DAAD exchange program for researchers
October 20th, 2011
Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs, sends the following announcement:
Bilateral Exchange of Academics Research Stays (1 – 3 months)
Deadline: 31.10.2012
This exchange program is primarily intended to support the
implementation of mutual teaching and research projects
Requirements:
1. Application form
2. Complete list of publication
3. Recent curriculum vitae
4. Endorsement Letter
5. Invitation letter from a German professor
6. Detailed and well defined proposal
For more details please refer to the following URL:
http://cairo.daad.de/en/
Or call us on 02-27384127/ 2 2735 27 26
various academic opportunities
October 2nd, 2011
Brought to you by Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs…
***
EURAMES Info Service 28/11
Dear Madame, dear Sir, dear colleague and friend,
Please find below the following announcements:
1. International Workshop: "Traditions of Martyrdom in the Modern Middle East", Zentrum fuer Literatur- und Kulturforschung, Berlin, 14-15 October 2011
2. Colloque international «1860. Histoires et mémoires d’un conflit», Beyrouth, 5-7 octobre 2011
3. Colloque international «Public Controversies Around Islam in Europe», Paris, 13-15 octobre 2011
4. Colloque international «Une mobilisation algérienne : Nanterre et le 17 octobre 1961», Nanterre, 14-15 octobre 2011
5. Table ronde «Dégage ! On tourne ! Images cinématographiques et révolutions arabes», Paris, 27 octobre 2011
6. Colloque «Les fondations pieuses waqfs-habous chez les chrétiens et les juifs en terre d’islam», Paris, 3-4 novembre 2011
7. Colloque International «Patrimoine, tourisme et développement. Les enjeux du patrimoine comme ressource identitaire, touristique et économique en Tunisie», Sousse, 1-2 novembre 2011
8. The 2011 Palestine Center Annual Conference: "A Turning Point: For Palestine and the Region", Washington DC, 4 November 2011
9. Colloque Internation «Laïcités en sociétés majoritairement musulmanes et musulmans en contextes laics. Débats, expériences et confrontations (XIXe-XXe siècle) », Université du Maine, Le Mans, 13-14 janvier 2012
10. Colloque Association française des sciences sociales des religions-AFSR, "Justice, religion, reconciliation", Paris (EHESS),
6-7 février 2012
11. 16th Annual Graduate Symposium: "Near and Middle Eastern Studies in the Midst of Revolution", University of Toronto, March 5-6, 2012
12. Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Arabian Chronicles on "Cities and Urban Developments in the Contemporary Arabian Peninsula"
Best regards,
Guenter Meyer
Centre for Research on the Arab World (CERAW), University of Mainz,
www.ceraw.uni-mainz.de
__________________
1. International Workshop: "Traditions of Martyrdom in the Modern Middle East", Zentrum fuer Literatur- und Kulturforschung, Berlin, 14 - 15 October 2011
The workshop is organized by Sasha Dehghani and Silvia Horsch. For information on the program see
http://www.zfl-berlin.org/
__________________
2. Colloque international «1860. Histoires et mémoires d’un conflit», Beyrouth, 5-7 octobre 2011
Organisé par Université de Paris I-Sorbonne – Cemaf, Université Saint-Joseph (Beyrouth), Université de Balamand, Institut français du Proche-Orient, Lebanon Renaissance Foundation, Druze Heritage Foundation. Cf. http://www.ifporient.org/node/
_________________
3. Colloque international «Public Controversies Around Islam in Europe», Paris, 13-15 octobre 2011
Organisé par Nilüfer Göle. Cf. http://europublicislam.ehess.
