Inauguration of Nelson Mandela Chair and Spl Lecture by Prof. Bernard Haykel

The Mahatma Gandhi University’s School of International Relations and Politics (SIRP) is pleased to announce the commencement of the Nelson Mandela Chair for Afro-Asian Studies’ activities for the academic year 2023-24. The inaugural event will take place at the New Seminar Hall, SIRP on December 4th, presided over by Prof. C T Aravindakumar, the esteemed Vice Chancellor of Mahatma Gandhi University.

Prof. Bernard Haykel, the distinguished Professor of Near Eastern Studies from Princeton University, USA, will hold the Nelson Mandela Chair for this academic year. Prof. Haykel will present a series of insightful discussions on pivotal international relations topics including “The Recent Conflict in Gaza and Its Implications on Israeli-Palestinian Relations,” on 4 December, “The Enduring Challenges Posed by Islamism and Authoritarianism in the Arab World,” on 5 December and “The Sino-American Quest for Dominance in West Asia and the Persian Gulf” on December 6th. Furthermore, Prof. Haykel will engage the public with a lecture at Maharaja’s College, scheduled for December 7th at 10 am, focusing on “The Diminishing US Hegemony: Analysing America’s Complex Ties with Africa, West Asia, and South Asia.”

In addition to these engagements, consultative sessions between the Chair Professor and the university’s research scholars and affiliated academics. These sessions, slated for the afternoons of December 4th to 6th, will offer a platform to explore the evolving landscape of higher education and tackle methodological issues pertinent to both researchers and students. The university community eagerly anticipates the knowledge and discussions that will be stimulated by these events and welcomes the contributions of Prof. Haykel to the academic discourse.Nelson Mandela Chair for Afro-Asian Studies is a prestigious programme of the School of International Relations and Politics aimed at promoting academic and scholarly exchange to advance Afro-Asian Studies. The Chair was established in 2014 and Dr.Bijulal M. V., Assistant Professor at the School of International Relations and Politics coordinates the Chair’s activities.