Research Impact

Helping Forge Closer Links and Understanding Between the EU and the Middle East 

Period: 2018-2019

  1. Summary of the impact

Research led by Dr Robert Mason explores transnational security cooperation in the Mediterranean, European Neighbourhood Policy, and dialogue promotion in the southern neighbourhood specifically. The research has contributed to postgraduate student teaching and learning in Egypt and underpinned a rare public lecture series. Furthermore, Mason’s research has facilitated a series of recommendations to the European Union and Arab League, leading to potential cooperation improvements on a range of issues and challenges.

  1. Underpinning research

Europe’s relationship with the Middle East reflects complex historical ties, geopolitical interests and contemporary challenges. Mason’s published works, public and policy engagement draw on a variety of theoretical approaches to examine how new policy initiatives could impact conflict, security threats, refugees, other extra-regional external actors, energy, and human rights [3.1]. On conflicts, Mason has examined Syria in particular [3.2]. He has also examined the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) [3.3] and core political issues [3.4].

Mason’s focus has been on political and security dynamics, blurred boundaries of the regions, the Arab Spring and economic malaise and successive economic crises amongst the non and semi-rentier states in the Middle East [3.1].

  1. References to the research

3.1 Mason, Robert. Trans-national Security Cooperation in the Mediterranean. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2020. doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-54444-7    

3.2 Mason, Robert. “The Syria Conflict and the Euro-Med Refugee Crisis: An Opportunity to Enhance the Common Foreign and Security Policy”, European Foreign Affairs Review, 23(1), February 2018, pp. 81-95. doi.org/10.54648/eerr2018005

3.3 Mason, Robert. “A Reassessment of the European Neighbourhood Policy: Extending the Limits of Regional Conceptualisation and Approach”, Orient, 1, 2018, pp. 31-39.

3.4 Mason, Robert. “Recovering EU – Egypt Relations, But Core Political Issues Remain”, for Spot On, Euro-Mediterranean Research, Dialogue, Advocacy Network, January 2019.

  1. Details of the impact

Under a European Commission funded project to ‘promote dialogue between academic scholars and policy professionals in Egypt’, a range of programme tools were used, including: a new MA level Mediterranean Politics module, an inter-mural student conference (also supported by Euromesco), visiting professors programme, workshops, publications, policy dialogue, and a public lecture series at the American University in Cairo downtown Tahrir Square campus [5.1].

The main impact of the research took place in Egypt and can be articulated in two ways: education and policy.

Education

Dr Mason’s work provided the basis for a comprehensive suite of public and scholarly orientated activities on which to advance debates and the academic literature, build teaching provision and international networks. A new course, Mediterranean Politics, was launched in 2018, and became a basis on which wider cooperation could advance. For example, American University in Cairo signed a study abroad agreement with the University of Salzburg which was supported by ERASMUS+ funding [5.4].

Following the student conference, it was noted: “We had very positive debates after each intervention, which were both constructive and forward-looking.” “Moreover, the diversity of subjects (different geographical areas of impact [MENA region and Africa], variety of actors [mainly EU, China, Russia, US, MENA countries] as well as wide range of topics [EU foreign and security policy, migration and its political and socio-economic impact, development, international relations, trade, history]) were extremely useful to get a broader view of the situation. Dr Robert Mason was moderating the debate and Q&A sessions giving very insightful and constructive comments. Students were highly motivated to take part in the Q&A sessions; hugely interesting debates were the logical outcome.” [5.2]

Policy

At the policy level, many of Dr Mason’s policy pieces have been distributed through German and wider European policy circles [3.3, 3.4]. Dr Mason drew on his research to convene a rare Europe-Middle East policy round table to advance momentum from the first EU-Arab League summit which took place on 24-25 February 2019. A participant stated: “This seminar was attended by a group of high level Officials and experts from Europe, Egypt and the League of Arab States. It produced a number of recommendations on how to take the new Euro-Arab summit process forward on both Official and Track two levels. These are currently under consideration by the EU and the LAS.” [5.3] 

  1. Sources to corroborate the impact

5.1 Middle East Studies Center, American University in Cairo web page detailing various activities, including the public lecture series: https://gapp.aucegypt.edu/news/mesc-hosted-joint-workshop-european-university-institute-order-and-disorder-middle-east-and

5.2 Testimonial: Post-doctoral scholar on benefits of an inter-mural student conference in Cairo.

5.3 Testimonial: Former Principal Adviser on the Middle East and North Africa at the EU’s External Action Service in Brussels.

5.4 Email from an academic colleague at the University of Salzburg.