Last week, on March 25-26, CMES hosted an engaging workshop at The Old Bishop's House in Lund, Sweden. The theme of the event was “Regionalisation of Crisis Response: Political Shifts and Humanitarian Priorities of the Gulf States”, and it brought together 16 participants from various backgrounds to discuss developments in the Gulf region.
In four paper sessions, the participants examined the foreign policies and strategies of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE as donors, alongside their evolving relationships with Israel and Iran. Key objectives were to analyze the concept of regionalisation in the context of ongoing conflicts and tensions in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and to evaluate the challenges faced by the Gulf States in responding cohesively to crises, including mediation efforts, humanitarian aid, and their broader role in regional peace-building.
Participants also discussed the internal social and financial transformations within these states and how these changes impact their role in the region. The ultimate goal was to provide new insights into the Gulf States’ roles in a region undergoing profound transition.
The workshop was organized by CMES Researcher Altea Pericoli and CMES Director Karin Aggestam.
