Gulf Research Center
Encyclopedia
The Gulf Research Center (GRC) is a privately funded, non-partisan
think tank
, education provider and consultancy specializing in the Persian Gulf
region. The GRC produces research from a Gulf perspective which redresses a current area studies
imbalance wherein regional opinions and interests are underrepresented. Based in Dubai
, the GRC was founded in July 2000 by Abdulaziz Sager, the current chairman.
areas: social science research, education
, news media
and consultancy
. These include social science in the context of the Gulf region, international relations and politics of the Gulf Cooperation Council
(GCC) countries, E-Education, Executive Learning Programs, the GRC E-Library and the "Gulf in the Media" news portal.
Specialized GRC publications include Araa Magazine, an independent magazine about social, defense and security issues in the Gulf; Yemen Studies, a peer review
ed bilingual academic series about Yemen
and Yemen-GCC relations; and the GRC Newsletter.
The GRC maintains cooperation agreements with major partners such as Emirates Bank
, Shell
, Glaxo Smith Kline
, the University of Queensland
, the Saudi Arabian Marketing and Agencies Company (SAMACO) group, the National Defence College and the FRIDE Foundation.
GRC publications in 2006 included the Gulf Yearbook and the Green Gulf Report, ten research papers including "Impact of the Disbandment of the Iraqi army on the Security Situation in Iraq," ten Gulf papers including "The Arab Gulf States: Further steps towards political participation," ten Gulf Translations, and three Gulf Theses including one about GCC-EU
relations.
Political Parties
Political Parties: A Sociological Study of the Oligarchical Tendencies of Modern Democracy is a book by sociologist Robert Michels, published in 1911 , and first introducing the concept of iron law of oligarchy...
think tank
Think tank
A think tank is an organization that conducts research and engages in advocacy in areas such as social policy, political strategy, economics, military, and technology issues. Most think tanks are non-profit organizations, which some countries such as the United States and Canada provide with tax...
, education provider and consultancy specializing in the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
region. The GRC produces research from a Gulf perspective which redresses a current area studies
Area studies
Area studies are interdisciplinary fields of research and scholarship pertaining to particular geographical, national/federal, or cultural regions. The term exists primarily as a general description for what are, in the practice of scholarship, many heterogeneous fields of research, encompassing...
imbalance wherein regional opinions and interests are underrepresented. Based in Dubai
Dubai
Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi...
, the GRC was founded in July 2000 by Abdulaziz Sager, the current chairman.
GRC activities
The Gulf Research Center focus is on four interdisciplinaryInterdisciplinarity
Interdisciplinarity involves the combining of two or more academic fields into one single discipline. An interdisciplinary field crosses traditional boundaries between academic disciplines or schools of thought, as new needs and professions have emerged....
areas: social science research, education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
, news media
News media
The news media are those elements of the mass media that focus on delivering news to the general public or a target public.These include print media , broadcast news , and more recently the Internet .-Etymology:A medium is a carrier of something...
and consultancy
Consultant
A consultant is a professional who provides professional or expert advice in a particular area such as management, accountancy, the environment, entertainment, technology, law , human resources, marketing, emergency management, food production, medicine, finance, life management, economics, public...
. These include social science in the context of the Gulf region, international relations and politics of the Gulf Cooperation Council
Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf
The Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf , also known as the Gulf Cooperation Council , is a political and economic union of the Arab states bordering the Persian Gulf and constituting the Arabian Peninsula, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates...
(GCC) countries, E-Education, Executive Learning Programs, the GRC E-Library and the "Gulf in the Media" news portal.
Specialized GRC publications include Araa Magazine, an independent magazine about social, defense and security issues in the Gulf; Yemen Studies, a peer review
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
ed bilingual academic series about Yemen
Yemen
The Republic of Yemen , commonly known as Yemen , is a country located in the Middle East, occupying the southwestern to southern end of the Arabian Peninsula. It is bordered by Saudi Arabia to the north, the Red Sea to the west, and Oman to the east....
and Yemen-GCC relations; and the GRC Newsletter.
The GRC maintains cooperation agreements with major partners such as Emirates Bank
Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates
The Central Bank of the United Arab Emirates is the central bank of the United Arab Emirates.-See also:*Economy of the United Arab Emirates*United Arab Emirates dirham*Mohammad Al Gaz-External links:*...
