Assessing the impact of ICESCO’s Capitals of Culture Programme

The purpose of the research is two-fold: it is both exploratory and explanatory. The aim of this study is to provide insight into the workings of ICESCO and its Islamic World Culture Capitals programmes. It seeks to assess the role of the programme and its impact on the fields of education, science, and culture. To attain this goal, an analysis of the programme as a whole is needed, delving into the special features of the programme’s projects and activities. This will be achieved by analysing relevant official documents and surrounding literature on previous IWCCs, shedding light on the impact of the programme on the Islamic world. To further guide this analysis, the project will situate the IWCC programmes globally, mapping worldwide activity relating to Capitals of Culture in order to compare the impact of ICESCO’s programmes with similar initiatives launched by UNESCO and other international organizations. This will allow for investigation into interactions and/or overlapping activities and interests. Additionally, interviews will be conducted with ICESCO officials to provide inside perspectives.

Hamad Bin Khalifa University (HBKU)