ECSSR to participate in Hong Kong Book Fair

The ECSSR will be represented along with other UAE institutions at the stand of the Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Hong Kong.

The selection of English ECSSR publications exhibited at the Fair will offer analysis on various strategic, political, economic and social issues specifically relevant to the UAE and other GCC countries, as well as matters related to the Arab world in general, as well as important regional and global developments in international relations, military, security and energy issues.

Among the books on display will be original titles by reputed authors from the Arab world and beyond, including a range of academically refereed studies published by the ECSSR.

Among the more recent English releases is The Arabian Gulf: Between Conservatism and Change, which seeks to tackle the many controversial and contradictory issues that have emerged within Gulf countries between traditional and modernist approaches to political, economic, social, cultural and educational change.

The book stresses the necessity of change, reform and modernization in the Gulf States, especially since a substantial gap remains between the reality in the Gulf countries and the aspirations of their societies to consolidate political development; adopt popular participation and elements of democracy; combat the weaknesses of their developmental models and economic structures; develop their education systems; reinforce their social structures; enhance their cultural dynamism; and empower women in public life.

The Hong Kong Book Fair is one of the largest book fairs in the Far East. The fair also features cultural events such as debates and lectures on issues pertaining to the publishing industry. More than 480 cultural institutions and publishing houses participated in the Fair in 2008, attracting more than 800,000 visitors from all over the world.