6th AAWH Congress Highlights Global Dialogue on Gulf and Asian History
The Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, in collaboration with the Asian Association of World Historians (AAWH), launched the 6th AAWH Congress on 25 October 2025. The two-day event, titled “The Gulf and the World”, brings together leading scholars and historians from Asia, Europe, the United States, and the Arab region to discuss pivotal historical issues. This marks the first time the conference is held in the region, a significant step towards fostering a deeper understanding of Asia’s vital role in global history.
The Role of Asia in Global History
The congress serves as a continuation of the AAWH’s previous conferences, which were hosted in cities such as Osaka (2009), Seoul (2012), Singapore (2015), Osaka (2018), and New Delhi (2022). These events have been instrumental in advancing research on world history, with a particular focus on Asia. The 6th Congress aims to explore the interconnectedness of Asia with the rest of the world.
In his opening address, Dr. Abdelwahab El Effendi, President of the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, highlighted the importance of Asia in the development of global history. He remarked, “Asia is not just a part of the world; one could say it is the world itself, as the great beginnings of humanity originated here.” Dr. El Effendi further emphasized that the fragmentation of identities across regions such as the Arab world, India, and Japan has often led to isolated views of history. The conference aims to promote a unified approach to understanding shared histories and common futures for Asia and Africa.
A Shift in the Conference’s Geographic Focus
Sucheta Mahajan, President of the Asian Association of World Historians, noted the significance of holding the congress in Doha. She said, “Its convening in Doha, in West Asia, embodies the Association’s inclusive Asian dimension and strengthens the scholarly dialogue from the Gulf to the eastern part of the continent.” Traditionally hosted in East Asian cities, the move to the Gulf signifies a broader, more inclusive approach to world history that encompasses both the Gulf and Asia’s rich historical legacies.
Mahajan also highlighted the diverse range of papers presented, which challenge conventional conference themes. The papers offer fresh perspectives on world history from the Gulf and Asian viewpoints, broadening the scope of historical research beyond traditional Eurocentric narratives.
A Platform for Scholarly Dialogue
The congress brings together an esteemed group of researchers from various continents, including Europe, the United States, and the Arab region. Amal Ghazal, Dean of the School of Social Sciences and Humanities at the Doha Institute, described the event as an academic collaboration between the Doha Institute and the AAWH aimed at enriching South-South academic dialogue. “The congress brings together scholars from different historiographical traditions, offering an opportunity to place the history of the Arabian Gulf within the broader context of Asian and world history,” she explained.
The conference program includes four keynote lectures and thirteen academic sessions, with nearly fifty research presentations. These sessions are being delivered in a hybrid format, allowing both in-person and online participation, thus fostering global engagement. One key session, led by Issam Nassar of the Doha Institute, focused on topics such as national identity, Gulf diplomacy, and the comparative history of regional relations. Simultaneous sessions, including one on late-20th century transformations and another on modern energy and political economies, explored diverse historical issues from multiple perspectives.
Looking Ahead to Future Collaborations
The congress marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing dialogue between Asia and the wider world. By focusing on the Gulf region and its intersection with broader global trends, the conference is contributing to a more integrated and nuanced understanding of world history. With the participation of global experts and the hybrid format facilitating international interaction, the event is set to shape the future of historical research in Asia and beyond.
As the event progresses, the Doha Institute’s role in connecting scholars across regions underscores the growing importance of academic collaborations in bridging historical divides and fostering global dialogue.
