Dr Vincent Durac BCL, MPhil, PhD.
Contact Details
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Biography:
| Dr. VIncent Durac lectures in Politics of Development; Middle East Politics; the International Politics of the Middle East ;and Political Islam in the UCD School of Politics and International Relations. His research is focused on a number of aspects of contemporary Middle East Politics, including political reform, the role of civil society the impact of external actors in the region, and Yemeni political dynamics. He is a visiting lecturer in Middle East Politics in Bethlehem University in Palestine and is External Examiner on the International Relations programme at the University of Plymouth. He is a Council member of the Council of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) and of the European Association for Middle Eastern Studies (EURAMES). He is currently co-investigator of a five country research project on 'The Transformation of Political Islam in the Middle East' which is funded by the Gerda Henkel Foundation. |
Research Interests
| Political Reform in the Middle East; Civil Society and Democratisation in the Middle East; Political Islam; International Actors and the Middle East, Egyptian Politics, Yemeni Politics, Israel/Palestine |
Research Projects
| Sponsor : University College Dublin (UCD) Title : Ireland and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq: A Clash of Principle and Self-Interest? Start Date / End Date : 17-MAY-10 / 16-NOV-11 |
| Sponsor : HEA/PRTLI Cycle 4 Grant Title : Anti Civilian Violence & Democratic Constitutionalism: the cases of Northern Ireland, Isreal-Palestine and Sri Lanka Start Date / End Date : 08-SEP-08 / 01-SEP-11 |
Recent Postgraduates
| Aoibhin de Burca |
Current Postgraduate Students
| Claudia Saba, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Thesis Supervisor |
| Jessica Doyle, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Thesis Supervisor |
| Ali Dadgar, Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) - Thesis Supervisor |
Books
| Durac, V and Cavatorta, F (2013) Introduction to Middle East Politics. Basingstoke: Palgrave. [Details] |
| Cavatorta, F and Durac, V ; (2010) Civil Society and Democratization in the Arab World: The Dynamics of Activism. London: Routledge. [Details] |
| Cavatorta, F and Durac, V (eds.); (2009) The Foreign Policies of the European Union and the United States in North Africa: Diverging or Converging Dynamics?. London: Routledge. [Details] |
Book Chapters
| Vincent Durac (2012) 'Yemen's Islamists: Between Government and Opposition in the Post-Saleh Order' In: Popular Protest, Politics and Post-Islamism in the New Middle East. London: IB Tauris. [Details] |
| Durac, V; (2012) 'The Joint Meetings Party and the Politics of Opposition in Yemen' In: Kraetzschmar, H (eds). The Dynamics of Opposition Cooperation in the Arab World: Contentious Politics in Times of Change. London: Routledge. [Details] |
| Durac, V (2012) 'Civil Society in Contemporary Yemen' In: Cavatorta, F (eds). Civil Society Activism Under Authoritarian Rule: A Comparative Perspective. London: Routledge. [Details] |
| Cavatorta, F and Durac, V ; (2009) 'Diverging or Converging Dynamics? EU and US policies in North Africa – an introduction' In: Cavatorta, F and Durac, V (eds). The Foreign Policies of the European Union and the United States in North Africa: Diverging or Converging Dynamics. London: Routledge. [Details] |
| Durac, V; (2009) 'The Impact of External Actors on the Distribution of Power in the Middle East: the Case of Egypt' In: Cavatorta, F and Durac, V (eds). The Foreign Policies of the European Union and the United States in North Africa: Diverging or Converging Dynamics. London: Routledge. [Details] |
| Durac. V; (2006) 'Developing democracy and democratizing development: Islamic political parties and the state in Egypt' In: Bne Saad, M., and Leen, M (eds). Trade, Aid and Development: Essays in Honour of Helen O'Neill. Dublin: UCD Press. [Details] | |||||||||
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Edited Books
| Cavatorta, F and Durac, V (Ed.). (2009) The Foreign Policies of the European Union and the United States in North Africa: Diverging or Converging Dynamics. London: Routledge. [Details] |
Peer Reviewed Journals
| Durac, V (2012) 'Yemen's Arab Spring: Democratic Opening or Regime Maintenance?'. Mediterranean Politics, 17 (2). [DOI] [Details] |
| Durac, V; (2011) 'The Joint Meetings Party and the Politics of Opposition in Yemen'. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 38 (3). [Details] |
Durac, V; (2010) 'The European Union in Yemen - the Triumph of Pragmatism over Normativity?'. European Foreign Affairs Review, 15 (5):645-661.  [Details] |
| Durac, V; (2009) 'Strengthening Authoritarian Rule through Democracy Promotion? Examining the paradox of the US and EU security strategies:The case of Bin Ali's Tunisia'. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 36 (1):3-19. [DOI] [Details] |
