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Abdullah Baabood
Nonresident Senior Scholar, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center

about

Abdullah Baabood is no longer with the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center.

Abdullah Baabood was a nonresident senior scholar at the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center. Baabood holds the chair of the state of Qatar for Islamic area studies and is a visiting professor at the Faculty of International Research and Education at Waseda University in Tokyo.

Baabood’s areas of expertise include the Gulf Cooperation Council’s political, economic, and social development, the Gulf States’ external relations and regional security, as well as government policies and public-private sector relations in the Gulf.
 
Baabood has worked as a professor and a researcher at numerous colleges and universities in Asia and Europe. Throughout his career, he designed, implemented, and delivered training programs on comparative regional integration between the EU and the Gulf at the GCC Secretariat General (Riyadh) and other GCC Diplomatic Institutes. He also took advisory and consultancy roles for several international research projects, international conferences, and other public and private institutions.
 
Baabood earned his PhD in international relations from the University of Cambridge. He also holds a master’s degree in international relations and an MBA from the University of Kent and Strayer College/University, respectively.

 


education
PhD, International Relations, University of Cambridge, MA, International Relations, University of Kent, MBA, Strayer College/University
languages
Arabic, English

All work from Abdullah Baabood

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11 Results
event
Assad’s Return: Regional Changes and Future Outlook
August 8, 2024

Join us for an in-depth discussion on Syria’s gradual normalization with countries in the Middle East and its reinstatement in the League of Arab States in May 2023, a significant step that signals a potential shift in Middle Eastern dynamics and regional security architecture. The normalization process began in 2018 when the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain reopened their embassies in Damascus, after Syria had been suspended from the Arab League in 2011 due to its brutal crackdown on protesters. Recently, Türkiye has also shown interest in normalizing relations with Syria, driven by concerns over Kurdish influence in northern Syria and the refugee crisis. The panel will evaluate the normalization process to date, examine the regime's willingness and capability to deliver on its promises, and assess whether the initial motivations of Arab states for normalization have been met. European and U.S. reactions have generally remained more cautious, emphasizing that normalization should be contingent on tangible political reforms by the Assad regime and adherence to human rights standards.

Against this backdrop of developments, the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center is hosting a virtual panel discussion on August 8, at 5:00 PM Beirut Time/ 10:00 AM EDT. The event will feature Sinan Ulgen, Sawsan Abou Zainedin, Abdullah Baabood, and Maria Luisa Fantappiè, and will be moderated by Armenak Tokmajyan.

The discussion will be held in English. Viewers may submit their questions to the panelists using the live chat feature on Facebook and YouTube.

For more information, please contact Najwa Yassine at najwa.yassine@carnegie-mec.org.

article
How Gulf States Are Reinterpreting National Security Beyond Their Land Borders

Gulf states such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE have determined that their national security goes beyond their physical borders. It is just as important to shield their airspace, territorial waters, and even maritime trade routes.

· August 1, 2024
article
The Geopolitics of Economic Development in the Middle East

To create an environment more conducive to cooperation and development, U.S. and Chinese efforts should seek the endorsement of neighboring countries and regional organizations. Otherwise, regional and geopolitical rivalries will remain barriers.

· February 15, 2024
article
The Future of the Gulf Cooperation Council Amid Saudi-Emirati Rivalry

An intensifying geostrategic rivalry between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates is challenging the GCC’s influence and unity.

· October 30, 2023
event
How Might Middle Eastern and North African Countries Affect the BRICS Group?
September 28, 2023

The inclusion of Middle Eastern and North African countries in the BRICS group raises several pivotal questions: To address these questions and others, the Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center is organizing a policy webinar on September 28, at 5:00 PM EEST. The speakers will be Alexander Kateb and (TBC).

article
Why China Is Emerging as a Main Promoter of Stability in the Strait of Hormuz

Because of its reliance on the Gulf region for much of its oil and gas, China has a strong interest in preserving security in the region, an early example of which was its mediation of the recent Saudi Arabia-Iran reconciliation.

· May 24, 2023
article
Seas, Checks, and Guns: Emirati and Saudi Maritime Interests in the Yemen Conflict

As the conflict in Yemen continues, one lesser-known aspect—the maritime stakes for Saudi Arabia and the UAE—will need to be addressed for the best chance of a lasting peace agreement.

· March 16, 2023
commentary
Mr. Xi Goes to Riyadh

The Chinese president’s recent visit to Saudi Arabia highlighted the Arabs’ desire to diversify their foreign relations.

· December 21, 2022
event
Reverberations of Multiple Crises: What to Expect in 2023
December 7, 2022

The Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center will be holding its sixth annual conference on December 7–8, 2022, covering global political and economic issues, the main purpose of which is to anticipate what will happen in 2023.

commentary
King Salman Has Appointed His Son, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, as Saudi Prime Minister

Spot analysis from Carnegie scholars on events relating to the Middle East and North Africa.

· September 28, 2022