Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) is celebrating the first 40 books published by its premiere in-house research institute, the Center for International and Regional Studies (CIRS), featuring research done by scholars and experts at GU-Q and by partner institutions across Qatar Foundation and around the world.
Since its founding in 2007, CIRS has produced books as part of a wide range of research output, including special issues of top-tier journals, peer-reviewed academic papers, as well as English and Arabic language summary reports. To date, CIRS has conducted 46 research projects and has worked with more than 2,000 regional and international scholars.
In addition, it also provides publishing opportunities for GU-Q students who are invited to submit their individual research papers to a competitive student paper series.
Outgoing CIRS Director Dr Mehran Kamrava said that in only 13 years, CIRS has made significant contributions to the global body of knowledge on issues relevant to the Gulf region and beyond.
This milestone is not only a reflection of the hard work of our committed faculty, staff and global partners, but a testament to Qatar’s investments in knowledge production and dedication to supporting the growth of a knowledge hub in the Middle East region.
GU-Q Dean Dr Ahmad Dallal said that through CIRS, they strive to support work that has a substantive impact on understanding the region while expanding the international research profile of partner Qatar Foundation, through collaboration with global experts, scholars and decision makers.
This milestone and the wide ranging research projects and publications of CIRS continue to demonstrate the critical role of knowledge creation in the social sciences and humanities, for addressing the challenges faced by humanity.
The centre plans to continue its rigorous research efforts, and has recently published its 41st book, Dr Kamrava’s edited work, Routledge Handbook of Persian Gulf Politics, a comprehensive and up-to-date analysis of the region’s politics, history, economics, and society. The book comprises a total of 36 individual chapters written by GU-Q faculty, staff and international Gulf experts.
All CIRS publications incorporate a variety of disciplinary perspectives in order to appeal to the scholarly community and have an impact on local communities and policymakers.
Visit cirs.georgetown.edu for more information on the Routledge Handbook and the full list of the centre’s first 40 publications.
