغسطس 2022 ،.وكان المتحدثان الرئيسيان في الحدث هما السيدة/ داليا يوسف النائب البرلماني السابق والسيد/ محمد المنشاوي الكاتب الصحفي بواشنطن . عرضت السيدة/ داليا يوسف بحثها عن التهديدات غير النمطية التي تواجه منطقة الشرق الأوسط. وقد جذب موضوع البحث إنتباه السادة الحضور وأشادوا بأهمية ماتحدثت عنه في البحث ، بدءًا من التغييرات الديموغرافية إلى استخدام وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي بين مختلف الفئات العمرية إلى هجرة العقول والتعليم.

ثم، قدم السيد /محمد المنشاوي للسادة الحضور تحليل متميز للسياسة الخارجية الحالية للولايات المتحدة. وقد وضح وجهة نظره من خلال تحليل سياسة الولايات المتحدة على كلاً من: (1) المستوى العام ، (2) المستوى الإقليمي / الشرق الأوسط ، (3) مستوى الدولة / مصر. كما تناول تطلعات مراكز صنع القرار المختلفة في الولايات المتحدة.

The BUC Centre for Global Affairs is eager to welcome its newest team member!

We are really excited to start working with Malak & Lamia as we advance the future of CGA and we have high hopes for their journey within the centre!

Welcome aboard!

Egypt serves as a bridge between Africa, Asia and Europe, its location sets it in a prime position that offers tremendous potential for the country's economy and tourism sectors. Yet, Egypt faces multiple security hurdles that can impact its way forward. Read more about the challenges facing Egypt in Tarek Abdel Raouf's latest publication - "Beyond Borders: Analyzing Egypts Security Threats"

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1e64KORxl7-M9bonVln2bZrO1yDSl_3ex/view?usp=sharing

Beyond Borders.pdf

The Russian invasion of Ukraine shows us the key elements required to de-escalate a military conflict. Concessions and compromises are the keystones of negotiations between equal parties. However, if one of the parties perceives the relationship to be unequal then negotiations turn to demands and dialogue halts.
Read more about the ongoing invasion and pathways of possible de-escalation or further intensification in Adham Shebl's paper: "The Kievan Dialogue: Thucydides in Eastern Europe."
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hHFnhJX0PRmatMfVb_tvgPNWdoFPw4Zt/view?usp=sharing

Kievan Dialouge.pdf

Please join us in welcoming our newest member of the CGA team, Adham Shebl! Adham joins us as a researcher, his main research interests are in areas such as: Security Studies, Imperialism, and the development of capital relations.

We look forward to sharing Adham's work and seeing his impact on the centre!

Climate change is not gender neutral. The Climate-Gender nexus is a product of the detrimental effects that climate change has on the world, specifically how climate change increases women's vulnerability more so than it does men. In order to address the nexus the world must tackle both climate change and gender inequality in-tandem. Read more about the Climate-Gender nexus and possible ways to address it in Tarek Abdel Raouf paper: The Climate Gender Nexus.
https://buc.edu.eg/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Climate-Gender-Nexus.pdf

buc.edu.eg