CIC Victoria: In-person event.

Continuing our discussions about the war in Ukraine, for the next Politics-in-the-Pub we’ll turn our attention to the impact that Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine is having on the Middle East. In general, spikes in the prices of grain and fuel, with uncertain political reverberations, have been the primary effect to date on many Middle Eastern countries. On the other hand, some countries have prospered immensely as the fighting rages on, adding hundreds of billions of dollars to their coffers through the sale of oil and natural gas. Regional strongmen that once came under harsh criticism from the West also appear to be back in favour while Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, early-on at least, positioned himself as an indispensable figure in seeking an end to the war. Politically, though, much remains in flux. Throughout the Middle East, political actors are mostly shying away from overt alignment with either the Russian or the Ukrainian/Western side, preferring for now to hedge their bets. What might come next? Join us as we welcome Dr. Martin Bunton (UVic) and Dr. Chris Kilford (CIC) to discuss the impact of the war in Ukraine on the Middle East.

Dr. Martin Bunton teaches history at the University of Victoria. His research has largely been centered on the modern Middle East and he has published numerous books and articles about the region, and is the co-author of A History of the Modern Middle East, which is in its 6th edition. He received his PhD from Oxford University in 1998, and has served as a visiting fellow at Harvard.

Dr. Chris Kilford is the president of CIC Victoria and a sessional professor with the Canadian Forces College. He served in the Canadian Armed Forces for 36 years, his last position as Canada’s Defence Attache to Turkiye from 2011-2014. Today, he focuses on Turkish contemporary history and politics, including civil-military relations and military coups. He received his PhD from Queen’s University in 2009.

To attend the above event, please email cicvicpip@gmail.com no later than Friday, 3 February 2023 and this event is open to CIC members only. The cost to attend is $20, which will cover a first drink and a round of appetizers. Along with confirmation of your attendance, payment instructions will also be provided. If you are not able to attend after registering, and there is a waiting list, your registration fee will be reimbursed. If we have no waiting list, unfortunately refunds cannot be given.