Director’s Message
The Centre for Bahrain Studies was established in 14 April 2008/ corresponding to 8 Rabi’ al-Thani 1429 AH. It reflects the aspirations of the University of Bahrain to contribute to spreading historical and political awareness and to conduct strategic studies related to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Gulf. In addition, the Centre promotes research work and studies, to keep abreast with the political, economic and social developments that the Kingdom of Bahrain has witnessed since the launch of the reform project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa.
Our Vision: Developing long-standing academic values and traditions of the University of Bahrain to enrich knowledge and understanding of the Kingdom of Bahrain within its regional and international perspectives through publishing topics related thereto in the fields of history, geography, anthropology, sociology, political science and economics, to strengthen national commitment and loyalty.
Our Mission: Adopting a strategic perspective in addressing Bahrain’s present and future pivotal and pressing issues. Bahrain has come a long way since its political establishment in the 18th century, during which it has undergone great developments at all levels. Since the 1970s, Bahrain has witnessed profound political, economic and social changes that culminated in the new millennium with the introduction of the reform project of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa. This project placed Bahrain on the threshold of a democratic era and an economic take-off stage that enabled it, after one decade, to achieve one of the highest levels of sustainable human development. As a result, Bahrain maintained a recognized leadership position at the Arabian Gulf and Arab levels.
Following objective scientific analysis, the Centre pays due attention to all aspects of this rich and studies it in the light of the latest theories and models of human sciences. Thus, it assists in providing objective scientific visions that look at the present and foresee the future to help in the process of decision-making and identifying the attributes of the Kingdom’s future plans and directions, within the framework of its national heritage that takes pride in its Arabic and Islamic cultural and civilized identity.
The Centre is under the direct supervision of the president of the university. The director of the Centre heads a team of researchers consisting of specialized researchers, assistant researchers and an administrative team to support researchers in the administrative and technical issues.
Dr. Muhammad Ahmed Abdullah
About the Centre
The Centre for Bahrain Studies (formerly Centre for Historical Studies) was established pursuant to the decision of the Board of Trustees of the University of Bahrain No. (31) of 2008 issued on April 14, 2008 corresponding to 8 Rabi’ Al-Akhar 1429 AH. Due to the multiple tasks entrusted to the centre that are beyond the scope of historical field, it was agreed to change its name to “Centre for Bahrain Studies” pursuant to University of Bahrain Council Resolution No. (1246) of 2013 issued on June 12, 2013 corresponding to Sha’ban 3, 1434 AH, and University of Bahrain Board of Trustees Resolution No. (170) of 2016 issued on June 7, 2016 corresponding to Ramadan 2, 1437 AH.
In terms of its structure and scientific nature, the Centre for Bahrain Studies belongs to the field of humanities. It carries out research and studies and holds scientific conferences, symposia, and lectures in human sciences such as history, geography,
anthropology, sociology, political science and economics. Through these activities, the Centre seeks to examine and study Bahrain’s issues in general, build bridges of communication with humanities and social sciences academics as well as decision-makers, and establish close ties with the Arabian Gulf, Arab and international research centers.
The Centre is concerned with identifying and analyzing Bahrain’s historical, geographical, anthropological, social, political and economic issues. It investigates the challenges facing Bahrain at all levels and explores Bahrain’s relationships with its regional, Arab and international surroundings, in all its political, economic and other aspects. The Centre is also concerned with analysis and criticism of theoretical issues, particularly their direct implications on the academic and political discourse and conducts studies concerned with Bahrain.
The Centre issues research, studies and reports, holds conferences, workshops, training courses and symposia for specialists, and publishes its works in both Arabic and English so that researchers can have access to them.
