The World in Transition: The Impact of Global Shifts on the Middle East
Understanding Global Transformations and Harnessing Them in the Kurdish and Regional Context
In a rapidly changing world, following international developments is no longer an intellectual luxury—it is a strategic necessity. Every global shift—from the collapse of a regime, to the rise of a new power, to an economic crisis or regional war—carries both risks and opportunities, especially for us in this region, which witnesses a major event nearly every decade that reshapes its balance of power.
Our geographic and political position places us at the heart of these transformations, not on their margins. Therefore, our deep understanding of what is unfolding around us, and our intelligent analysis of global trends, determines our ability to take an active stance—rather than being swept along by the consequences of events.
We have seen how the end of the Cold War, followed by the Second Gulf War, opened a historic window for the establishment of the Kurdistan Region. Yet in subsequent phases, we failed to read other transformations with the same depth, leaving us to await how events would shape us, instead of crafting our own response.
Another profound issue is our lack of critical engagement with the past—an engagement that would allow us to learn from past failures, identify their causes, and avoid repeating them. We have many narratives, but few academic and impartial writings in this domain. One notable exception is Dr Burhan Yassin’s recent book, The Kurds and the Duality of History and Politics, which includes a study on the Kurds and Henry Kissinger in the context of the 1975 setback.
Today, as we live through a new global moment—marked by multipolarity, shifting notions of sovereignty, and fierce competition over technology and energy—we must revisit our analytical tools and build a collective capacity not just to observe the world, but to understand it.
In this context, the MASS Foundation organized a seminar titled The World in Transition: The Impact of Global Shifts on the Middle East, featuring Dr. Sardar Aziz alongside a distinguished group of writers, academics, and intellectuals.
This seminar was an attempt to reflect, engage in dialogue, and articulate a conscious Kurdish vision with a regional dimension—one that seeks to redefine our position in a world that waits for no one.
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