Current issues in West Asia

West Asia is rightly considered the cradle of several ancient civilisations and three world religions. Throughout its long history, the region has been and remains one of the most important political, economic, religious and cultural centres of our planet. There has been a fierce struggle for influence in the region for thousands of years. However, external forces have never succeeded in subjugating West Asian countries or making them their instruments of foreign policy. 

The modern political architecture of the region is based on several centres of power, comparable in their economic potential. At the same time, political and ideological contradictions between the actors can be very significant, leading to increased tensions and the need to balance on the brink of conflict. For this reason, West Asia attracts the close attention of major international players who, under the pretext of maintaining relative stability in the region, seek their own political and economic advantage. 

At our first G.O.R.K.I. talk, we invite participants to recall together the key and often dramatic pages in the recent history of West Asia, including: The invasion of Iraq by the US and its allies in 2003, the events of the Arab Spring in 2010–2013, Russia’s participation in the anti-terrorist operation in Syria since 2015, and the escalation of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict in 2023. 

In the first part of the event, a thematic lecture will be delivered by Karin Kneissl, Head of the G.O.R.K.I. Centre of St Petersburg University. Afterwards, participants are invited to an open discussion, during which they are most welcome to discuss current challenges for West Asia, as well as to develop practical approaches aimed at strengthening and developing Russia’s relations with the countries of the region in the current geopolitical environment. 

The meeting will be held in face-to-face format, in English. Participation in the event is paid, and you also have to register in advance.

Registration