The College of Political Science at the University of Baghdad has strengthened its academic presence in international and Arab scholarly forums by publishing two research papers authored by Professor Dr. Ahmed Adnan Al‑Mayali, Associate Dean for Academic and Student Affairs. One study addresses issues of extremism and fundamentalist thought, while the other examines challenges in environmental governance. Together, they reflect the diversity of the College’s research output and its openness to collaboration with academic institutions beyond Iraq.
The first paper, entitled “Intellectual Revisions and Their Impact in Confronting Extremist Fundamentalist Groups,” was published in the Journal of Human Sciences at the University of Algiers III. It emphasizes the importance of intellectual and jurisprudential revisions in countering violent extremism by re‑examining Islamic heritage and critiquing rigid interpretations that have been used to justify violence. Particular emphasis is placed on revisiting fundamentalist traditions and addressing the concept of takfir (excommunication) as a central pillar of extremist ideology.
The second paper, “Environmental Governance in Iran: Existing Obstacles and Available Opportunities,” was published by Khwarizmi University in Tehran. It was presented as part of Professor Al‑Mayali’s participation in a scientific conference representing the University of Baghdad, within the framework of academic cooperation between Iranian universities and the University of Baghdad under a formal memorandum of understanding. The study explores Iran’s environmental challenges in areas such as water resources, air pollution, desertification, waste management, and biodiversity. It also analyzes the state of environmental governance and how economic and institutional constraints affect its effectiveness, with particular attention to Tehran as a case study of environmental and urban crisis. The paper also considers the implications of this crisis for Iraq and the potential strategies for engagement and benefit.
Publishing these two studies in Algerian and Iranian academic institutions underscores the College of Political Science’s growing scholarly presence at the University of Baghdad. It demonstrates the breadth of its researchers’ interests and their contributions to addressing intellectual, political, and environmental issues of regional and international significance. This achievement reinforces the College’s role in the Arab and global research arena and supports pathways of academic cooperation, knowledge exchange, and expertise sharing.
