Koert Debeuf, Professor of International Relations at the Free University of Brussels (VUB), has recently released his latest book, Wat je moet weten om het Midden-Oosten te begrijpen. In this work, he provides a clear and concise explanation of the geopolitical and historical forces shaping the region, covering key topics such as the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the rivalry between Iran and Saudi Arabia, and the civil wars in Syria and Yemen.
With the ongoing escalation in Gaza, the growing influence of China and Russia in the region, and the looming threat of a wider war involving Iran, understanding the Middle East has never been more urgent. “Without knowledge of the past, it is impossible to fully grasp the current situation in the Middle East,” Debeuf emphasised in a recent radio interview. He pointed out that the borders drawn by Western powers after the First World War have directly contributed to today’s instability.
His book also explores the impact of foreign intervention and economic dependence. “The battle for oil and gas makes the Middle East a pawn in the hands of global powers,” Debeuf argues. “What happens in this region has direct consequences for energy prices, migration flows, and Europe’s security.”
In addition to his academic work at the VUB and the Brussels School of Governance, Debeuf spent five years living in Cairo, where he witnessed the Arab Spring firsthand. He also travels frequently across the Middle East. These experiences lend his analysis not only sharp insight but also a deeply personal perspective. In a recent interview with De Tijd, he reflected: “War situations like those in Syria are emotionally heavy. The suffering you witness is so immense that you carry it with you. Even as I talk about it, I feel the emotions. It enriches you, yet at the same time, it traumatises you.”
Wat je moet weten om het Midden-Oosten te begrijpen is published by Standaard Uitgeverij and is available in bookshops and online.
The Dutch radio programme Spraakmakers recently interviewed Koert Debeuf about his new book.
Koert Debeuf recently spoke at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) with conflict journalist and honorary doctor Rudi Vranckx about global conflicts and geopolitical tensions.
"Armament Is a Shield to Protect Our Values and Freedoms"
Can you be against violence and in favour of armament? Had you asked a young Rudi Vranckx this question 35 years ago, his answer would have been a resounding no. But after decades of witnessing war and violence firsthand, his perspective has evolved. His knowledge and experience have led him to a different conclusion.
"You must arm yourself. You can't be naïve about this. The real question is: why are you arming? What values and what kind of society are you trying to defend? Armament is a shield to safeguard our values and freedoms—the values of the Enlightenment and humanism. Ironically, those who shout the loudest for armament today are often the ones least concerned with protecting those freedoms."
— VUB Honorary Doctor Rudi Vranckx
In conversation with VUB Professor of World Politics Koert Debeuf, conflict reporter and VUB Honorary Doctor Rudi Vranckx speaks openly about his deep aversion to violence that suppresses freedoms—and about the necessity of armament to protect European values. He reflects on the erosion of democracy and the unsettling reality of the 2020s, an era of turmoil reminiscent of Antonio Gramsci’s description of the late 19th century: "The old world is dying, and the new world struggles to be born: now is the time of monsters."
"What if our allies no longer uphold the same values? Are they still our allies? We will not allow the wealthiest in the world to dictate falsehoods about freedom. We will define freedom for ourselves."
— VUB Honorary Doctor Rudi Vranckx
