Thunderbird at ASU student clubs present: “Waging Peace in the Middle East: Conflict, Resolution, and the Future of Gender Equality in the Middle East”

With conflict and negotiation shaping the ever-evolving landscape of the Middle East, a critical question looms: How do we move beyond crisis and toward sustainable peace? At Thunderbird School of Global Management (Thunderbird) at Arizona State University—ranked No. 1 in the world for international trade and a leader in global impact and innovation—a panel of experts will tackle this question via a student-led event that explores the role of diplomacy, policy, and gender in conflict resolution.

Hosted by two student clubs, the Foreign Policy Initiative at Thunderbird (FPI) and Thunderbird Women in Business (TWB), the event will feature moderator Albert Celoza, executive director of the Arizona Interfaith Movement.

Celoza commented on the Arizona Interfaith Movement’s partnership with Thunderbird for this event and the similar sentiment they share on bringing communities together.

“Thunderbird is one of the best kept secrets in Arizona,” Celoza said. “All Thunderbird students, alumni and faculty have a broad training in business, languages and cultures. The gate at the old campus has a quote attributed to a Greek philosopher which says, ‘I am not an Athenian or Greek but a citizen of the world.’”

In partnering with the FPI and TWB, the Arizona Interfaith Movement is working to deliver on their mission statement of “building bridges of understanding, respect, and support among diverse people of faith through education, dialogue, service and the implementation of the Golden Rule.” 

This event will feature a number of notable panelists set to explore critical issues surrounding peacebuilding in the Middle East and foster a conversation on strategies for global cooperation and understanding. Panelists for this event include notable ASU faculty and alumni, including Daniel Rothenberg, Miral Mahgoub, Chad Haines and Ms. Mansoora Sharifi, who will. Set the stage for a unique perspective to a topic that already spans many fields, cultures and individual conflicts.  

“Through initiatives like this, we strive to encourage further education, amplify diverse perspectives and bridge divides,” Tate Mulligan, president of the FPI and graduate student studying global policy, explained. “Our shared goal is to empower individuals to engage in constructive conversations that challenge assumptions, inspire collaboration, and promote sustainable solutions. We hope this event will not only illuminate the challenges faced in the region but also serve as a catalyst for peace and understanding in our interconnected world.” 

TWB shared a similar sentiment, with Jaydin Fleming, current president for the TWB, also speaking to the necessity of conversations like this. 

“We cannot change what we are not aware of, and awareness begins with conversation,” Fleming said. “It’s a privilege, as Thunderbird Women in Business, to be able to have uncomfortable but necessary discussions — as women and as a collective — to help bring awareness to complex challenges faced today.” 

Addressing conflict in the region 

When it comes to “Waging Peace in the Middle East,” it is not a simple issue. The region’s diverse cultural landscape is intertwined with a complex history marked by longstanding conflict.  Panelist  Chad Haines, co-director  of the Center for the Muslim Experience in the US. and affiliate faculty for the Center for the Study of Religion and Conflict, will tackle this conversation by focusing on understanding historical events and using them as building blocks to develop peaceful solutions. 

“Though ultimately crushed by the dictates of American imperialist interests, the January 11 Revolution in Egypt in 2011, is a powerful window into the possibility of peace as a lived ethics,” Haines said. “Democracy, human rights and international law are all employed by powerful states to advance their nationalist interests rather than cultivate peace. But, as the slogan of the protests in Tahrir Square reminded us, ‘the power of the people is stronger than the people in power’ – sadly, we forget that too often.” 

What Haines highlights is a complicated history shadowed by a multitude of nations and their respective geo-political interests. This brings an interesting question to the forefront, of what peace may mean to a region with this many conflicting interests. 

Rothenberg, co-director for the Future Security Initiative and professor of practice at the School of Politics and Global Studies, spoke directly to exactly what peace means in this context. 

“Peace in the Middle East, or anywhere, is more than just the absence of war; what we need in the region are concrete policies that allow for human flourishing,” Rothenberg said. “Making sense of peace in the region requires honestly engaging with extraordinary levels of suffering, harm, trauma, and dislocation — whether in Syria, Iraq, Gaza or elsewhere.” 

