Georgetown Dean to give public lecture on impact of geography on Middle Eastern politics

Press release

Published March 13th, 2017 - 12:31 GMT

Dr. James Reardon-Anderson

How has the physical topography, climate, and natural resources of the Middle East impacted the region’s history and politics? The dean of Georgetown University in Qatar aims to explore the effects of geography on the people of the Middle East in an upcoming public lecture.

Hosted by the Qatar Natural History Group, the talk by Dr. James Reardon-Anderson will focus on how the location of sources of water and petroleum has affected human behavior and policies in the region. It will be held at 7:00 p.m. on March 15 at GU-Q’s Education City campus.

“The uneven distribution of natural resources has had a profound impact on the people and politics of the Middle East,” said Reardon-Anderson. “This talk is an opportunity to exchange knowledge on the role geography has played in the region, both historically and in the present day.”

The event forms part of the QNHG’s expert lecture series. “Through these monthly talks and field trips, the group strives to discover the environment, history and culture of Qatar,” said Dr. Thierry Lesales, public relations representative for QNHG. “We count on the goodwill of specialists who generously accept to spend their time with us and share their knowledge. We are very honored to receive the contribution of Dr. James Reardon-Anderson, who will allow us to understand how geography has shaped the destiny of this region.”

The talk by Reardon-Anderson forms part of the Qatar Natural History Group’s expert lecture series. The group, which was founded in 1978, aims to bring together people who have an interest in the natural history of Qatar and the Gulf. In addition to monthly lectures, it also hosts regular field trips to sites of cultural, historical, and archaeological interest.

Reardon-Anderson is the founding dean of GU-Q and the Sun Yat Sen Professor of Chinese Studies at the Georgetown University. He has been a member of Georgetown faculty since 1985 and previously taught at the University of Michigan, Johns Hopkins University, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. He holds a Ph.D. from Columbia University and is the author of five books on China, covering foreign policy, the environment, and history. His latest book, which focuses on China and the Middle East, is scheduled for publication later this year.

Background Information

Georgetown University in Qatar

Established in 1789 in Washington, DC, Georgetown University is one of the world’s leading academic and research institutions. Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q), founded in 2005 in partnership with Qatar Foundation, seeks to build upon the world-class reputation of the university through education, research, and service. Inspired by the university’s mission of promoting intellectual, ethical, and spiritual understanding, GU-Q aims to advance knowledge and provide students and the community with a holistic educational experience that produces global citizens committed to the service of humankind.

Located in Doha’s Education City, GU-Q offers the same internationally recognized Bachelor of Science in Foreign Service degree as Georgetown’s Capitol Campus in Washington, DC. This unique, interdisciplinary program prepares students to tackle the most important and pressing global issues by helping them develop critical thinking, analytic, and communication skills within an international context. GU-Q alumni work in leading local and international organizations across industries ranging from finance to energy, education, and media. The Qatar campus also serves as a residency and delivery location for the Executive Master’s in Emergency and Disaster Management along with the Executive Master’s in Leadership.