Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies
The Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS) is an influential Egyptian think tank that conducts research on regional and international political and security issues. From Iran’s perspective, the center is often viewed as an institution that reflects the Egyptian government’s alignment with Western and Arab Gulf interests, particularly concerning Middle Eastern geopolitics, including Iran’s regional role (Al-Ahram, n.d.). While the center claims to provide objective analysis, Iranian scholars sometimes criticize its stance on issues such as Iran’s nuclear program and its relations with Arab states, perceiving it as biased in favor of U.S. and Saudi-aligned policies (Jahanpour, 2017).
Location
The ACPSS is headquartered in Cairo, Egypt, and operates under the umbrella of Al-Ahram Foundation, one of the oldest and most prominent media institutions in the Arab world (ACPSS, n.d.).
History and Establishment
The ACPSS was established in 1968 as part of Al-Ahram Foundation, with the aim of providing in-depth political and strategic analysis on Middle Eastern affairs (Korany & Dessouki, 2008). The center emerged during a period of significant regional upheaval, including the aftermath of the 1967 Arab-Israeli War, and sought to shape Egypt’s foreign policy discourse.
Founders and Financial Sponsors
The center was founded under the patronage of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser and was later supported by Anwar Sadat’s government (Korany & Dessouki, 2008). While it is primarily funded by the Al-Ahram Foundation, it has also received financial backing from Egyptian government sources and, according to some Iranian analysts, from Gulf Arab states and Western organizations that influence its policy orientations (Jahanpour, 2017).
Website and Contact Information
- Official Website: http://acpss.ahram.org.eg
- Address: Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies, Al-Galaa Street, Cairo, Egypt.
- Email: info@ahram.org.eg (ACPSS, n.d.).
Prominent Research Figures
The ACPSS has hosted several notable scholars who have shaped its research agenda. Key figures include:
- Dr. Abdel Moneim Said: Former director known for his pro-Western and pro-Israeli normalization views, often criticized in Iran for advocating policies aligned with U.S. and Gulf interests (Jahanpour, 2017).
- Dr. Mohamed Kadry Said: A military and security analyst whose work on Middle East conflicts is sometimes viewed in Iran as reflecting an anti-Iranian stance (Ehteshami, 2018).
- Dr. Gamal Abdel Gawad: An expert on Arab-Iranian relations whose analyses are occasionally perceived in Tehran as favoring Arab Gulf narratives over Iranian perspectives (Korany & Dessouki, 2008).
Key Fields of Research Concentration
The ACPSS focuses on:
- Arab-Israeli Conflict: Often emphasizing Egypt’s role in mediation, which Iran sees as marginalizing Palestinian resistance movements (Jahanpour, 2017).
- Regional Security: Including Gulf security dynamics, where the center’s reports frequently highlight Iran as a destabilizing factor (Ehteshami, 2018).
- Political Islam: Analyzed through a securitized lens, with Iranian scholars arguing that the center downplays Western and Israeli influence while exaggerating Iran’s role in regional instability (Korany & Dessouki, 2008).
- Egypt’s Foreign Policy: Often framed in ways that align with Saudi and U.S. interests, leading to criticism from Iranian analysts (Hadian, 2020).
Relations with the Islamic World
- The ACPSS is seen as promoting an Arab-centric and pro-Western viewpoint, often sidelining Iran’s geopolitical interests (Jahanpour, 2017).
- Its close ties with Gulf think tanks (e.g., Emirates Policy Center) reinforce what some Iranian scholars describe as a Sunni-led, anti-Iran narrative (Ehteshami, 2018).
- The center’s support for normalization with Israel under the Abraham Accords has drawn sharp criticism from Iranian policymakers, who view it as undermining regional resistance movements (Hadian, 2020).
Publishing and Significant Reports
The ACPSS publishes:
- Al-Siyassa Al-Dawliya (International Politics): A quarterly journal that frequently discusses Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence in a critical manner (ACPSS, n.d.).
