‘Energy and Politics in the Persian Gulf’ is topic at Rice’s Baker Institute Oct. 3

MEDIA ADVISORY

David Ruth
david@rice.edu
713-348-6327

Jeff Falk
jfalk@rice.edu
713-348-6775

‘Energy and Politics in the Persian Gulf’ is topic at Rice’s Baker Institute Oct. 3

HOUSTON – (Sept. 27, 2018) – A range of international experts will convene at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Oct. 3 to address the impact and implications of pressing political, economic and energy issues in the Persian Gulf and their meaning for Houston and U.S. energy and security interests.

The event, hosted by the Baker Institute’s Center for the Middle East and Center for Energy Studies, is free and open to the public, but registration is required. This event is part of the Baker Institute’s 25th anniversary commemorative programs featuring its centers and research.

Who: Keynote speaker Gerald Feierstein, director of government relations, policy and programs at the Middle East Institute and former U.S. ambassador to Yemen.

Edward Djerejian, director of the Baker Institute and former U.S. ambassador to Israel and Syria, will give welcoming remarks. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at the Baker Institute, will give introductory remarks. For a complete list of speakers and panelists, go to www.bakerinstitute.org/events/1950.

What: A conference titled “Energy and Politics in the Persian Gulf.”

When: Wednesday, Oct. 3, 8:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Breakfast and registration is at 8; lunch will be served at 11:30.

Where: Rice University, James A. Baker III Hall, Doré Commons, 6100 Main St.

The energy-based political economies of the Persian Gulf are entering a period of profound change, according to event organizers. The impact of lower oil and gas prices intersects with the rise of younger and more assertive leadership in countries that are strategic American partners, such as Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Along with the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, officials in these states are adopting long-term plans to diversify their economies, strengthen their private sectors and create jobs for growing workforces. These initiatives, which are developing amid intensified rivalry with Iran and a full-blown war in Yemen, aim to prepare for a transition to hydrocarbons assuming a smaller — yet still crucial — role in the region, organizers said.

At this conference, speakers and panelists will explore whether, as the Arab world remains embroiled in conflict and political uncertainty seven years after the Arab Spring, a “Gulf model” of development is applicable to the wider Middle East. They will also discuss whether issues such as climate change, new regional splits and internal economic reforms are affecting stability and security in a region vital to U.S. strategic interests.

The public must RSVP for the event at www.bakerinstitute.org/events/1950. A live webcast will be available at the event page.

Members of the news media who want to attend should RSVP to Jeff Falk, associate director of national media relations at Rice, at jfalk@rice.edu or 713-348-6775.

For a map of Rice University’s campus with parking information, go to www.rice.edu/maps. Media should park in the Central Campus Garage (underground).

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Founded in 1993, Rice University’s Baker Institute ranks among the top three university-affiliated think tanks in the world. As a premier nonpartisan think tank, the institute conducts research on domestic and foreign policy issues with the goal of bridging the gap between the theory and practice of public policy. The institute’s strong track record of achievement reflects the work of its endowed fellows, Rice University faculty scholars and staff, coupled with its outreach to the Rice student body through fellow-taught classes — including a public policy course — and student leadership and internship programs. Learn more about the institute at www.bakerinstitute.org or on the institute’s blog, http://blogs.chron.com/bakerblog.