GUST’s Global Studies Center Holds Lecture by London School of Economics Professor Toby Dodge on ISIS
Kuwait City, 4th November, 2015: The Global Studies Center (GSC) at Gulf University for Science and Technology (GUST) held a lecture on Wednesday by leading scholar Professor Toby Dodge, Director of the Kuwait Program at the London School of Economics (LSE), entitled: “The Rise of Islamic State, the Future of Iraq, and the Risks to the Gulf States.” The lecture was part of the GSC’s ongoing effort to bring the best speakers to Kuwait. The lecture covered one of the most pressing political issues facing our region. The attendees learned about the origins, growth, philosophy and military strategy of ISIS, as well as the current political efforts against them. Attendees also got a deeper understanding of the underlying political factors contributing to ISIS’s existence and why those should be the focus of controlling this group, rather than a military approach. The lecture concluded with an assessment of the threat that ISIS may pose to the wider Gulf region.Director of the Kuwait Program at LSE and Professor of International Relations, Toby Dodge, said, “Delivering a lecture in Kuwait is always an enriching experience, as I found it to be a great opportunity to interact with prominent local academics and active students to discuss different issues. The GSC is a major accomplishment for GUST, as it will serve as a vital focal point in the study of this dynamic region.”The GSC is a leading research center on global studies, and a vehicle for engaging both internal and external communities through stimulating events and lectures on global issues. Head of the Global Studies Center at GUST, Dr. Martin Rosenstock, said “We continually find new ways to enhance the GUST experience by organizing events such as this that bring together great minds and present unique viewpoints to the benefit of our community. The GSC will provide GUST with yet another outlet to showcase its prowess in contributing to academic research.”The GSC aims to conduct cutting-edge research on cross-national political, economic, social, cultural, and environmental issues of critical importance, and share research output and information regionally and globally. The GSC seeks to foster public understanding of global issues and support the policy-making processes of concerned states. GUST continues to build on its mission to become a knowledge-hub that benefits and engages students, academics, and the wider Kuwait community as a whole.