________________
4. Colloque international : «Une mobilisation algérienne : Nanterre et le 17 octobre 1961», Nanterre, 14-15 octobre 2011
Colloque organisé par la mairie de Nanterre, la BDIC, l'Université Paris Ouest Nanterre la Défense, l'association les Oranges et le MRAP Inscription par mail (colloque17octobre-
______________
5. Table ronde «Dégage ! On tourne ! Images cinématographiques et révolutions arabes », Paris, 27 octobre 2011
Rencontre internationale organisée par Agnès Devictor (Paris 1), Sabrina Mervin (CNRS-CEIFR) et Jean-Claude Penrad (EHESS). Cf. Programme http://lodel.ehess.fr/iismm/
___________
6. Colloque «Les fondations pieuses waqfs-habous chez les chrétiens et les juifs en terre d’islam», Paris, 3-4 novembre 2011
Colloque organisé par Sabine Saliba, Randi Deguilhem et Bernard Heyberger. L’IISMM avec la participation du Campus Condorcet, IREMAM, CNRS et l’EPHE. Cf. programme
http://actualites.ehess.fr/
____________
7. Colloque International «Patrimoine, tourisme et développement. Les enjeux du patrimoine comme ressource identitaire, touristique et économique en Tunisie», Sousse, 1-2 novembre 2011
L’Association RehabiMed a le plaisir de vous informer de l’organisation du Colloque International dans le cadre du projet Montada financé par l’Union Européenne. Pour plus d’information et programme : http://www.montada-forum.net/
_________________
8. The 2011 Palestine Center Annual Conference: "A Turning Point: For Palestine and the Region", Washington DC, 4 November 2011
For further information on the program and registration see http://www.thejerusalemfund.
_____________
9. Colloque Internation "Laïcités en sociétés majoritairement musulmanes et musulmans en contextes laics. Débats, expériences et confrontations (XIXe-XXe siècle)", Université du Maine, Le Mans, 13-14 janvier 2012
Les propositions de communications doivent être adressées avant le 15 octobre 2011, en 2000 signes maximum, accompagnées d’un bref cv, à l’adresse suivante : colloque.laicites@gmail.com
____________
10. Colloque Association française des sciences sociales des religions-AFSR, "Justice, religion, reconciliation", Paris (EHESS), 6-7 février 2012
Le Colloque bénéficie du partenariat et du soutien du Groupe de sociologie politique et morale (GSPM-EHESS), de l'Institut des
sciences sociales du politique (ISP), de l’Institut d’études de l’islam et des sociétés du monde musulman (IISMM) et du Centre Jacques Berque (CJB). Les propositions – incluant les titres et les résumés (environ 300 mots) – sont à envoyer avant le 15 octobre 2011 aux trois organisateurs du colloque Yazid Ben Hounet : yazid_benhounet@yahoo.fr, Sandrine Lefranc : sandrinelefranc@mac.com; Deborah Puccio-Den : Deborah.Puccio-Den@ehess.fr
__________________
11. 16th Annual Graduate Symposium: "Near and Middle Eastern Studies in the Midst of Revolution", University of Toronto, March 5-6, 2012
By annually bringing together specialists in archaeology, history (both modern and ancient), anthropology, comparative literature,
religion, philosophy, art, and political science, the symposium provides a unique opportunity for interdisciplinary discourse focused on the study of the Near and Middle East. While we encourage submissions that are related to the recent Arab Spring movements, we are nevertheless open to any variety of topics that pertain to the realm of Near and Middle Eastern Studies. We are also open to reviewing unorthodox proposals.
Presenters are asked to submit an abstract of 250 words by e-mail attachment no later than January 9, 2012. Please send us your submissions via the following e-mail address: nmcgsasymposium@gmail.com
___________
12. Call for Papers for a Special Issue of Arabian Chronicles on "Cities and Urban Developments in the Contemporary Arabian Peninsula"
The proposed special issue is aimed at gathering contributions that are based on detailed fieldwork investigation and can therefore show the complexity underpinning the organization of Arabian cities. It seeks to shed light on the urbanisation processes and urban policies and planning, social practices and territorial reconfigurations. We would welcome contributions investigating the role of the different actors shaping and experiencing the 'city' in the Arabian Peninsula, whether public or private institutions and decision makers on the one hand, or town dwellers of various nationalities, professional and social backgrounds on the other hand.
