Small States in the International System

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of the role of small states in the regional and international systems, with a particular emphasis on the economic, strategic and institutional challenges and opportunities that small states face. It comprises five stand-alone but overlapping sections:

• Small states and the international system
• Small states as foreign policy actors
• Small states and national resources
• Small states and security alliances
• Small states and regional and multilateral organizations.  In doing so, the focus will be on a range of case studies from all over the world

Qatar, Energy Security and Strategic Planning

Linked to our multi-year QNRF-funded research project, this seminar’s goal is to offer a novel and in-depth exploration of how Qatar in particular, and other major energy players more generally, use their energy capabilities and resources as instruments of power that enable them to address the contemporary security, economic and environmental challenges and opportunities that they face and facilitate them in achieving their national strategic priorities.  The seminar consists of a mix of lectures, discussions and presentations by a range of guest speakers – both scholars, experts from the policy world and practitioners.