Middle East Dossier

Is the hype surrounding the recently concluded US$400 billion China-Iran deal justified? Comprehensive Strategic Partnerships (CSPs) top the totem pole when it comes to China’s bilateral relationships, but it has such deals with other Gulf countries, too. Is the timing of the deal, which coincides with JCPOA negotiations, significant? Is Iran leveraging its relations with Beijing to force Washingt...

The Arab states of the Persian Gulf are global energy powerhouses. The region is traditionally understood as energy-rich, religiously conservative, and ruled by powerful royal families, factors that theoretically contributed to stability in the Gulf. However, the Gulf is changing. Oil prices are low, placing fiscal pressure on Gulf governments. A new generation of royals have come to power, disrup...

Cutting-edge technologies and innovative capabilities are becoming increasingly essential in determining the superpower race and defining the future position and role of smaller states.   Innovative leaders such as Singapore and Israel, have to increase cooperation and develop joint strategies to prepare for a geopolitical landscape that seems to be growing more uncertain and divided. Leading the...

Hebrew Language and Culture Studies in Southeast Asia: Current Condition and Future Prospects This two-day online conference will explore the potential for growth of Hebrew language and culture at the university level in Southeast Asia and the possibilities for cooperation and collaboration in the learning and teaching of the Hebrew language, in order to raise the profile of the Hebrew language an...

Hebrew Language and Culture Studies in Southeast Asia: Current Condition and Future Prospects This two-day online conference will explore the potential for growth of Hebrew language and culture at the university level in Southeast Asia and the possibilities for cooperation and collaboration in the learning and teaching of the Hebrew language, in order to raise the profile of the Hebrew language an...

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) economies still depend heavily on oil and gas for their income, budgets and social peace. They have all, to varying degrees, embarked on a journey of diversification over the last few years to reduce such dependency and build the foundation for their economies in a post-oil world. Several countries’ visions (SAUDI 2030, UAE 2021) have been created to frame this trans...

The Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy (LKYSPP) Central Asia and Caucasus Alumni Chapter and the Middle East Institute (NUS) hosted an online forum to discuss opportunities and challenges for cooperation between Central Asian and ASEAN countries in economic, financial and educational ecosystems. Due to the global pandemic crisis, countries in Central and Southeast Asia are in search for diversif...

In the last six months, a flurry of Arab states, including the UAE, Bahrain, Sudan and Morocco, established diplomatic relations with Israel or announced their intention to do so. The “honeymoon period” for Israel, the UAE, and Bahrain is coming to an end. Sudan and Morocco have yet to finalise details of their recognition of the Jewish state. Israeli and Emiratis basked in the warmth of the recep...

Beyond significantly enhancing its economic footprint, China has forged comprehensive strategic partnerships with key Middle Eastern states including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Iran and Egypt. China hopes that its economic clout and efforts to be the region’s technological juggernaut as part of its Belt and Road Initiative and Digital Silk Road will shield it from being consumed by th...

This event was organised by MEI’s Political Economy Research Cluster on 24 March 2021. Click on the following link for more details: https://mei.nus.edu.sg/event/egypt-and-myanmar-how-the-militarys-economic-interests-complicates-political-transition/   Abstracts Egypt and Turkey: The Military’s Economic Stake and the Path to Political Transition by Dr Yezid Sayigh Comparison between the political...

In this episode, Mr Jason O’Connor, Deputy Director (North America), GISF – Global Interagency Security Forum, speaks about protecting people working in the development and humanitarian response sectors (in challenging environments) from physical violence and cyber risks. He also elaborates on how to promote proper security risk management practices and improving security of aid workers. This podc...

In this episode, Mr Ashley Coles, Director of Security Risks, Price Forbes & Mr Brett Davey, Founder and Managing Director of Insurance Consultants & Experts, I.C.E, Singapore look at the insurance sector – from kidnap and ransom risk management techniques to anti-piracy and cyber security crisis management. This podcast series is presented by Dr Alessandro Arduino, Principal Research Fellow, and...