| Cavatorta, F and Durac, V; (2009) 'Diverging or converging dynamics? EU and US policies in North Africa - an introduction '. Journal of North African Studies, 14 (1):1-9. [DOI] [Details] |
| Durac, V; (2009) 'The impact of external actors on the distribution of power in the Middle East: the case of Egypt '. Journal of North African Studies, 14 (1):75-90. [DOI] [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2009) 'Globalizing Patterns of Business, Finance and Migration in the Middle East and North Africa'. Mediterranean Politics, 14 (2):255-266. [DOI] [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2006) 'Review of The International Politics of the Middle East (Raymond Hinnebusch)'. International Journal of Middle East Studies, 38 (4). [Details] | |||||||||
| Vincent Durac; (1999) 'Islam and Modernity: Muslim Intellectuals Respond'. British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies, 26 (2). [Details] | |||||||||
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Conference Publications
| Durac, V (2012) Protest movements and political change: an analysis of the Arab Uprisings of 2011 Social Movements and Political Chsnge in North Africa , 14-JUN-12 - 15-JUN-12 [Details] |
| Durac, V (2011) Political Opposition in Yemen: Cooptation and Division The Middle East: Aspirations and Challenges - Annual Conference of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter, England, [Details] |
| Durac, V (2011) Ireland and the Invasion of Iraq: A Clash of Principle and Self-Interest? Geopolitics, Ireland and the New World Order National University of Ireland, Maynooth, [Details] |
| Durac, V (2011) Getting It Wrong? Framing the Arab Protest Movements of 2011 Annual Conference of the Political Studies Association of Ireland Newman House, Dublin, Ireland, [Details] |
| Durac, V (2012) Yemen's Arab Spring: Democratic Opening or Regime Maintenance? One Year On From the Arab Spring European Research Institute, University of Birmingham, England, [Details] |
| Durac, V (2012) Yemen's Arab Spring: Democratic Opening or Status Quo Maintenance? Revolution and Revolt: Understanding the Forms and Causes of Change - Annual Conference of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies Middle East Centre, London School of Economics, England, [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2011) US Foreign Policy and the Arab-Israeli conflict Squaring The Circle: The Arab-Israeli Conflict and the Future Middle East - Regional and Local Dynamics and Their International Repercussions [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2010) Ireland and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq: A Clash of Principle and Self-Interest? World Conference of Middle Eastern Studies [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2010) The Media and Conflict in the Middle East and Beyond Media and Conflict - Challenges, Constraints and Opportunities [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2009) Civil Society in Yemen Annual Conference of Political Studies Association of Ireland [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2009) Entrenching Authoritarianism or Promoting Reform? Civil Society in Contemporary Yemen European Consortium for Political Research, Lisbon, April 2009, Workshop 2: Civil Society Dynamics Under Authoritarian Rule [Details] | |||||||||
| Storey, A and Durac, A; (2009) 'Normative or Realist' versus 'Normative and Realist' EUSA Eleventh Biennial International Conference, Los Angeles, 23 April 2009 [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2008) The European Union in Yemen: Democracy and Security in the Post-Normative Turn Middle East Studies Association, Washington D.C., Nov 22-25 , 22-NOV-07 - 25-NOV-07 [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2007) Hamas and the Limits of Democracy Promotion in the Middle East Political Studies Association of Ireland annual conference, Dublin, 19-21 Oct , 19-NOV-07 - 21-NOV-07 [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac. V; (2006) 'The Influence of External Actors on the Distribution of Political Power in Egypt' Annual conference of British International Studies Association Cork, [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2006) Western Democracy Promotion in the Middle East and the War on Terror: the case of Tunisia Second World Conference for Middle Eastern Studies Amman, Jordan, , 13-JUN-06 [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2005) Western Democracy Promotion In The Middle East After September 11: Empty Shells AND Smoke Screens? European Consortium for Political Research: Workshop 11 : ¿Post Cold War Democratization in the Muslim World: Domestic, Regional and Global Trends¿ , 14-APR-05 - 19-APR-05 [Details] | |||||||||
| Durac. V; (2003) War in Iraq: Regional and International Implications' Annual Conference of Amnesty International Belfast, Northern Ireland, , 12-APR-03 [Details] | |||||||||