This special issue clearly lies at the junction between several academic disciplines, including geography, urban studies, sociology, political science, anthropology, history and possibly others. Article proposals can belong to any one (or more) of these disciplines.
Editors: Claire Beaugrand, CNRS-IFPO; Amélie Le Renard, CNRS; Roman Stadnicki, CEDEJ (Cairo)
Deadline for the submission of proposals 31 Dec 2011; submission of articles 30 Sept. 2012. Further information
http://calenda.revues.org/
Singapore conference on the Arab uprisings
September 23rd, 2011
A 500-word abstract and c.v. are due by December 20, 2011 for a conference to be held on May 24-25, 2012. This item was forwarded to the Bulletin by Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs.
*******
The Arab Uprisings One Year Later: Examining the Possibilities and Risks
Conference by the Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore
May 24-25, 2012
www.mei.nus.edu.sg/events/
On December 17, 2010 the dramatic self-immolation of a frustrated Tunisian, Mohammed Bouazizi, set in motion a series of uprisings that radically altered the political, economic, and social landscapes of the Middle East and North Africa. This "Arab Awakening" spread with an intensity and import few could have predicted, resulting in the overthrow of some long-standing autocrats and attempts at deeper entrenchment on the part of others. Citizens also exhibited astonishing levels of persistence and coordination in the face of
grave threats to their lives and livelihoods, while the international community demonstrated varying degrees of engagement and apprehension.
As the fog of the present parts to give us a clearer view of the recent past, observers are gaining ever-widening perspectives on the causes and consequences of these stirring events.
On May 24-25, 2012, the Middle East Institute at the National University of Singapore will bring together leading experts as well as rising scholars for a two-day conference that will explore and expand upon current debates over the origins, dynamics, and future of the uprisings from a wide range of perspectives. Specifically, the first day of the conference will tackle questions regarding the various factors that help to explain the emergence of these events, the role of media and social networks in their proliferation, and the functions and responses of diverse people, institutions, and ideologies. The second day will examine the cross-national implications, present in-depth case studies of the most affected countries, and explore the multitude of repercussions on the global system. That day will conclude with speculations on the future of the Arab Uprisings and the accompanying regional changes that this new era is likely to witness.
Submission Guidelines:
We invite submissions that directly address the issues described in the proposed panels below or that analyze other relevant themes. We welcome papers from diverse disciplines, reflecting various methodologies, but all should be written for a general academic audience rather than for a specific discipline. Researchers from Asia and the Middle East are especially encouraged to apply.
MEI will provide economy airfare plus the three nights' accommodation for those whose papers are accepted to present at the conference. The authors of papers selected for publication in a conference volume will receive an additional honorarium of SGD$1000 (approx. $830 USD).
Interested contributors should submit a 500-word abstract and a CV by Dec. 20, 2011. Please visit www.mei.nus.edu.sg/events/
information.
Proposed Panels and Topics:
Explanations: Economic, Social, Cultural and Religious factors
Suggested topics: Economic policies and conditions; Opportunity gaps (employment, education, housing, etc.); Socio-cultural conditions; Historical factors; Demographic, religious, or ideological dynamics; Corruption, security, and political entrenchment; Other possible contributing factors.
Network Effects: Media and Social Communication
Suggested Topics: Information technology, media use or media coverage; Social networks and social movements; Civil society, informal politics, and counter-culture
Protest Dynamics: Actors, Discourses, and Conceptualization
Suggested Topics: The role of the military and elites; Comparative regime responses; Chain reactions and spillover effects; Conceptualizing the uprisings; Discourses of protest (democracy, Palestine, Islamism, anti-imperialism, artistic expressions); Protester demographics: women, youth, and other groups.
Case Studies
Suggested Topics: Case studies of any country in the region impacted by the uprisings, including those which have experienced significant political change, those where further change is likely to occur, or others who have resisted it and why.
