It has never been a more tumultuous time to study Politics and International Relations. In an era defined by rapid technological change, global power shifts, and the growing influence of AI, our understanding of Politics and IR is constantly evolving. This degree has confused me, enraged me and ultimately pushed me to make sense of an increasingly complex world. Studying Politics and IR in Qatar, specifically at AFG, has given me a distinct and nuanced perspective on the world.
A lot of us live our day to day lives trying to simply get by. Yet education, and the pursuit of knowledge, is not just simply a luxury, it is a fundamental human right, essential to both our survival and our dignity. We often look back at history and ask, “How could we have let such things happen?” The answer lies, in part, in the conditions of everyday life: too many people are weighed down by survival to exist in the constant “state of emergency” that critical awareness demands. As history shows us, this state of emergency is not the exception, it is the rule.
At a time when the humanities are being defunded across the world, the opportunity to study Politics at an institution like Aberdeen is an immense privilege, perhaps one of the most important opportunities of my life. It is also a responsibility. To study politics today is to resist complacency, to refuse passivity and to recognize that understanding power is essential to navigating and surviving the world we inhabit.
This degree has taught me that the most dangerous thing a person can do is not to think. Through courses like International Security and Human Rights in Global Politics, I have studied the works of scholars like Hannah Arendt, Edward Said, and W.E.B. Du Bois and more. Their ideas, particularly Arendt, have put me face to face with the Banality of Evil, forcing me to confront the consequences of uncritical thought and simple, blind acceptance.
In an era shaped by AI and the unrelenting stream of misinformation and deception, critical thinking is an essential tool for survival. As dramatic as it may sound, this degree has altered the trajectory of my life. It has equipped me to question, to analyze and to resist manipulation in a world where truth is often obscured.
Aberdeen, through its dedicated professors and its nuanced curriculum, has transformed my worldview and taught me a very essential lesson: always think.