Overseas Debates
The Doha Debates was held for the first time in Asia at St Stephen’s College, one of India’s most prestigious university campuses.
With a strong history of debating, the university was a fitting venue to host the debates and the college’s active debating society was instrumental in ensuring a large audience for the event, which was attended by more than 300 people.
Sachin Pilot, Minister of State for Communications and IT AGAINST
Teesta Setalvad, Civil rights activist FOR
M.J. Akbar, Journalist and author AGAINST
A group of 10 high school and university students from Doha travelled to India to participate in the debate and get a taste of student life in New Delhi. They met various members of the College’s faculty, politicians and prominent Indian journalists and took in a few of the capital’s most famous sights.
MOTION REJECTED by 38% to 62%Broadcast: 20-21 February, 2010
Venue: St. Stephen's College, Delhi
This event was held at Gaston Hall at Georgetown University in Washington DC.
The statements and views expressed in the debate are solely those of the Doha Debates and the film participants. They are neither endorsed by nor represent the views of Georgetown University.
Dore Gold, President, Jerusalem Centre for Public Affairs AGAINST
Avraham Burg, former Speaker of the Israeli Knesset FOR
Alan Dershowitz, Harvard Law Professor AGAINST
Ten students from universities and high schools across Qatar – all with a demonstrated commitment to debating – travelled to Washington to attend the Debate. During their week-long trip, they saw the White House, Washington Monument, Georgetown University, the Pentagon, Camp David, the Capitol and the Lincoln Memorial. They also managed to find time to debate Georgetown students and meet New York Times journalist Thomas Friedman.
- See a photo gallery
Broadcast: April 4th and 5th
Venue: Georgetown University, Washington DC
This event was held at the famous Cambridge Union Debating Society in the UK, marking the second time the Doha Debates have been held outside Qatar.
Raghida Dergham, Senior Diplomatic Correspondent, Al Hayat AGAINST
Baroness Falkner, Liberal Democrat Peer, House of Lords FOR
Sir Malcolm Rifkind, British Foreign Secretary 1995-1997 AGAINST
A group of 15 students from high schools and universities in Doha traveled to the United Kingdom to attend the Debate. They also participated in a range of educational and cultural activities, including debating skills workshops and a tour of Westminster.
MOTION REJECTED by 32% to 68%Broadcast: December 1st and 2nd, 2007
Venue: Cambridge Union Society, Cambridge, UK
This event was held at the world famous Oxford Union debating society in the UK, marking the first time the Doha Debates have been held outside Qatar.
Martin Indyk, Brookings Institution AGAINST
Andrew Cockburn, Full-time writer and lecturer FOR
David Aaronovitch, British journalist, broadcaster and author AGAINST
A group of 15 students and recent graduates from high schools and universities in Doha were selected to travel to the UK to attend the debate and participate in a range of other activities.
They were given the opportunity to learn debating skills from some of the world’s leading debaters, gain an insight into life at the university and meet politicians and other policy makers. A film crew and photographer followed the students from Doha to the UK to document their trip.
MOTION PASSED by 65.6% to 34.4%Broadcast: May 5th and 6th, 2007
Venue: Oxford Union Society, Oxford, UK
