The discussion about the science of crisis management, its classification, as well as the concept of strategy and its various dimensions, and the realistic analysis of international relations, along with regional security, is closely linked to the intellectual legacy left to us by Professor Dr. Mustafa Alawi Saif, a professor of international relations at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science at Cairo University, the former dean of the faculty, my instructor during my undergraduate studies, and my supervisor for my master’s and doctoral theses, who passed away at dawn on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Researchers in Egypt and the entire Arab world have lost a scholar whose expertise was recognized by all who sought to understand how to conduct a realistic analysis of states’ security policies.

I won’t elaborate on my late professor’s scientific contributions, whose doctoral thesis was titled “Egypt’s International Behavior During the May – June 1967 Crisis” at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science in 1981. In this thesis, he laid the foundations for the concept of crisis, its classifications, and the influencing factors on decision-makers during crises. This thesis has been a fundamental reference for everyone who has conducted research on crisis management. Additionally, Dr. Alawi supervised the majority of master’s and doctoral theses related to security, defense, and strategic issues at the faculty. He consistently had the maximum number of students assigned to each professor. I remember that in 2009, during my preparation to discuss my doctoral thesis, one of the students approached him to request supervision for his doctoral thesis. He asked the faculty to assign a co-supervisor for my thesis, which was our colleague Dr. Noorhan Al-Sheikh, to provide this student with an opportunity, and it happened.

I won’t prolong the discussion about my professor’s academic achievements, which are well-known, but how he balanced seriousness and decisiveness with human aspects. He was very diligent and precise in encouraging his students to adhere to scientific standards and rigorous research, and he never compromised on that. His aim was primarily for the benefit of the students, but within unique human qualities that included motivation, which I found not only during my master’s and doctoral stages but also thereafter. I remained in constant contact with him to seek his advice on all my steps. In 2014, a committee was formed to discuss one of the master’s theses at the Faculty of Economics, which included my late professor Dr. Alawi, esteemed colleague Dr. Sally Iskander, and myself. I immediately contacted him to thank him for this nomination and told him, “Doctor, it is not right for me to sit with you in the same academic capacity.” He replied, laughing, “No, I insist on your participation because there must be continuity between generations of scholars.”

I was extremely happy, and the challenge was how to speak first according to the faculty’s regulations, which state that the external discussion member speaks first. However, I saw it as a great opportunity to repeat everything I learned under my late professor. During the last time I spoke with him, he asked me about my circumstances, and I told him that things were fine, and I had participated in several conferences and visited 19 countries. He then laughed and mentioned that he had visited 43 countries during his academic career, adding that he said this to motivate me to reach this number and even exceed it.

One day, I asked him who supervised his doctoral thesis. He smiled and said, “Don’t you know?” I replied that I didn’t, and he told me it was Dr. Boutros Boutros-Ghali, the former professor at the Faculty of Economics and the former Secretary-General of the United Nations. At that moment, I understood the meaning of the scientific family and its continuity through different generations. When I wanted to choose a topic for my doctorate and approached him with suggestions about Gulf security, he said to me, “These are subjects that have been extensively written about by those in the Arabian Gulf, so what can you add to your thesis?” He continued with a phrase I will never forget: “Do you want to put Dr. in front of your name only, or do you want to have a foothold among researchers in your field?” I immediately told him the latter, and he said, “Read a lot and come back to me with a new topic.” After a few months, I indeed found an initiative by NATO regarding Gulf security. He supported my suggestion and said it was a topic that would develop my strategic thinking. I asked him, “What if the alliance disintegrates? What value would the thesis have?” He replied, “The Warsaw Pact disintegrated because it was based on an ideology that is susceptible to success and failure. However, NATO is based on interest, and interests do not collapse.” He added, “The importance of the doctoral thesis is determined by two factors: What is its topic? And did the scientific community celebrate it or not?” He advised me to also contact his colleague Dr. Mohamed Al-Saeed Idris at the Center for Political and Strategic Studies at Al-Ahram, saying, “Dr. Mohamed is a colleague and a friend and has experience regarding the Arabian Gulf as well. I have no objection to you obtaining references and opinions from him, along with my supervision and guidance for you.”

These and other important remarks were fundamental for me throughout my study and in writing my published books about the Arabian Gulf. One of his remarks was that the singular interpretation may be comfortable for its proponent, but it is scientifically misleading, emphasizing the necessity of focusing on the environment in which politics operates so that our perceptions are objective, as well as the content and timing of those policies. His last piece of advice to me was that I must publish in English because this is an important path that adds value to the researcher, especially in the field of international relations.

There were many opportunities to meet with Dr. Alawi, including an invitation from the NATO Defense College in Rome for him to give a lecture in 2009. At that time, I was there on a scholarship at the same college, and it was an important opportunity to speak with him and consult him on everything I was doing. It is worth noting that all the Egyptian researchers who received scholarships from that college were supervised by Dr. Alawi for their doctoral theses. In fact, most of the doctoral dissertations related to national security at the college were supervised by Dr. Alawi, may God have mercy on him. He established a school of strategic thinking in security, and all those who studied with him now hold important positions, whether in universities or research centers, in Egypt or other Arab countries.

Even when I wanted to publish my doctoral dissertation on “The Evolution of Gulf Regional Security since 2003: A Study on the Impact of NATO Strategy,” I contacted him and asked about two options. He told me, “If you want to gain financial returns, go with this option. But if you want to be read by the intellectual elite, go with this option.”

I did not only learn from my late professor Alawi in terms of knowledge but also experienced numerous human moments that I rarely find in many people. He was keen on fostering intergenerational communication and motivating researchers towards excellence. We parted ways in body, but his words and advice remain for all students at the College of Economics and beyond. May God have mercy on Dr. Alawi, grant him a place in His vast paradise, and inspire his family, relatives, and students with patience and solace. Indeed, we belong to God, and indeed, to Him we shall return.

Note: This article has been automatically translated.

Source: Akhbar Al Khaleej