Professor Mohammed Abd Hassan Al-Amiri, a faculty member at the College of Mass Communication, University of Baghdad, delivered an academic lecture for graduate students on his research titled “The Image of the European Union’s Foreign Policy toward Arab Issues among Employees of the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States: A Survey Study.” The lecture was delivered as part of the requirements for completing his scientific sabbatical in Egypt.
Al-Amiri outlined the study’s main objectives and research framework. The study sought to examine how employees of the League of Arab States’ General Secretariat perceive the European Union’s foreign policy toward Arab issues, identify the sources shaping these perceptions, and explore their implications for the views of professionals working in diplomatic and political fields.
The study adopted a survey methodology and used a census approach to collect data from 60 employees in the International Political Affairs sector at the League’s General Secretariat. Participants represented several departments concerned with regional and international cooperation, Arab-European relations, international organizations, and arms control and disarmament.
The findings showed that direct professional experience, official reports, and institutional interaction were the main sources shaping respondents’ perceptions. This highlights the importance of practical engagement and experience-based information in forming views and attitudes toward international policies.
The study also found that perceptions of the European Union were mixed. Respondents viewed its role more positively in areas of cooperation and development, while their assessments became less favorable when it came to sensitive Arab issues. This points to a gap between perceptions of the EU’s development role and its political positions toward the Arab region.
The lecture forms part of efforts to strengthen academic engagement and exchange research experience with graduate students. It also highlighted the value of survey research in understanding the views of diplomatic and political elites on international issues, contributing to research in media studies, international relations, and foreign policy.
The study aligns with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, by promoting understanding of international policies and relations between regional and international institutions.