, Shell
Royal Dutch Shell
Royal Dutch Shell plc , commonly known as Shell, is a global oil and gas company headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands and with its registered office in London, United Kingdom. It is the fifth-largest company in the world according to a composite measure by Forbes magazine and one of the six...
, Glaxo Smith Kline
GlaxoSmithKline
GlaxoSmithKline plc is a global pharmaceutical, biologics, vaccines and consumer healthcare company headquartered in London, United Kingdom...
, the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
, the Saudi Arabian Marketing and Agencies Company (SAMACO) group, the National Defence College and the FRIDE Foundation.
2006
Beginning with its 3rd Annual Conference in January 2006, the GRC took part in or organised over two dozen conferences, workshops and seminars which included:- Master of Arts Program in International Relations in cooperation with the Free University of BerlinFree University of BerlinFreie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
- GCC-Korea Relations Workshop, the Green Gulf workshop in cooperation with the United Nations Environment Program
- The release of the Arabic version of the International Energy Outlook 2006
- Global Leadership and Young Arab Leaders conventions
- 8th Asia Security ConferenceAsia Security ConferenceThere are two annual conferences that go by the Title of the "Asia Security Conference." The oldest of these is held by the Institute for Defense Analysis in New Delhi, India. This conference brings together globally renowned scholars who interact with senior members of IDSA as well as senior...
- Global Policy Council, organized by the Bertelsmann Stiftung
- Middle East 2006 conference, organized by the [www.gcsp.ch Geneva Center for Security Policy]
- The Doha DebatesDoha DebatesThe Doha Debates are a forum for free speech in Qatar and tackle the region's most controversial and topical issues. They are sponsored by Qatar Foundation and their broadcasting rights are sold to BBC World News where they are aired monthly, eight times a year.In addition to BBC World News The...
- 7th Mediterranean Social and Political Research Meeting, Florence, Italy
- Windsor Energy Forum, London, England
- 7th International Security Forum, ZürichZürichZurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
GRC publications in 2006 included the Gulf Yearbook and the Green Gulf Report, ten research papers including "Impact of the Disbandment of the Iraqi army on the Security Situation in Iraq," ten Gulf papers including "The Arab Gulf States: Further steps towards political participation," ten Gulf Translations, and three Gulf Theses including one about GCC-EU
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
relations.
2007
GRC held its 4th Annual Conference, “The consequences of US Policies in the Gulf Region,” on January 13 and 14, 2007.- Gulf NewsGulf NewsGulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
cites GRC analyst: "New Arabic channel to hit airwaves tomorrow" March 31, 2007. - Edmonton JournalEdmonton JournalThe Edmonton Journal is a daily newspaper in Edmonton, Alberta. It is part of the Postmedia Network.-History:The Journal was founded in 1903 by three local businessmen — John Macpherson, Arthur Moore and J.W. Cunningham — as a rival to Alberta's first newspaper, the 23-year-old...
cites GRC research: "Attacks in Iraq deadlier: study" April 3, 2007. - ArabianBusiness.com newsletter cites GRC senior consultant: "Opec idea to loom over gas producers meeting" April 5, 2007.
- Gulf Daily NewsGulf Daily NewsThe Gulf Daily News is an English-language newspaper published in the Kingdom of Bahrain by Al Hilal Group. It is distributed locally in Bahrain. It is owned by the Al Hilal Group, which publishes 13 other newspapers and magazines, including the local Arabic newspaper Akhbar Al Khaleej. The paper,...
cites GRC senior consultant: "Middle East 'must satisfy its own gas demand first'" April 6, 2007. - Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
cites GRC security analyst: "Arab street warms to showman Ahmadi-Nejad" April 6, 2007. - Gulf NewsGulf NewsGulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
cites GRC environment researcher: "Green technology is 'the way forward'" April 14, 2007. - Gulf NewsGulf NewsGulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
cites GRC economics programme manager: "Dollar hits 26-year low against pound" April 19, 2007. - Dubai City Guide names GRC among forum partners: "Arab and Asian Leaders Seek Common Values at Young Arab Leaders Global Action Forum" April 26, 2007