The Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies (ACRPS) will host the third Annual Conference of Arab Research Centers from December 6-8, 2014.  This year’s conference will focus on the theme of "The GCC Countries: Politics and Economics in Light of the Regional and International Shifts and Changes". The choice of theme stems from the political and security challenges the GCC countries face at time of great uncertainty, and the changes affecting the world’s economic structure in the fields of energy, commerce, and technology.

Focusing on the GCC countries has added importance given a perceived stall in the further evolution of the Council’s role, and perhaps even a decline thereof, given differences in economic and political policies which have surfaced between its members of late. Equally, the repercussions of the Arab Spring uprisings continue to be felt along with the rise of new powers in the international system. An example of this is the potential rapprochment between the United States and Iran. Furthermore, the GCC countries continue to depend upon the export of fossil fuels, even as oil and gas from non-traditional sources (e.g., shale gas) are changing the world energy map.  The result of this is that previously energy consuming nations are becoming producers in competition with the GCC.

Accordingly, the third annual conference of Arab Research Centers focuses on the chief challenges facing the GCC countries, and provides a venue for the constructive discussion of the Gulf's strategic importance, and its impacts on a variety of salient global topics. Gulf relations with world powers, with emerging Asian nations, neighboring countries, fellow GCC members, and the Arab regional system will all likewise be considered within the meeting.

ACRPS calls upon Arab scholars and researchers engaged in work on relevant issues to submit in-depth original research papers relevant to the conference themes. Those who wish to submit a paper are requested to send a research proposal and a brief CV, no later than May 8, 2014.  Final research papers must then be submitted no later than September 1, 2014 to facilitate timely review and selection and to finalize the conference program. For background on the themes of the conference and its guidelines, click here.

Please send research proposals and papers to: nerouz.satik@dohainstitute.org