Cross-national Perspectives and Reciprocal Relations
Suggested Topics: Comparing Middle Eastern and Asian Models; Asia and the Arab Uprisings: Two-Way Effects; Effects on the non-Arab Middle East
Implications for the Regional and Global System
Suggested Topics: The "Awakening" and transnational terrorism; China and the awakening Arab world; Washington's ambivalent perspective; The US-Israel strategic design challenged; Saudi Arabia and the "counter-revolution"?; Shifting world powers and regional realignments
The Future of the Arab Uprisings
Suggested Topics: Strategies for political reform and reconstruction; The end of imperialism or a new guise?; An Arab world: leaping forward or falling back?; Prospects for democratization
October 1 deadline to apply for Fellowships at Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars
September 19th, 2011
Click HERE for details. Online applications are possible. Fellows receive generous stipends and spend a year in Washington. ("A book or monograph is required for most academic applicants.") The Fellowship period begins in September 2012.
This is brought to my attention by Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs.
more conference and other opportunities
September 17th, 2011
This list has been forwarded to the Bulletin by Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs.
***
EURAMES Info Service 26/11
Dear Madame, dear Sir, dear colleague and friend,
Please find below the following announcements:
1. Position: Junior Research Fellow in Research Project on Middle East
Monarchies, GIGA, Hamburg
2. Positions: Editor, Associate Editor and Reviews Editor of the
British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies
3. Zahid Ali Scholarship, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
4. Dissertation Writing Scholarship, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
5. Conference: “Coercion or Empowerment? Official Anti-Veiling
Campaigns in the Middle East and Central Asia”, St. Antony’s College,
Oxford, Sept 23, 2011
6. Conference: “Border and Border-Crossing – New Perspectives on the
Horn of Africa“, Berlin, 30 September – 1 October 2011
7. International Conference: „Media, Youth Subcultures and the
Politics of Resistance in the Arab World”, Arab Media Centre,
University of Westminster, London, 20 April 2012
8. BRISMES Annual Conference: “Revolution and Revolt: Understanding
the Forms and Causes of Change”, London, LSE, 26-28 March 2012
9. Panel on “Religiously-Oriented Parties and Democratization”
(Session ”Religion and Politics”), IPSA Conference, Madrid, 8-12
July 2012
10. Swiss FDFA Conference “Uprisings in the Arab World”. Bern,
Switzerland, 18 October 2011
11. Eighth Beirut Exchange, 4 – 18 January 2012, Beirut
12. Symposium: “Fasting and Beyond: Ramadan as a Multidimentional
Phenomenon”, Umraniye Municipality, Istanbul, 13-15 July 2012
13. The 3rd Media Arabic Webclass (Winter Term 2011/12): “Dive into
al-Jazeera and Co.”, Munich
Best regards,
Guenter Meyer
Centre for Research on the Arab World (CERAW), University of Mainz,
www.ceraw.uni-mainz.de
__________________
1. Position: Junior Research Fellow in Research Project on Middle East
Monarchies, GIGA, Hamburg
The GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies is seeking to
recruit a Junior Research Fellow, starting on 1 January 2012 or later,
for a research project funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. It is
a 50% position, limited to two years (salary scale 13 TV-AVH
/TVöD/50%). Graduate of Political Science, and/or Islamic Studies,
and/or History (Ref.-No. GIGA-11-06)
Main research tasks: – Collaboration in the research project “Middle
East Monarchies: A Configurational Comparison of Breakdown and
Survival since 1945”, funded by the Fritz Thyssen Foundation. The
research project will contribute to the GIGA Research Programme 1
(Research Team: Persistence and Change in Non-Democratic Regimes).
- Classification and interpretation of secondary literature in
English, French and Arabic; Writing of reports on countries and
historical periods in regard to previously specified criteria;
Configurational comparisons. – Applicants without a PhD will be given
the opportunity to pursue dissertation research in a project related
topic.
