Why do rentier states seek out hosting rights for major international events? This talk investigates this question through a qualitative case study of mega-events programs in Azerbaijan. Since gaining independence from the Soviet Union in 1991, hydrocarbon exports have formed the backbone of the country’s economy and the main source of rents for ruling elites.

Dr. Khatib is an assistant professor in the Conflict Management and Humanitarian Action program at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. He completed his PhD in political science in 2018 at Humboldt University with a thesis on the relationship between identity perception and reconciliation in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. He has been a post-doctoral researcher at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University.

Dr. Khatib is an assistant professor in the Conflict Management and Humanitarian Action program at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies. He completed his PhD in political science in 2018 at Humboldt University with a thesis on the relationship between identity perception and reconciliation in the context of the Arab-Israeli conflict. He has been a post-doctoral researcher at the Oxford School of Global and Area Studies and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at Harvard University.

Join us for an engaging discussion examining the new Trump administration’s global strategy and its implications for international relations. This talk will explore how President Trump’s “America First” agenda reshaped U.S. foreign policy through bold economic moves, shifts in military alliances, and refreshed international engagements. From trade wars to alliance reevaluations, we’ll delve into key initiatives that redefined America’s role on the world stage. The talk will also address the challenges faced by allies navigating the evolving U.S. stance and pathways for future cooperation.

International buyers vary in their sourcing strategies, with some adopting “relational” strategies that entail sourcing from fewer suppliers and providing higher rents (Cajal-Grossi, Macchiavello, and Noguera, 2023), and others adopting more "spot" strategies that entail sourcing from many suppliers and providing lower rents. We hypothesize that exposure to relational buyers causes exporters to invest in capabilities to build stronger relationships with their workers (Gibbons and Henderson, 2012) and in better working conditions.

A global shortage of vaccines in the COVID-19 pandemic raised difficult questions about how they should be distributed, and international mechanisms ultimately failed to achieve an equitable distribution during the emergency. Professor Renu Singh analyzes why this inequity occurred and how the situation could be improved in the future. She argues that power inequalities among key actors in global health politics caused an overemphasis on mechanisms to voluntarily distribute existing vaccine supplies relative to mechanisms for sharing knowledge and legally expanding vaccine production.