The London School of Economics and Political Science
(LSE) announces the launch of the Middle East Centre - a multidisciplinary
research centre focusing on modern Middle Eastern cultures, societies,
economies, and international relations.
The new Centre, which has received GBP9.2 million in initial support
from
the UAE's Emirates Foundation for Philanthropy and The Aman Trust, will
collaborate with Middle Eastern universities, scholars, civil society,
policy
makers, and speak to a global audience about the region's strengths and
challenges.
Under the leadership of its inaugural director, Professor Fawaz A
Gerges,
and other prominent LSE scholars, the Middle East Centre will engage
intellectuals and experienced practitioners to analyse and report on the
region's economics, politics, and culture. The Centre will help train a new
generation of specialists drawn from within the region and from the rest of
the world. Throughout their careers, they will provide informed and balanced
analysis of the nations of the Middle East, and the region's place in the
international community.
Abdulrahman Al Owais, managing director of the Emirates Foundation,
commented: 'We are delighted that the new Centre will solidify LSE's
academic
relations with leading Middle Eastern universities, including those in the
United Arab Emirates. Our Foundation supports knowledge creation through
research and high level training for young professionals, which are key
objectives of the new Middle East Centre.'
Arif Naqvi, whose family endowed The Aman Trust, added 'As an LSE
alumnus, I am delighted that the LSE has made an institutional commitment to
the Middle East. As someone who has spent his life in the Middle East, it
was
important for me to help catalyse the Centre into being an important bridge
linking scholars, policy makers, and business leaders from Europe and the
Middle East, promoting constructive dialogue, mutual understanding and
cooperation, which are important challenges in today's polarised world.'
Howard Davies, LSE Director, said: 'With founding support in place from
the Emirates Foundation and The Aman Trust, we will be inviting other
stakeholders who share our values of impartiality and academic freedom to
examine the LSE's existing strength in Middle East studies, and to
contribute
materially to the Centre's future development.'
The Centre is currently recruiting its core staff and will be based at
LSE from October 2010, the beginning of the 2010/11 academic year. It will
host its first major public event in spring 2011.
