https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/46131 2026-04-15T18:00:30Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/47503 Title: The necessity of inter-faith diplomacy : the Catholic/Muslim dialogue Abstract: What I have to say today is somewhat personal, but also theological. It is personal since I had had to learn a lot in the past few years about interreligious dialogue. It is also theological, since what I have to say will draw upon important research projects of the Institute for Advanced Catholic Studies at the University of Southern California. I am the president of that Institute. Our fundamental purpose is to support the research of scholars from many disciplines and faith traditions from around the world who wish to deepen their understanding of Catholic intellectual traditions and life. The Institute is, then, committed to ecumenical and interfaith research, dialogue and conversation. Description: The First Sheridan-Campbell Lecture given at the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies Malta, May 20th, 2011 2011-11-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/46452 Title: From regime security to human security : Arab spring and security sector reform Abstract: On 17th June 2011, in response to the Arab Spring events in neighbouring countries, King Mohamed VI of Morocco presented in a speech, reform proposals focusing on constitutional changes. Significantly, in his speech the King insisted that appointments in the military ‘remain an exclusive, sovereign prerogative of the King, Supreme Commander and Chief-of-Staff of the Royal Armed Forces’, while officials in charge of inter alia domestic security agencies will be appointed by him on a proposal of the Head of Government and at the initiative of the ministers concerned. Thus, Morocco’s ruler, who has pursued domestic reforms in the past, and has been hailed for his response to the unrest, stopped short of establishing democratic control of the security sector. This lack of willingness to touch upon the role and powers of the security sector is symptomatic of the regimes of countries in North Africa, that have traditionally relied on the security sector, in particular the military, the police and secret and intelligence services, to shore up their authoritarian or semi-authoritarian rule, and that have focused on regime security rather than human security. 2011-08-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/46377 Title: Human rights and the Arab spring : some preliminary reflections Abstract: The human rights situation on the southern Mediterranean littoral was for the past forty years characterized by paralysis and the received wisdom has been that there could be no change. This aura of stasis was defined by a number of factors including:(i) a perception that human rights were a Western concept, a perception fortified by the presentation of the human rights agenda as ‘foreign interference’ by certain secular and religious authorities; (ii) a suggestion that, in some ways, a number of human rights principles were incompatible with the dominant religion in the region; (iii) seemingly unassailable authoritarian leaders whose power was rooted in control of the military, the power of patronage as well as tacit or explicit support from the USA, the EU or, in the case of certain countries in the Levantine rim of the Mediterranean, Iran; and (iv) a general climate of instability due to the perpetuation of the Israeli- Palestinian conflict and related tensions. 2011-08-01T00:00:00Z https://www.um.edu.mt/library/oar/handle/123456789/46249 Title: Paying tribute to Professor Guido de Marco Abstract: We are gathered here, family de Marco, colleagues and friends, to pay tribute to an outstanding intellectual and political figure: Guido de Marco. ‘A man of purpose”, an ‘international statesman and a perfect gentleman’, wrote Stephen Caleya, ‘a great politician and a true patriot with a futuristic wise vision’ read the telegram of condolence of the Secretary General of the Arab League, Amr Moussa. 2011-07-01T00:00:00Z