Experts and authors from TRENDS Research & Advisory signed three new publications at the Sharjah International Book Fair 2024. These unique and insightful books address a range of global issues and crises. The book signing events, held at the book signing corner, were part of the TRENDS’ program of events and activities at the 43rd edition of the book fair.
The new publications include Think Tanks in a Changing World: Shifts, Roles, and Challenges, by Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS Research & Advisory; The Growing Role of Private Military Companies: Blackwater and Wagner as Case Studies, by Mohammed Khalfan Al-Sawafi, an international relations specialist; and the Arabic edition of the Muslim Brotherhood International Power Index 2022-2023, signed by Dr. Wael Saleh, an expert at TRENDS.
Shifts and Challenges
The book signing events started with Dr. Mohammed Abdullah Al-Ali, CEO of TRENDS, signing his book Think Tanks in a Changing World: Shifts, Roles, and Challenges, which highlights the increasing role of think tanks as a bridge between the research world and the world of politics.
The book emphasizes that think tanks reinforce the link between knowledge and power, helping decision-makers in environments characterized by high uncertainty and educating the public on various political issues.
Strengthening Soft Power
In his book, Dr. Al-Ali notes that think tanks play an essential role in fostering international cooperation amidst the changing dynamics in world order. They contribute significantly to national governance and enhance a state’s soft power.
The book traces the origins and evolution of think tanks, analyzes their changing approaches and strategies in a world of uncertainty, examines their role in shaping public policy, and explores the challenges they face in conducting their missions.
International Security Issues
In The Growing Role of Private Military Companies: Blackwater and Wagner as Case Studies, international relations specialist Mohammed Khalfan Al-Sawafi explores the major developments in international security issues. He discusses how private military and security companies have emerged as new players in security dynamics, previously dominated exclusively by state actors with the monopoly on legitimate force. These companies now possess significant capabilities, becoming tools that can reshape the rules of the game in international security.
Operations of Security Firms
Al-Sawafi’s book looks at the origins, evolution, characteristics, roles, and functions of private military companies. It also reviews various academic and political perspectives on their activities and examines the relationship between these companies and international humanitarian law.
The book sheds light on international efforts to regulate these companies, focusing on case studies of the American company Blackwater and the Russian company Wagner.
Foreseeing the Future of the Muslim Brotherhood
Dr. Wael Saleh, an expert at TRENDS, launched the Arabic edition of the Muslim Brotherhood International Power Index 2022-2023, aiming to provide honest and objective answers regarding the group’s ability to achieve its goals, impose its influence, and forecast its future.
Saleh highlights the significance of the index, noting it is the first and only one of its kind in the world, designed to measure the influence of the Muslim Brotherhood across various levels and geographical areas. This index meets the growing need for early and clear indicators regarding the current and future strength of the Muslim Brotherhood at the international level.