- Annual Arab Strategic Report: Often portrays Iran as a security threat, contrasting with Tehran’s self-perception as a stabilizing force (Jahanpour, 2017).
- Policy Briefs on Gulf Security: These reports are seen in Iran as reinforcing Saudi and Emirati propaganda against Iranian influence (Ehteshami, 2018).
Impacts and Partnerships
- Western and Gulf Funding: Some Iranian analysts argue that the ACPSS’s research is influenced by financial support from U.S. and Gulf-backed institutions, shaping its anti-Iran bias (Hadian, 2020).
- Collaboration with U.S. Think Tanks: Partnerships with groups like the Brookings Institution and RAND Corporation reinforce perceptions in Tehran that the center serves Western strategic interests (Jahanpour, 2017).
- Role in Egyptian Policy: The center’s recommendations often align with Cairo’s foreign policy shifts, including its distancing from Iran and warming relations with Israel (Korany & Dessouki, 2008).
Critique of Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS): Hidden Objectives and Biases
From Iran’s viewpoint, the Al-Ahram Center for Political and Strategic Studies (ACPSS) is often perceived as an institution that promotes Western and Gulf-aligned narratives while marginalizing alternative perspectives, particularly those supportive of Iran’s regional policies. Some Iranian scholars and policymakers have critiqued the center’s work on several fronts, including its alleged hidden agendas, funding influences, and methodological biases.
1. Alleged Pro-Western and Anti-Iran Bias
- Some analysts argue that the ACPSS frequently echoes U.S. and Saudi geopolitical interests, particularly in its portrayal of Iran as a regional destabilizer rather than a legitimate power (Ehteshami, 2018).
- The center’s reports on Iran’s nuclear program and regional influence are seen as disproportionately critical, ignoring Western and Israeli security threats in the Middle East (Jahanpour, 2017).
- Its support for Arab-Israeli normalization (e.g., the Abraham Accords) is viewed in Tehran as undermining Palestinian resistance and serving U.S.-Israeli strategic goals (Hadian, 2020).
2. Suspected Gulf Financial Influence
- The ACPSS is accused of receiving funding from Gulf Arab states, particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE, which allegedly shapes its research priorities (Korany & Dessouki, 2008).
- Some Iranian researchers claim that the center’s Gulf security analyses often justify Saudi-led interventions (e.g., in Yemen) while ignoring their humanitarian consequences (Ehteshami, 2018).
- The lack of transparency in funding sources raises concerns in Iran about intellectual independence (Jahanpour, 2017).
3. Marginalization of Resistance Axis Perspectives
- The center’s research on Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Axis of Resistance is frequently framed through a securitized lens, portraying these groups as threats rather than legitimate political actors (Hadian, 2020).
- Some Iranian scholars argue that the ACPSS downplays U.S. and Israeli military aggression while exaggerating Iran’s regional activities (Jahanpour, 2017).
- Its conferences and publications rarely include pro-Iranian or pro-Resistance scholars, leading to accusations of academic exclusion (Ehteshami, 2018).
4. Role in Shaping Egyptian Foreign Policy Against Iran
- The ACPSS has been criticized for reinforcing Egypt’s distancing from Iran, particularly under President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi (Hadian, 2020).
- Its policy recommendations often align with anti-Iranian Gulf policies, including support for isolating Syria and opposing Iranian influence in Iraq and Lebanon (Korany & Dessouki, 2008).
- Some analysts suggest that the center functions as a soft power tool to legitimize Egypt’s alignment with U.S.-backed regional orders (Jahanpour, 2017).
Conclusion: A Tool for Western-Gulf Hegemony?
From some Iranian perspective, the ACPSS operates as an extension of U.S.-Gulf influence in Egyptian academia, promoting narratives that delegitimize Iran and the Axis of Resistance. While the center presents itself as an independent think tank, some critiques highlight its financial dependencies, selective research focus, and exclusion of alternative viewpoints as evidence of a hidden agenda serving hegemonic interests in the Middle East.