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Guest Lectures
| Durac. V; (2002) Democracy and Democratisation in the Developing World'. Guest Lectures [Details] |
| Durac. V; (2004) The Islamic Movement and Africa'. Guest Lectures [Details] |
| Durac. V; (2004) Islamic Resurgence in Middle East'. Dublin City University: Guest Lectures [Details] |
| Vincent Durac; (2002) Islam and Globalisation. University College Galway: Guest Lectures [Details] |
Invited Lectures
| Vincent Durac; (2011) The Fourth Wave of Democratization: What Next for the Middle East and North Africa?. Invited Lectures [Details] |
| Vincent Durac; (2011) Interpreting the Arab Spring. Invited Lectures [Details] |
| Vincent Durac; (2011) Irish Foreign Policy in the Middle East. Invited Lectures [Details] |
| Vincent Durac; (2011) Civil Society and Democratization in the Arab World. Invited Lectures [Details] |
| Vincent Durac; (2011) The Role of Non-State Actors in Relation to Human Rights in the Middle East'. Invited Lectures [Details] |
| Vincent Durac; (2011) Democracy, Civil Society and Leadership in the Arab World. Invited Lectures [Details] | |||||||||
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Working Paper
| Durac. V; (2005) 'Crossing Ideological Boundaries in the Middle East'. Working Paper [Details] |
Review Articles
| Durac. V; (1999) Islam and Modernity: Muslim Intellectuals Respond'. Review Articles [Details] |
Honours and Awards
| Year: 2010. Title: Seed Funding Grant |
| Year: 2007. Title: Seed Funding Grant |
Associations
| Association: European Association for Middle East Studies, Function/Role: Council Member |
| Association: British Society for Middle Eastern Studies, Function/Role: Council Member |
| Association: Political Studies Association of Ireland, Function/Role: Member |
| Association: Middle East Studies Association, Function/Role: Member |
Conference Contributions
| Durac, V (2012) Protest Movements and Political Change: An Analysis of the 'Arab Uprisings' of 2011. [Invited Oral Presentation], Social Movements and Social Change in North Africa: Shaping Technologies for Change, University of Limerick , 14-JUN-12 - 15-JUN-12. |
| Durac, V (2012) Crisis in Yemen: American and European Approaches Compared. [Invited Oral Presentation], Yemen in Transition: Challenges and Opportunities, Centre for Middle East Studies, Harvard University, Cambridge Mass, USA , 19-OCT-12 - 21-OCT-12. |
| Durac. V; (2002) The Hardest Part is Moderation': The New Islamist Parties of Egypt', paper presented. [Other], African Studies Association of Ireland, * , 01-DEC-02. |
| Durac. V; (2002) 'The Wasat Party, the Muslim Brotherhood and the Egyptian State'. [International Refereed Conference], First World Conference on Middle East Studies, ,, University of Mainz, Germany , 01-SEP-02. |
| Durac. V; (2003) 'Political Islam' presentation. [Oral Presentation], Annual conference of Ireland-Algeria Solidarity Group, Dublin , 01-SEP-03 - 01-SEP-03. |
| Durac. V; (2005) Western Democracy Promotion in the Middle East After September 11: Empty Shells and Smoke-Screens. [Other], European Consortium for Political Research Joint Sessions, University of Granada, Spain; , 14-APR-05 - 19-APR-05. | |||||||||
| Vincent Durac; (2006) Western Democracy Promotion and the War on Terror: The Case of Tunisia. [Oral Presentation], Second World Conference on Middle East Studies, Amman, Jordan , 01-JUN-06. | |||||||||
| Vincent Durac; (2006) The Influence of External Actors on the Distribution of Political Power in Egypt. [Oral Presentation], British International Studies Association, Cork , 01-DEC-06. | |||||||||
| Vincent Durac; (2007) Co-organiser (with Francesco Cavatorta ) and Chair of Double Panel on: 'Divergence or Convergence? The European Union and the United States Security Policies in the Middle East and North Africa'. [Conference Organising Committee Chairperson], Middle East Studies Association Annual Conference, Montreal, Canada , 17-NOV-07 - 20-NOV-07. | |||||||||
| Durac, V; (2007) Hamas and the Limits of Democracy Promotion in the Middle East. [Oral Presentation], Political Studies Association of Ireland, Annual Conference, Dublin , 20-OCT-07 - 20-OCT-07. | |||||||||
| Vincent Durac; (2008) The European Union in Yemen. [Oral Presentation], Annual Conference of Middle East Studies Association, Washington D.C , 24-NOV-08 - 24-NOV-08. | |||||||||
| Vincent Durac; (2009) Entrenching Authoritarianism or Promoting Reform? Civil Society in Contemporary Yemen. [Other], European Consortium for Political Research Joint Sessions, University of Lisbon , 14-APR-09 - 19-APR-09. | |||||||||
| Vincent Durac; (2009) Civil Society and Democracy in Yemen. [Oral Presentation], Political Studies Association of Ireland, Hope University, Liverpool , 09-OCT-09 - 09-OCT-09. | |||||||||
