July 11-13, 2023, Cambridge UK

3 DAYS / 10 Workshops
MORE THAN 200 ACADEMIC PAPERS

The Gulf and the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation

Up to the end of the last century “Eurasia” was little more than a geographic concept, with little political significance and little real content in terms of connectivity, cooperation and exchange. Now the situation is radically different. At a rate which has surprised most observers, the Eurasian region, from East Asia to Western Europe and from the Indian subcontinent to Russia, has become a region marked by increasing economic coopera ...


Up to the end of the last century “Eurasia” was little more than a geographic concept, with little political significance and little real content in terms of connectivity, cooperation and exchange. Now the situation is radically different. At a rate which has surprised most observers, the Eurasian region, from East Asia to Western Europe and from the Indian subcontinent to Russia, has become a region marked by increasing economic cooperation and integration, infrastructural development and political realignment. Countries and regions which had previously been viewed as marginal to the global system (such as Central Asia) have taken on a new importance as links in the vital networks of roads, railways, oil pipelines and telecommunications which are binding the wider region together into an economic unity. On the political side, the Shanghai 2 Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is central to the development, bringing China, Russia, India, Pakistan and 4 Central Asian countries into a framework of political, and to some extent military and economic, cooperation. The SCO’s observer states include Iran and Afghanistan, and its dialogue partners include Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey. The countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council have yet to determine how they will relate to the new entity which is taking shape across Eurasia. They are on the southern fringes of the region and will be greatly affected by developments there: economically (with substantial benefits on offer, but also potentially negative effects), politically (in terms of how they align with the new power-groupings which are emerging), and possibly in terms of the infrastructural developments which could link them in to the new cross-continental networks. Although Iran has engaged with the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, the GCC states have not, which is surprising given that the latter represents a power-bloc (or perhaps a series of power-blocs) which is already re-structuring the channels of power and influence in the world. The workshop represents an opportunity for Gulf research to branch out into areas not previously covered – in particular the states of Central Asia and the Caucasus. These are important in the new power grouping of Eurasia, not just in terms of membership of the SCO but also by virtue their engagement in other organisations which are associated with the SCO, such as the Eurasian Economic Community and the Collective Security Treaty Organisation. They are central to the developments of the Eurasian project, and their relations – existing and potential - with the Gulf states need to be given attention. 

Objectives and Scope of the Workshop The workshop will seek to make a contribution relevant to policy-makers within the GCC, by covering an area of policy-related concern which is likely to be critical to the Gulf region in the future. The intention is to attract papers from a wide range of different perspectives and geographical specialisations. Particular attention will be given to attracting Gulf researchers, especially those who are at an early stage in their careers. It is hoped that the workshop will enable them to test out their ideas and that through the workshop they will have access to a range of contacts and expertise which will encourage them to go further in their research. It is to be noted that the three convenors of this workshop have worked together in convening and participating in Asia-related GRM workshops on a number of previous 3 occasions. Over the years, an expanding network of those working in this field has been developed, with a wide range of expertise and geographical scope. The forthcoming workshop will open the opportunity for the 2018 participants to join this extensive body of interactive researchers. 




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Workshop

Directors


Talmiz

Ahmad

Ram Sathe Chair for International Studies / Former Indian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Oman and the UAE -
Symbiosis International University, Pune



Professor Tim

Niblock

Emeritus Professor of Middle East Politics Middle East Politics
University of Exeter/Tsinghua University


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