Qualification profile: – University Degree (at least Master, Diploma
or PhD) in Political Science, and/or Islamic Studies, and/or History.
- – Knowledge of historical and contemporary developments of political
systems in the Middle East. – - Expertise in comparative methods, in
particular comparative case studies or QCA. – - Fluent expertise of
English, good knowledge of Arabic and/or French; a working knowledge
of German is preferable, but not absolutely necessary.
For further information on the project and the position advertised
please contact André Bank (bank@giga-hamburg.de, Tel.: +49 (0)40 42825
-584) or Dr. Thomas Richter (richter@giga-hamburg.de, Tel.: +49 (0)40
42825-528). For further information on projects and research topics of
GIGA www.giga-hamburg.de.
Please address your application with significant documents (cover
letter, CV, credentials, references, publication list) and up to two
publications to gohlke@giga-hamburg.de. The selection process starts
October 21, 2011.
_________________
2. Positions: Editor, Associate Editor and Reviews Editor of the
British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies
The British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies is one of the most
prestigious and best-known Journals dealing with the Middle East in
the UK. It has an international subscription and reputation with
contributors drawn from all over the world. The Journal is
particularly proud of its extensive Reviews section. As we state on
the inside cover of the Journal, “the editors aim to maintain a
balance in the journal’s coverage between the modern social sciences
and the more traditional disciplines associated with Middle Eastern
and Islamic Studies. They welcome scholarly contributions on all
aspects of the Middle East from the end of classical antiquity and the
rise of Islam to the present day”. The Journal is run by a team of a
main Editor, four Associate Editors and a Reviews Editor who all
report to the Council of the British Society for Middle Eastern
Studies (BRISMES, www.brismes.ac.uk). It is published by Taylor and
Francis.
If you are interested in applying for any of the above positions,
please contact the BRISMES Administrative Office (Tel: 0191 33 45179,
a.l.haysey@dur.ac.uk) for further information before 14th October
2011.
________________
3. Zahid Ali Scholarship, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to invite applications for
the Zahid Ali Scholarship in honour of the late Professor Zahid ‘Ali
(1888-1958). The Zahid Ali Scholarship, in the amount of £5000, is
awarded once every five years to a scholar working in the field of
Classical Arabic Thought who intends to use the award to carry-out
research with a focus on Shi’i and/or Ismaili Studies.
Closing date: 21 October 2011. Please forward your application, with
full CV and research proposal, to Dr. Farhad Daftary, email:
darp@iis.ac.uk.
The Institute of Ismaili Studies has the object of promoting
scholarship and learning on Islam, and a better understanding of its
relationship with other societies and faiths. For more information,
visit our website at www.iis.ac.uk.
__________________
4. Dissertation Writing Scholarship, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, London
The Institute of Ismaili Studies is pleased to announce a Dissertation
Writing Scholarship for PhD students in the field of Islamic Studies.
The scholarship, which carries a stipend of £3000 or local equivalent,
has been established to assist promising graduate students and
doctoral candidates to complete their research, fieldwork or
dissertation. While the Institute will consider applications regarding
any area of Islamic studies, preference will be given to those
specialising in Shi’i and Ismaili studies.
Applications should be forwarded by post to the address mentioned
below with the following documentation: -doctoral research proposal of
maximum 2000 words; -letter of standing from applicant’s principal
academic supervisor; -two other academic references; -applicant’s
current CV. Deadline: 21 October 2011
Dissertation Writing Scholarship, Department of Academic Research and
Publications The Institute of Ismaili Studies 210 Euston Road London
NW1 2DA UK, Email: darp@iis.ac.uk
________________
5. Conference: “Coercion or Empowerment? Official Anti-Veiling
Campaigns in the Middle East and Central Asia”, St. Antony’s College,
Oxford, Sept 23, 2011
Convened by Dr Stephanie Cronin, Faculty of Oriental Studies, Oxford;
supported by the Iran Heritage Foundation and the Faculty of Oriental
Studies, Oxford. For information on the program and registration
please contact Dr Stephanie Cronin <stephanie.cronin@orinst.ox.ac.uk>
_________________
6. Conference: “Border and Border-Crossing – New Perspectives on the
Horn of Africa“, Berlin, 30 September – 1 October 2011
This year’s annual conference of the “Academic Research Association
Horn of Africa” deals with concepts of borders in the broader sense.
