Congratulations to the University of Exeter’s Sofiane Benmoussa and the University of Liverpool’s Mahmoud Bouguermouh for their prize-winning dissertations!
This year’s submissions covered a range of topics and disciplines from students across the UK. After close consideration, the Selection Committee awards first prize to Sofiane’s dissertation, ‘Reinvesting in Diplomacy: Algeria’s Crisis Resolution in the Sahel-Sahara Region, 2012-2022'. The Second prize is awarded to Mahmoud’s dissertation on ‘Developing Celtic FC Business in the MENA Region, through the Understanding of the Local Fandom’.
Selection Committee comments:
Sofiane Benmoussa’s dissertation proposes a highly relevant research question on a topic of importance to Algeria, which also carries relevance to other security questions in the region. It is well articulated and clearly sets out the problem and limitations of existing research even as it seeks to read existing literature through a new lens, foregrounding the perspectives of Algerian actors. The study draws on a wide range of material and offers a good discussion of understanding bias and positionality in research and sources.
The dissertation by Mahmoud Bouguermouh is an interesting and well written piece of research that tests the potential for expanding Celtic FC business into the MENA region and, in particular, represents a growing research area in Algerian Studies. The research design incorporates political, economic, social and cultural dimensions. It draws on high quality data from across the region giving a solid basis for data analysis and drawing wider conclusions.
Launched by the Society for Algerian Studies and the ÐÓ°ÉÂÛ̳ Middle East Centre, this prize is aimed at Master’s students in the UK conducting research on Algeria. It is designed to encourage and celebrate outstanding research focussed on Algeria.
For all enquiries, please contact Kendall Livingston, Projects Manager: k.livingston@lse.ac.uk
| 'Reinvesting in Diplomacy: Algeria’s Crisis Resolution in the Sahel-Sahara Region, 2012-2022'
After obtaining a BA in Political Science from the University of Algiers 3, Sofiane recently graduated from the University of Exeter with an MA in International Relations, and aspires to embark on doctoral studies. His main areas of research include conflict, security and development in the Maghreb and Sahel regions.
| 'Developing Celtic FC Business in the MENA Region, through the Understanding of the Local Fandom'
Mahmoud has an MBA in Football Industries MBA (University of Liverpool) and a master's in Sports Law (Centre de Droit du Sport de Marseille - France). He has spent the last 10 years working in the sports industry including events like Tour de France, Rallye Dakar, Rio and Tokyo Olympic Games, African Cup of Nations 2019 and Celtic Glasgow.