Northwestern University in Qatar is expanding its contribution to academic dialogue with its evolving Rawabet conference series aimed at facilitating discussions on significant issues impacting the region and forging connections between timeless issues and timely topics.
The Arabic text Rawabet, meaning “nexus,” reflects the series’ goal: to serve as an international platform allowing varying perspectives to intellectualize both enduring issues and emerging challenges. Each conference or workshop will focus on specific themes, with an emphasis on underrepresented perspectives from the Global South at international debates.
“Rawabet is an opportunity for us to bring together diverse voices, reflecting our commitment to connecting local realities with global conversations,” said Marwan M. Kraidy, dean and CEO of Northwestern Qatar. “As an institution with deep ties to the region, we believe it is crucial to create spaces where regional experiences can inform global discussions, offering insights that are both timely and relevant.”
The series aligns with the school’s mission to advance academic excellence, collaboration and intercultural understanding among our diverse communities, with a particular focus on the Global South's social, cultural, and political dynamics. Through Rawabet, the university aims to explore how regional challenges relate to global trends, encouraging collaboration among academics, students, and professionals.
“Rawabet is an opportunity for us to bring together diverse voices, reflecting our commitment to connecting local realities with global conversations. As an institution with deep ties to the region, we believe it is crucial to create spaces where regional experiences can inform global discussions, offering insights that are both timely and relevant.”
“Located in Doha, a dynamic confluence of continents geographically, diplomatically, and culturally, Northwestern Qatar’s location supports its role as a bridge between regional perspectives and global academic discourse,” added Kraidy. “The university's position allows it to bring together a range of participants from different fields, creating a conduit where critical analysis can flourish. The Rawabet series seeks to highlight topics that matter to the region, such as media and communication, cultural change, and social development while drawing connections to broader global contexts.”
Kraidy emphasized that the series focuses on facilitating meaningful exchanges rather than presenting ready-made solutions. “The conversations we hope to foster are not just about finding resolutions, but understanding the complexities of the challenges we face and how they resonate both here in Qatar and across the Global South.”
Next month, the Rawabet series will bring together leading scholars, media practitioners, and artists in a two-day event conference exploring the roots of anti-Blackness, the impact of colonial legacies, and the dynamics of racial privilege across the Global South. Titled “Questioning Anti-Blackness and Racial Privilege in the Global South,” it will take place on November 11-12, 2024. In spring 2025, Northwestern Qatar will organize a conference examining the evolution of Qatar's media industry and its role in regional and international contexts.