Accordingly, the organizers consider borders as manifestations of
human imagination. Likewise, political, economic and socio-cultural
processes are constantly creating borders. Those kinds of borders are
producing mindsets and behavioral patterns, consolidate resources and,
thus, create perceptions of the self and others as well as related
affiliations. New and renewed border constructs within and among
social groups, as well as the accompanied processes of inclusion and
exclusion, are continuously affecting both individual and collective
self-conceptions. Though, the existence of borders may educe
transitions out of it or even stipulate border-crossings. These
phenomena reveal the multi-facetted scope of action and the
opportunities of negotiations of the relevant actors in this specific
context,
For the detailed program please refer to www.hornvonafrikaev.de. For
conference registration please contact Julian Tadesse
(wakhva@hornvonafrikaev.de).
__________________
7. International Conference: „Media, Youth Subcultures and the
Politics of Resistance in the Arab World”, Arab Media Centre,
University of Westminster, London, 20 April 2012
Papers are invited that explore youth subcultures in the Arab context,
relating them to specific historical, economic, cultural and political
moments. The deadline for abstracts is October 10, 2011. Further
information http://bit.ly/media-youth-arab-world
_________________
8. BRISMES Annual Conference: “Revolution and Revolt: Understanding
the Forms and Causes of Change”, London, LSE, 26-28 March 2012
The Middle East Centre at LSE will host the British Society for Middle
Eastern Studies (BRISMES) annual conference. The conference will be
held in association with the European Association for Middle Eastern
Studies and the Asian Federation of Middle East Associations.
The unprecedented uprisings in the Middle East over the past year have
drawn comparisons with a wide scope of revolts from the French
Revolution to the fall of the Berlin Wall. This conference seeks to
place the focus on a multi-disciplinary consideration of the local and
regional sources and forces which have fuelled the uprisings, as well
as the narratives of the events. In addition to an emphasis on
dynamics within and interpretations of the uprisings, presenters are
encouraged to reflect on what the events may mean for the study of the
region.
The conference will also highlight the areas of research undertaken by
the BRISMES research networks: ■Clerical Authority in Shiite Islam
■Critical Middle East Studies ■Faith, Politics and Society
■Liberation, Domination and Expression ■Resistance, Representation and
Identity
As in previous BRISMES conferences, panels on topics not covered by
the overall theme or the research networks maybe also be proposed.
Individual papers, however, will not be accepted unless they are
relevant to the overall theme, relevant to the research network
sessions, or integral to a panel proposed on the topic. Non-presenting
conference participants are warmly welcomed.
Deadline for panel and paper proposals: 18 November 2011 Notification
of successful panels and papers: 16 December 2011 Deadline for
registration: 10 February 2012. Deadline for submitting papers: 24
February 2012
Further Information www2.lse.ac.uk/middleEastCentre/events/2012/BRISMES2012.aspx
________________
9. Panel on “Religiously-Oriented Parties and Democratization”
(Session ”Religion and Politics”), IPSA Conference, Madrid, 8-12
July 2012
Convenors: Luca Ozzano (University of Turin) and Francesco Cavatorta
(Dublin City University)
This panel aims at taking into account the impact of
religiously-oriented parties on democratization in the contemporary
world, by analyzing both the role they played in the development of
democracy in regions such as Western Europe and Latin America, and
their possible influence on the democratization processes taking
place in the MENA region and in other parts of the world. Both single
case studies and comparative works are welcome. The main objective of
the panel is to provide the basis for comparisons across regional
cases.