By taking a multinational approach, this panel will seek to break down the similar ways in which conflict has broken out throughout the region and how it has affected its citizens. Rothenberg highlights honest engagement with the realities of the region, aiming to bring a discussion that does not shy away from the difficult truths in a history of conflict. 

Female bodies as battlegrounds: Gender, memory, and trauma 

With a historical perspective rooted in years of international conflicts, many other confounding variables and resulting symptoms come to light when trying to fully examine this complex dynamic. A major variable, and an often overlooked one when discussing geopolitics, is the large-scale effect these conflicts have on women and the symptomatic responses developed by women as a result. 

Hailed as "one of most powerful Middle Eastern writers" by Forbes magazine in 2014, panelist Miral Mahgoub, associate professor at the School of International Letters and Cultures, expressed her excitement to discuss peace in the Middle East through the topic of female bodies as battlegrounds.

“My presentation will discuss the themes of memory, trauma, and the violence faced by the female body as portrayed in literature,” Mahgoub said. “I will specifically talk about literary strategies such as indirection and fragmentary narratives to illustrate how the female body can act as a symbolic form of resistance. Additionally, I will explore themes of life, death, survival, and memory through the lens of gender and trauma theory.” 

As a highly acclaimed writer with four award-winning novels, some of which “are now taught around the world as part of standard curricula in Arabic literature in translation,” Mahgoub is not just an expert accountant of these topics, but an active participant in their ongoing historical narrative. 

A particular topic that resonates with many from the TWB is the perspective of women in the region as a method of understanding the effects of these conflicts. 

“Sexism is not a woman issue, but a human issue that affects societies and economies depriving the world of a portion of its talents. The need for active efforts to combat it cannot be overemphasized,” said Pamela Kwangware, graduate student at Thunderbird and director of recruitment, engagement, and events for TWB.

Alongside Mahgoub, Bachelor of Global Management graduate Mansoora Sharif is  providing a very personal perspective on the issue as someone from Kabul, Afghanistan. Sharifi brings the invaluable insight of someone who has witnessed firsthand the effects of conflict in the region, particularly how that conflict affects women.

“Peace is not just about living in a peaceful country; it’s about the experiences we face and the ability to find inner peace despite those challenges,” Sharifi said. “It's something to take pride in. I’m honored to share my life experiences and insights with larger ASU, Thunderbird and Phoenix communities.”  

Collaboration in an increasingly divided age 

With conflict abound on the international stage, waging peace in any part of the world requires a broad and inclusive perspective that seeks to address the whole of the issue. Something that can’t be done alone. 

The FPI, TWB, the Arizona Interfaith Movement, ASU faculty, affiliates and alumni have all come together in support of developing conversations in their communities about how to address and move forward with these conflicts. 

Alison Anthony, current vice president for TWB and director of events for the FPI spoke to this goal of collaboration in the global politics sphere. 

“This conversation showcases the initiatives of both organizations, emphasizing the importance of leadership and collaboration. Specifically highlighting the necessity of including women in peacemaking and conflict resolution efforts, recognizing their pivotal contributions to fostering stability,” Anthony said. 

This conversation aims to inspire people’s continued discussion regarding the next steps that anyone from policymakers to local members of the community can take to support this effort. And it has already started.

“I’m humbled by the support from our wonderful community that has allowed us to welcome more people into the discussion and learn from their unique perspectives,” Halsema said. “With drastic shifts in international relations and the onslaught of globalization efforts that connect the world's populations, foreign policy issues are no longer a matter only for public representatives, but universally affect the lives of every person in every place.”

The “Waging Peace in the Middle East: Conflict, Resolution, and the Future of Gender Equality in the Middle East” event will take place Wednesday, February 19 from 6. to 7:30 p.m in both Room 331 at Thunderbird Global Headquarters and virtually. Those interested in attending may RSVP through the event’s registration page.