The Global South and World Order Conference: Five Days of Dialogue and Critical Perspectives
Vienna – June 9 to 13, 2025
The Global South and World Order (GSWO) conference, held in Vienna from June 9 to 13, 2025, brought together scholars from diverse disciplines to engage with the shifting dynamics of global power, with particular emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Hosted by the University of Vienna, Department of Development Studies in cooperation with Security in Context (SiC), the University of Oklahoma, the University of California, and the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR), the conference formed part of an ongoing effort to rethink how global hierarchies are conceptualized and studied. Over several days of dialogue, participants examined both theoretical frameworks in the global political economy and specific regional developments.
Conference objectives:
- Re-center the predominantly (though not exclusively) Arabic-speaking Middle East within broader discussions of the “Global South, ” while critically examining the usefulness of this concept.
- Examine the socio-political, economic, and epistemological changes shaping the Middle East amid an emerging multipolar world order.
- Explore how the region is not just shaped by, but also actively shaping, global political economy and geopolitics.
In other words, we intend to “place the Middle East in the world, rather than prioritize how ‘the world’ has acted on the Middle East.
Syria in Focus: Political Economy, War, and Reconstruction
The first two days focused primarily on Syria, addressing the protracted conflict and the implications for knowledge production in settings marked by insecurity. Discussions emphasized the long-term political, economic, and social consequences of war, including the securitization of the political sphere and the nature of post-conflict governance. Scholars analyzed the systematic de-development of Syria’s institutions and infrastructure, exploring how these dynamics have eroded civic spaces and hindered meaningful, transformative strategies.
On the first day, research presented through collaboration between SiC, the University of Oklahoma, the University of California, and SCPR underscored the importance of grounded, empirical analysis for understanding Syria’s fragmented political and institutional landscape. These sessions examined the role of international and regional actors in shaping the political economy of post-conflict Syria and introduced the concept of subordination as a lens to analyze the responses and roles of key actors, often aligned with hegemonic global and local powers. The day concluded with a discussion on the importance of cultivating homegrown, independent spaces for critical and transformative knowledge production in Syria and the wider region.
The second day focused on joint research projects between the University of Vienna and SCPR, including “Participatory Research in MENA Contexts” and “Know War II”. Presenters emphasized the value of developing context-relevant participatory methodologies to enhance political engagement and promote inclusive development. The sessions also highlighted the role of alternative solidarity economies as a means of countering conflict-driven and extractive economic models. The final session addressed the challenges of reconstruction in the MENA region, warning of the risks posed by authoritarianism, occupation, militarism, dependency, and neoliberal approaches.
Regional Themes: The Middle East and the Global South
Following the Syria-focused sessions, the agenda expanded to broader regional themes, particularly the role of small states in an evolving global order. Presentations explored patterns of South-South cooperation—including arms trade, economic partnerships, and shifting alliances—offering comparative insights into how smaller states navigate global power asymmetries.
The final segment of the conference, held on June 12 and 13, returned to the core theme of the Global South and World Order. These sessions critically examined the MENA region’s role in an increasingly multipolar world. Discussions addressed the influence of traditional great powers such as the United States and Europe, alongside the growing prominence of Russia, China, Türkiye, and the Gulf states . Special attention was given to the ongoing violence in Gaza and Sudan, explored through frameworks of land dispossession, ethnic cleansing, and genocide, as well as broader geopolitical shifts.
A central debate focused on the concept of “sub-imperialism” and its relevance for explaining the behaviors of emerging regional powers—particularly the Gulf states—whose actions increasingly blur the line between imperial subjects and agents. The intersections of economic extraction, military influence, and political alliances were key themes in these discussions.
Public Events:
Two public events complemented the academic sessions, engaging broader audiences with key themes:
- The first, held on June 10 and titled “Economy, Identity and Institutions: The Struggle for New Syria”
With Omar Dahi & Rabie Nasser
Chaired by Noura Salahaldeen
This lecture explores how Syria’s post-conflict path has been shaped by economic reforms, identity divisions, and institutional challenges. It also reflects on the impact of sanctions and the importance of justice and inclusion.
Click here to listen to the lecture.
- The second, held on June 12 and titled “The Middle East in a Changing Regional and Global Order: Perspectives on Militarism, Security and Political Economy”
With: Shana Marshall
Pete Moore
Sean Yom
Chaired by: Diana Bashur
This lecture explores the shifting dynamics of the Middle East through the lens of Critical Security Studies, covering militarisation, external security assistance, arms economies, and the impact of global development frameworks.
Click here to listen to the lecture.
The conference concluded with a collective recognition of the need for more nuanced conceptual tools to analyze global political structures—tools that move beyond outdated binaries such as North/South or imperial/anti-imperial. The output of the conference will include a written report organized thematically around key sessions, as well as short contributions from participants, to be published by Security in Context and will be published on the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR) website.
