SAMATAR AWEYS

MA POLITICAL ECONOMY OF DEVELOPMENT, SOAS UNIVERSITY OF LONDON

Two things have mainly influenced my decision to study a Masters. Firstly, there is my interest in geopolitics and global affairs; I started to write a blog (www.awhitehouseproposal.com) during my final year of undergraduate study about it and really loved the response I received.

The second is frustration in seeing a lack of progress in development of Muslim countries; I believe Mars is to NASA what Africa and the Middle East is to the development sector - significant investment is poured into it but nothing substantial is attained.

Studying how to break this cycle of underdevelopment can both support the Ummah overseas and greatly benefit the diaspora domestically, as the progress of one is intimately linked with the other.