The Centre encompasses the following research and study units, based and related to topical and regional approaches:
- Historical Research and Studies Unit
- Geopolitical Research and Studies Unit
- Economics and Development Research and Studies Unit
- Anthropological and Social Research and Studies Unit
- Regional Research and Studies Unit
Our Objectives
The Centre aims to achieve the following objectives:
- Fostering Arab and Islamic identity of the Kingdom of Bahrain by focusing on research and studies concerned with studying cultural and civilizational particularities of Bahrain and its relationships with various world cultures
- Exploring the history of Bahrain using its original sources and laying sound methodological foundations to identify these resources, and then editing them for the publication of research and studies on the history of Bahrain
- Documenting the historical era that Bahrain underwent at the beginning of the third millennium in terms of examining the roots of political, social and cultural reform throughout the various stages of history and supporting efforts of collecting scientific sources, documents and studies in various languages, and then translating them and making them available to scholars and researchers
- Expanding the field of participation to contribute to the historical documentation movement in its regional and international framework through attracting scholars and researchers specialized in humanities, from within and outside the University of Bahrain, to publish research and studies on the history of Bahrain, and to benefit from their scientific and research expertise.
- Supporting the scientific movement aimed at establishing and consolidating citizenship by adopting scientific projects, writing and publishing in various fields of humanities aimed at serving society and advancing both the country and citizens.
- Following up and studying various political and social issues and developments emerging at the local, regional and international levels, which would have repercussions on the interests and policies of the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arab Gulf region and the Arabian Peninsula.
- Studying international economic issues of interest to the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Arabian Gulf region, namely those related to oil, international trade, economic blocs, and local issues related to economic policies, labor market regulation, demographics, development of local human resources, and increasing contribution thereof to the labor market.
- Coordinating scientific research efforts with the concerned authorities both inside and outside the Kingdom of Bahrain through collaborating with the concerned official institutions and research and documentation centres to implement scientific projects and hold scientific meetings, symposia and conferences aimed at consolidating the scientific status of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
Tasks and Duties
1- Research and Studies:
The Centre conducts research on various historical, geographical, anthropological, social, political and economic aspects related to Bahrain. This research is carried by the research staff at the Centre. In addition, the centre avails from the efforts of researchers inside and outside the university. Areas of research include:
- Studies and reports on political, economic and social alternatives in the form of in-depth abstracts to make them available to specialized government agencies and institutions as well as decision makers.
- Preparing futuristic studies depending on facts and current data and identifying alternatives to help decision-makers in the specialized relevant government agencies and institutions, to prepare for future events ahead of their occurrence.
2- Symposia, Panel Discussions and Conferences:
Organizing symposia and discussion panels on various issues related to Bahrain:
- Centre Symposia: The Centre organizes specialized symposia in the field of Bahrain studies. In these symposia, scholars, thinkers and researchers from Bahrain and abroad are invited to take part therein. The Centre endorses these publications and these symposia as part of its publications.
- Panel Discussion : Carrying out academic discussion panels at the Centre on topics related to Bahrain, paying particular attention to selecting topics, themes , speakers and attendants, to ensure success of the discussion panels and achieve the required objective scientific outcomes.
- Organizing events: Organizing scientific and cultural events in areas and topics related to the Centre’s research interests.
- Participation in external conferences: Due to the importance of academic conferences and symposia related to the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Arabian Gulf and the Arabian Peninsula, researchers of the Centre participate in various Arab and foreign scientific centres and universities, with work papers, reviews or comments on research and papers presented therein.
- Cooperation with Studies Centres: Strengthening the relationship with similar studies centres in GCC countries and Arab and foreign countries, in order to exchange experiences, explore their scientific and professional experiences, and investigating possibilities to implement programmes for mutual visits.
3- Publication and Documentation:
- The Centre publishes its works in the field of Bahrain studies.
- The Centre adopts the publication of scientific works in line with its objectives vision, and mission, with the agreement of authors thereof.
- The Centre collaborates with researchers it deems appropriate to prepare specific studies with the aim of publishing thereof.
- The Centre republishes some of the literature and works of special importance to Bahrain.
- The Centre undertakes publishing a refereed scientific periodical under the name of “The Centre for Bahrain Studies Annals” under the supervision of an editorial board, through which research and studies related to the Centre’s areas of interest in the disciplines of humanities and social sciences are published.
