Research
This page showcases our research publications: case studies, long-form articles, and policy pieces that highlight cultural heritage, history, technology, and political relations. In-depth research in an agile format offers a space to share findings, test ideas, and contribute to conversations in the field, bridging the gap between quick commentary and formal academic publishing.
Check out our most recent publications below, and explore our researchers' profiles to discover their work.
The Conflict of Narratives:
Al-Andalus Between the East and West
Building upon previous explorations of Gharb al-Andalus, which traced the legacies of the Andalusian West cities like Mértola, Coimbra, and Santarém, this article shifts focus from a linear timeline to a deeper narrative analysis. By tracing back the layers of modern-day Spain and Portugal, we find that the history of this era is rarely a neutral record; rather, it is a mirror reflecting the perspectives, biases, and intentions of those who chose to write it.
Santarém:
A City on the Banks of History and Literature
Close to the Portuguese capital Lisbon, and to the east of it, the city of Santarém, known in Arabic as Shantarin, is located on a high hill overlooking the banks of the Taga River. The city has had a prominent Islamic presence for nearly four centuries, as it was a fortified military center that contributed to the military expansions in the Andalusian west.
Maritime cultural engagement, broadly defined as the ways in which societies interact with, perceive, and utilize the sea, has become a prominent field of inquiry in heritage and coastal studies. While many Mediterranean and Atlantic communities demonstrate deeply rooted maritime traditions, the Turkish Black Sea coast presents a more ambiguous case.
I thought for a long time about which city to begin my series of articles on the West of Al-Andalus. I found no place more suitable than the first city I lived in Portugal, as a student at its historic university. Founded in 1290 on the ruins of an Andalusian palace, this was an era when Islamic rule was still present in parts of the Iberian Peninsula. It was my first stop to discover Portugal and learn about its history, culture, and people.
The name of Al-Andalus immediately evokes the powerful Islamic presence that dominated the Iberian Peninsula for centuries. Historically, the term was used to describe the entire peninsula, from the lands of the Normans in the west to the "Sea of Darkness" - the Atlantic Ocean - which medieval Islamic geographers considered the end of the known world.
Policy
“Carthago delenda est” (Carthage Must Be Destroyed): these are the famous words attributed to Cato, who, in a speech before the Roman Senate, is said to have urged the complete destruction of the Phoenician city state. Rome soon embarked on a three-year siege that ended with the Carthaginians being, in the words of Polybius, “utterly exterminated”[1] and the city completely devastated. According to the legend, the ruins of the city were later covered with salt, so that nothing could grow again. Beyond the myth, the destruction of Carthage stands as one of the most powerful archetypes of what we now refer to as “urbicide”. Yet there is still no single, shared definition of the term in international law, especially regarding the intentionality of the act of destruction.
Rebuilding Beirut’s Cultural Heritage:
The Potentials and Pitfalls of International Support
Five years after the devastating explosion in 2020, Beirut is still dealing with the deep scars left on its cultural heritage. The UNESCO initiative called “LiBeirut” has been instrumental in helping to restore buildings and provide educational support. However, there's an important issue at play: while help from international organizations is crucial, it can sometimes overshadow the efforts and needs of local groups and communities. To truly heal and rebuild, it’s vital to have a collaborative approach that combines global support with the skills and involvement of local people.
The Increasing Role of Cultural Diplomacy in EU-Gulf Relations
Increasingly central to the foreign policy agendas of the EU and the GCC, cultural diplomacy has fostered a rapprochement between the two regions through academic, artistic and intercultural exchanges. In recent decades, joint initiatives in education, cultural heritage, and the arts have strengthened dialogue and cooperation. However, despite these advancements, the full potential of cultural diplomacy remains partially untapped. This white paper presents and discusses the ample opportunities that exist for a more structured and strategic integration of cultural diplomacy to enhance bilateral relations and regional security.
