Germany’s Soft Power Strategy in the Middle East: Past & Future

Ambassador Kai Boeckmann
Ambassador of Germany to the Kingdom of Bahrain

Ambassador Kai Boeckmann has been the Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to the Kingdom of Bahrain since 2018. He joined the Federal Foreign Service in 1994 and was stationed in several roles in Egypt, Italy, Argentina, and Jericho, with administrative roles at the FFO between those missions. He studied Law at Passau University, Germany (1st State Examination in Law 1991), and King’s College London (Diploma in Legal Studies 1988), followed by legal traineeship in Hamburg, and the 2nd State Examination in Law (1994).

Mr. Jan Hanrath
CEO & Co-founder, CARPO

Jan Hanrath is CEO and co-founder of CARPO – Center for Applied Research in Partnership with the Orient. He studied political science, European law and psychology (focus on intercultural communication) at the University Duisburg-Essen and currently writes his PhD thesis on German public diplomacy in the Middle East. From 2008 to 2014 he was researcher at the Institute for Development and Peace (INEF) at the University Duisburg-Essen and served as an Associate Fellow at the INEF. In the past years he has worked as a researcher and coordinator in projects on Iran-Saudi dialogue, economic development in Yemen, migration and conflict, political transformation in the Middle East, and academic exchange. He has published inter alia on intercultural dialogues, Middle Eastern politics, new social media and political mobilization, and migration and conflict.

Mr. Fabian Blumberg
Regional Representative to the Gulf States, KAS

Mr. Fabian Blumberg is the Regional Representative to the Gulf States at Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS). During his career, he has worked as KAS’s Representative to Pakistan, the Assistant to the Secretary-General and Deputy Head of the Executive Office of KAS, and an Advisor to the Department of Strategies and Planning at CDU Headquarter. Mr. Blumberg also served as an Assistant to Prof. Dr. Jürgen Rüttgers, former Minister-President of North Rhine Westphalia (2010-2011) and a Speechwriter for the Chairman and the Honorary Chairman. Dr. Hans Gert Pöttering, former President of the European Parliament and Prof. Dr. Bernhard Vogel, former Minister ­President (2009-2010). Mr. Blumberg studied Political Science at Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn and Freie Universität Berlin.

Moderator

Dr. Omar Al-Ubaydli
Director of Studies and Research, Derasat

Dr. Omar Al-Ubaydli is Director of Studies and Research, and Director of Economics and Energy Studies. He previously worked as an Assistant Professor of Economics at George Mason University, USA, as well as being a member of Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell’s Joint Advisory Board of Economists. Dr. Al-Ubaydli received his BA in Economics from the University of Cambridge (Queens’ College) and his MA and PhD in Economics from the University of Chicago. Dr. Al-Ubaydli’s research has been published in several international, peer-reviewed journals and has been featured by media outlets including the Economist magazine.