The Middle East Film Festival 2021 taking place from 19 February to 3 March 2021 at the Shaw KinoLounge, is presented by the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore and supported by the Singapore Film Society. Director Foreword What is a film? A story. An event. A set of moving images. The sound of a train. An eavesdropped conversation. Recorded on camera. Screened in a cinem...

In 2011, almost 42 years of dictatorial rule came crashing down on Libya’s Muammar el Qaddafi, as revolution swept across the country. Alsatoor (The Cleaver), a Libyan satirist in exile in the UK, had been criticising the regime for decades through his cartoons. Once Qaddafi fell, his work didn’t stop there. Libya tumbled into chaos and civil war, while Alsatoor pushed on for political and social...

This podcast series is presented by Dr Alessandro Arduino, principal research fellow, and Dr Ameem Lutfi, research fellow, at Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore.

In this episode, Ms Candace Rondeaux, an expert on international security apparatuses, breaks down the purpose, demographic and long-term implications of Russian private military companies in the international and domestic arena.

In this episode, the hosts talk to Gene Yu, CEO and co-founder of cybersecurity incident response firm Blackpanda Group. Yu argues that cybersecurity is just physical security on a different terrain, that it is a security, not an information technology problem, and shares anecdotes from his time on the "blue team" of cybersecurity first responders, including in Singapore.

Date: 26 Nov 2020, 4pm to 5.30pm (SGT) Speaker: David Rundell (Former Chief of Mission, American Embassy in Riyadh) Saudi Arabia remains to many an enigma despite significant social and economic reforms enacted since King Salman ascended to the throne in 2015. The crackdown on activists as well as the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the subjugation of powerful members of the ruling family a...

In this episode, we speak to Professor Simon Chesterman about the possibilities and limitations of regulating private military and security companies through international law. We will also explore whether there are better alternative solutions that are local and market-based.

The Middle East Institute organises webinars on relevant and current topics related to the Middle East region and their ramifications for Asia and the world. In this webinar, we will be exploring the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and its initiatives in renewable energy. Across the Gulf Arab states, the main drivers of this new focus on renewables have not been climate change goals (eg the Paris A...

30 Oct 2020, 3.30pm to 5pm (SGT) Speaker: Charlene Winfred, Photographer, Singapore What comes to mind when you think of Iraq? Deserts? Bombs? Soldiers? Destruction? Over the last 50 years, Iraq has seen multiple wars ― the Iran–Iraq war, the first Gulf war, the US invasion, the war with the Islamic State ― and the devastation that comes with prolonged conflict. Millions of lives were lost, and mi...

In the concluding lecture for our ME 101 series, Dr Alessandro Arduino examines Central Asia, a region of particular importance and increasingly a destination for Chinese investment. It is a critical bridging point, not only between China, Russia and Europe but also between South Asia and the Middle East.

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) is a permanent intergovernmental international organisation; its predecessor was the Shanghai Five mechanism. The SCO’s creation was announced on 15 June 2001 in Shanghai, China, by the Republic of Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, the Kyrgyz Republic, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Tajikistan and the Republic of Uzbekistan. Currently,...

Lecture #10: Religion and Political Islam in the Middle East and Its Impact on Our Region by  Norshahril bin Saat  [Thursday, 22 October 2020] 9/11 has refocussed analysis of Islam in Southeast Asia towards the security lens. Concerns about terrorism and radicalism dominate academic and journalistic writings, creating many academic positions in universities and think-tanks, and promoting Muslim th...

In an increasingly multipolar world, small states are facing many dilemmas.  Can small states prosper while they are continuously facing threats to their existence? How can small states navigate their way through questions of development, globalisation, security and multilateralism while preserving and defending their autonomy and identity? The Qatari Assistant Foreign Minister will discuss how he...