COFFEE AND
INTERNATIONAL
POLITICS

Power, empire, and a beverage that changed the world.

Date & Time

Wed, Sept 9
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM

Location

Doha, Qatar
Address in confirmation email

Ticket Price

QAR 150
Beverage + food included

About the Talk

The story of coffee is intimately tied to international politics. From its earliest appearance in the highlands of Ethiopia to its travels across the Red Sea to Yemen and then the Hijaz, to Ottoman lands and Europe, to colonial possessions in the Americas and Asia, coffee has been both a driving force and a byproduct of politics within and between nations.

Slave labor made coffee affordable, and wars made it popular. Commerce and international trade made it available to all corners of the world. Today, coffee has become a globalized beverage, with varieties that hardly resemble its genesis or its look and taste in the years past.

In this conversation, Dr. Mehran Kamrava will trace coffee's journey through empires, revolutions, and global trade networks—and what it reveals about power, economics, and the world we live in today.

About the Speaker

Dr. Mehran Kamrava
Professor of Government, Georgetown University Qatar
Director, Iranian Studies Unit, Arab Center for Research & Policy Studies

Dr. Mehran Kamrava is a Professor of Government at Georgetown University in Qatar, with a Ph.D. from Cambridge. His research focuses on the modern political history and contemporary issues of the Middle East. He is the author of numerous books and articles, including works on Iran, the Persian Gulf, and revolutions. His scholarship has shaped how we understand the political forces that have guided the modern world.

Event Agenda

6:00 PM
Doors open — grab your beverage and food, find a seat
6:25 PM
Welcome
6:30 PM
Lecture begins
7:15 PM
Audience Q&A — your chance to dig deeper
7:30 PM
Mingle with the speaker and fellow guests
8:00 PM
Wrap up

Good to Know

Beverage & Food

Your ticket includes any beverage and one food item from the menu.

First-Come, First-Seated

Arriving early is recommended. We keep this small and intimate.

Open Conversation

This is dialogue, not a one-way lecture. Your questions matter.

Small Audience

Capacity is 30 people. Close enough for real conversation.

What to Expect

Informal, engaged, intellectual. Bring curiosity and an open mind.

Questions?

Email qahwatalks@outlook.com or DM @qahwatalks.qa on Instagram.

Ready to Attend?

Fill in your details below to secure your seat.

QAR 150 per person • Limited to 30 seats