The Center for Strategic and International Studies is an academic institution affiliated with the University of Baghdad, specializing in strategic and international affairs related to countries across the globe, including their political systems, policies, issues, and strategic relationships.
The Center is dedicated to collecting, organizing, and facilitating access to reliable information with the goal of advancing scholarly research. It serves as a vital resource for researchers, policymakers, and decision-makers in Iraq and beyond, thereby contributing simultaneously to the development of academic knowledge and the public interest.
History and Establishment
The Center was originally established in September 1980 as the “Institute of Asian and African Studies,” with the objective of achieving comprehensive understanding of Asian and African countries through the study of their political, economic, social, historical, and geographical contexts.
In 1987, the Institute expanded its mandate and was renamed the “Third World Studies Center,” focusing on the political affairs and international relations of Asia, Africa, and Latin America. From that time, it was affiliated with the College of Political Science at the University of Baghdad.
In 1990, its scope broadened further, and it was renamed the “Center for International Studies,” addressing political and international affairs on a global scale. The Center remained affiliated with the College of Political Science until April 1996, when it came under the direct supervision of the University of Baghdad Presidency.
On June 12, 2013, the Center assumed its current name, the “Center for Strategic and International Studies,” following a University of Baghdad directive that merged the Center for International Studies with the Center for Palestinian Studies into a single institution.
The Center for Palestinian Studies, founded in 1967 and initially reporting directly to the University Presidency, focused on the Palestinian issue, monitoring its developments, exploring its multiple dimensions, and analyzing the Arab-Israeli conflict at both regional and international levels. In 1986, it became affiliated with the College of Political Science and, in March 2002, was re-established as an independent center under the University Presidency.
Vision
The Center is committed to producing strategic research that strengthens Iraq’s position and serves its interests domestically, regionally, and internationally. Its faculty is devoted to rigorous scholarship and the implementation of carefully planned initiatives to elevate the Center to the level of leading regional and international academic institutions. The Center seeks to translate these aspirations into tangible outcomes through a systematic, well-designed action plan, ensuring that its research contributes effectively to society and informs decision-making in Iraq. In doing so, the Center aims to be a key contributor to building a new, knowledge-driven Iraq, consistent with its vision and objectives.