The Global South and World Order Conference: Five Days of Dialogue and Critical Perspectives
Vienna – June 9 to 13 – 2025
The Global South and World Order Conference: Five Days of Dialogue and Critical Perspectives
The Global South and World Order (GSWO) conference, held in Vienna from June 9 to 13, 2025, brought together scholars from diverse disciplines to engage with the shifting dynamics of global power, with particular emphasis on the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Hosted by the University of Vienna, Department of Development Studies in cooperation with Security in Context (SiC), the University of Oklahoma, the University of California, and the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR), the conference formed part of an ongoing effort to rethink how global hierarchies are conceptualized and studied. Over several days of dialogue, participants examined both theoretical frameworks in the global political economy and specific regional developments.
Conference objectives:
- Re-center the predominantly (though not exclusively) Arabic-speaking Middle East within broader discussions of the “Global South, ” while critically examining the usefulness of this concept.
- Examine the socio-political, economic, and epistemological changes shaping the Middle East amid an emerging multipolar world order.
- Explore how the region is not just shaped by, but also actively shaping, global political economy and geopolitics.
In other words, we intend to “place the Middle East in the world, rather than prioritize how ‘the world’ has acted on the Middle East.
Syria in Focus: Political Economy, War, and Reconstruction
The first two days focused primarily on Syria, addressing the protracted conflict and the implications for knowledge production in settings marked by insecurity. Discussions emphasized the long-term political, economic, and social consequences of war, including the securitization of the political sphere and the nature of post-conflict governance. Scholars analyzed the systematic de-development of Syria’s institutions and infrastructure, exploring how these dynamics have eroded civic spaces and hindered meaningful, transformative strategies.
On the first day, research presented through collaboration between SiC, the University of Oklahoma, the University of California, and SCPR underscored the importance of grounded, empirical analysis for understanding Syria’s fragmented political and institutional landscape. These sessions examined the role of international and regional actors in shaping the political economy of post-conflict Syria and introduced the concept of subordination as a lens to analyze the responses and roles of key actors, often aligned with hegemonic global and local powers. The day concluded with a discussion on the importance of cultivating homegrown, independent spaces for critical and transformative knowledge production in Syria and the wider region.
The second day focused on joint research projects between the University of Vienna and SCPR, including “Participatory Research in MENA Contexts” and “Know War II”. Presenters emphasized the value of developing context-relevant participatory methodologies to enhance political engagement and promote inclusive development. The sessions also highlighted the role of alternative solidarity economies as a means of countering conflict-driven and extractive economic models. The final session addressed the challenges of reconstruction in the MENA region, warning of the risks posed by authoritarianism, occupation, militarism, dependency, and neoliberal approaches.
Regional Themes: The Middle East and the Global South
Following the Syria-focused sessions, the agenda expanded to broader regional themes, particularly the role of small states in an evolving global order. Presentations explored patterns of South-South cooperation—including arms trade, economic partnerships, and shifting alliances—offering comparative insights into how smaller states navigate global power asymmetries.
The final segment of the conference, held on June 12 and 13, returned to the core theme of the Global South and World Order. These sessions critically examined the MENA region’s role in an increasingly multipolar world. Discussions addressed the influence of traditional great powers such as the United States and Europe, alongside the growing prominence of Russia, China, Türkiye, and the Gulf states . Special attention was given to the ongoing violence in Gaza and Sudan, explored through frameworks of land dispossession, ethnic cleansing, and genocide, as well as broader geopolitical shifts.
A central debate focused on the concept of “sub-imperialism” and its relevance for explaining the behaviors of emerging regional powers—particularly the Gulf states—whose actions increasingly blur the line between imperial subjects and agents. The intersections of economic extraction, military influence, and political alliances were key themes in these discussions.
Public Events:
Two public events complemented the academic sessions, engaging broader audiences with key themes:
- The first, held on June 10 and titled “Economy, Identity and Institutions: The Struggle for New Syria”
With Omar Dahi & Rabie Nasser
Chaired by Noura Salahaldeen
This lecture explores how Syria’s post-conflict path has been shaped by economic reforms, identity divisions, and institutional challenges. It also reflects on the impact of sanctions and the importance of justice and inclusion.
Click here to listen to the lecture.
- The second, held on June 12 and titled “The Middle East in a Changing Regional and Global Order: Perspectives on Militarism, Security and Political Economy”
With: Shana Marshall
Pete Moore
Sean Yom
Chaired by: Diana Bashur
This lecture explores the shifting dynamics of the Middle East through the lens of Critical Security Studies, covering militarisation, external security assistance, arms economies, and the impact of global development frameworks.
Click here to listen to the lecture.
The conference concluded with a collective recognition of the need for more nuanced conceptual tools to analyze global political structures—tools that move beyond outdated binaries such as North/South or imperial/anti-imperial. The output of the conference will include a written report organized thematically around key sessions, as well as short contributions from participants, to be published by Security in Context and will be published on the Syrian Center for Policy Research (SCPR) website.
