The Middle East: Between Escalation and Stability

The world doesn't stand still. And the Middle East least of all. 

As geopolitical power shifts and the global order faces growing pressure, the questions keep mounting. Who is right? Who benefits from peace? And who profits from conflict? And what does any of this mean for you?

In this session, we bring together a range of perspectives. Not to arrive at a single answer, but to help you see the bigger picture more clearly. Because behind every headline lies a far more complex reality.

What's at stake? 

From energy prices to international cooperation, from Iran's role in the region to social tensions closer to home, the dynamics in the Middle East touch your daily life more than you might think. 

What does 'peace' even mean in a conflict that never stands still? How does Iran relate to the rest of the region and to Europe? And how do you keep your own thinking sharp in a debate that polarises so fast? 

What can you expect? 

Multiple speakers, each bringing a distinct perspective: 

• Mendeltje van Keulen leads the research group Changing Role of Europe at The Hague University of Applied Sciences. She places developments in the Middle East in the broader context of Europe's shifting geopolitical role and sheds light on how the EU makes decisions, or fails to. 
• Armitha Karimi is a consultant and second-generation Iranian-Dutch. Drawing on both professional analysis and personal roots in Iran and the region, she explores how shifting global power dynamics reverberate throughout the Middle East. 
• Bibi van Ginkel is Professor of Legal Aspects of Cyber Security at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and Associate Fellow at the International Centre for Counter-Terrorism. As an international lawyer and policy advisor, she brings expertise at the intersection of security and law and the question of how the two collide in a region like the Middle Easte.
• Diederik Brink is a US affairs expert in the media, worked for many years as an international lobbyist, and currently teaches subjects including crisis communication and geopolitics at The Hague University of Applied Sciences.

A structured dialogue with space for nuance and friction. Reflection on current developments. And an audience that participates, not just watches. 

The session will be facilitated by Sadaf Heidari, a student of International Law, who will keep the conversation sharp and accessible. 

English is the primary language, though you’re welcome to ask questions in Dutch if you prefer.

Part of something bigger 

This event is part of a broader collaboration between institutions working on themes related to West Asia. We're exploring whether this conversation can grow into a programme series across Amsterdam, Nijmegen and Utrecht. A conversation that goes beyond this room. Be part of it. 

Registration

As always, attendance is free for students and staff. Please sign up in advance:

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