| Vincent Durac; (2010) Ireland and the 2003 Invasion of Iraq. [Oral Presentation], World Congress for Middle East Studies, Barcelona, Spain , 19-JUL-10 - 24-JUL-10. | |||||||||
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Committees
| Committee : European Association for Middle East Studies |
| Committee : British Society for Middle Eastern Studies |
| Committee : Teaching and Learning Committee, College of Human Sciences |
| Committee : Teaching and Learning Committe - School of Politics and International Relations |
| Committee : Teaching and Learning Committe, College of Human Sciences |
| Committee : Executive Committee | |||||||||
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Education
| Year 1994 Institution: Trinity College Dublin Qualification: MPhil Subject: |
| Year 1999 Institution: Queen's University of Belfast, UK Qualification: PhD Subject: |
| Year 1981 Institution: University College Dublin Qualification: BCL Subject: |
Consultancy
| Client: : European Council for Foreign Relations |
Outreach Activities
| Contributor to 'Exploring International Development' UCD Adult Education Centre, TN 107 |
Other Activities
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Internal Collaborators
| Dr. Pat Gibbons, MSc Humanitarian Action, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences Professor Liam Kennedy, UCD Clinton Institute for American Studies Centre for War Studies |
External Collaborators
| Dr. Francesco Cavatorta, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Ireland. Dr. Hendrik Kraetschmar, Dept of Arabic and Middle Eastern Studies, Leeds University, England. Dr. Emmanuela Dalmasso, University of Turin, Italy. Dr. Paola Rivetti, School of Law and Government, Dublin City University, Ireland. Dr. Michelle Pace, Department of Political Science and International Studies, University of Birmingham, England. |
Teaching Philosophy
| To inculcate and foster critical thinking. To provide clearly structured classes and supplementary materials. To educate but also to stimulate and maintain interest. To promote interaction among students. To bring the experience of students into the classroom. To support students in their pursuit of employment or further study. |
Modules Coordinated
| 201200 POL41510 Politics: Middle East & North Africa |
| 201200 INRL30190 International Relations: Middle East Politics |
| 201200 POL40100 Politics: Politics of Development |
Enhancement of Teaching
Review and Enhancement of Curriculum
| In 2005-06 I served as SPIRe representative on the College of Human Science Taught Postgraduate Modularisation Working Group (under the chairmanship of Professor Ben Tonra) which was responsible for delivering the university strategy on modularization at postgraduate level. The Working Group was the key channel for the collection and dissemination of information regarding the restructuring of taught postgraduate programmes. In particular, as Subject Head of Development, I was directly responsible for the restructuring of both the MSc and Graduate Diplomas in Development Studies. In 2006, I sat on the School Committee which reviewed its taught postgraduate offerings. The Committee was central to the expansion of the taught offerings of the School in subsequent years in areas such as International Relations, Human Rights, Political Theory and Ethnic Conflict. In 2009-10 as School Head of Teaching and Learning (and School representative on the CHS Teaching and Learning Committee) I was responsible for the School¿s involvement in the pilot project for Student Feedback/Module Evaluation. This involved liaising with School colleagues who volunteered to take part in the pilot project and with Paul Surgenor and Aine Galvin in the design of the project and in feedback upon the conclusion of the pilot. |
Developing as a Teacher
| In the first place, my experience of teaching in Bethlehem informs my teaching on the Middle East not least by testing the validity of what I have to say on the subject but also informs my undergraduate and postgraduate teaching. The experience of teaching regularly in a developing country to students who are each required for entry to the programme to be working in the field of development offers invaluable insights into the subject matter of my classes in UCD on development. Secondly, through my four years as External Examiner in the University of Plymouth, I have had a privileged opportunity to gain insight into both best practice in a leading centre for the teaching of Politics and International Relations (and one with specializations in the Middle East and Development) Arising out of this experience, I have adopted a number of changes in the way I teach. For example, at undergraduate level, I have adopted a range of asssessments, including book reviews, term papers and exams. At postgraduate level, there is greater emphasis on group work and student-led discussion. Finally, I draw on module evaluations in order to respond to student concerns about content and assessment. |