It is planned to publish the best papers in a special issue of an
International Journal and/or an edited Book. Deadline: October 17,
2011
IPSA website: http://www.ipsa.org/my-ipsa/events/madrid2012/panel/religiously-oriented-parties-and-democratization
Instructions and link for online submissions:
http://www.ipsa.org/events/congress/madrid2012/submit-abstractpaper-proposal
/madrid2012/submit-abstractpaper-proposal
________________
10. Swiss FDFA Conference “Uprisings in the Arab World”. Bern,
Switzerland, 18 October 2011
Every year, the Political Affairs Division IV (Human Security) of the
Swiss Federal Department of Foreign Affairs organizes a conference
dedicated to various aspects of human security. The 2011 edition of
the conference, which will be hosted by the Swiss President Micheline
Calmy-Rey.
Structured around presentations and thematic roundtables, the
conference will stimulate reflection and allow the free exchange of
opinions on the ongoing changes sweeping through the Middle-East and
North Africa region. We will also be honored by the presence of Dr.
Nawal El Saadawi who will be delivering the keynote adress after the
president’s speech. Additionally, two “testimonies sessions” by 6
young activists from the most affected countries (Bahrain, Egypt,
Libya, Syria, Tunisia, Yemen) will allow these young activists who
have been actors of the changes their respective countries are
undergoing, share with us their hopes and fears, their perspectives
and their experiences.
The Swiss President, influential personalities, academics, diplomats,
government officials, civil-society activists, bloggers, students,
journalists, politicians and businessmen and women from Switzerland
and the Arab World will be among the five to six hundred persons
expected to attend the event.
The FDFA’s PDIV Annual Conference is a public event, and is free of
charge. Subscription is however required via our webpage. The
conference will be held in German, French and English. Simultaneous
translation will be provided from and to these languages as well as in
Arabic. E-Mail pa4-jahreskonferenz@eda.admin.ch. Webseite
http://www.eda.admin.ch/eda/en/home/dfa/...
_______________
11. Eighth Beirut Exchange, 4 – 18 January 2012, Beirut
The Exchange is an effort by Mideastwire.com and its partners to
promote engagement and understanding through a variety of
city-focused, student conferences in and around the Middle East. The
two-week program will engage students from around the world in a
multifaceted discussion of some of the key issues facing the region.
The Beirut Exchange program rests on three tracks:
Academic – Participants will attend a series of lectures and colloquia
led by leading academics and public intellectuals. Topics will
include: The Arab Uprisings; The Special Tribunal for Lebanon; The
United Nations as peacekeeper and mediator; Engaging political Islam;
Pax Syriana in Lebanon; Asymmetrical conflict: the July 2006 Lebanon
war; Human Rights in the Middle East and other topics.
Language – Participants will have the option of attending
approximately 20 hours of Arabic language instruction at the Saifi
Arabic Institute for Arabic Language in Beirut. Modules for both
colloquial and formal Arabic will be available at different levels.
Dialogue with Leaders – Participants will have the opportunity to
meet, listen and engage social, political and economic leaders from
across the spectrum in Lebanon – with a particular (though not
exclusive) emphasis on exposure to leading Islamist and opposition
currents
Application deadline November 15, 2011. Further information visit
http://thebeirutexchange.com/. Request an application via
info@mideastwire.com
________________
12. Symposium: “Fasting and Beyond: Ramadan as a Multidimentional
Phenomenon”, Umraniye Municipality, Istanbul, 13-15 July 2012
The objectives of the symposium are: to evaluate Ramadan as a modern
social practice flourishing through the experiences of different
cultures; to portray how Ramadan works as a social network; to make a
critical analysis of the ways in which Ramadan is being Orientalized
through its historicization and exclusion from daily life; to
comparatively explore the experience of fasting with the practices in
different religions; to examine the visual, auditory and textual
representations of Ramadan as a scientific phenomenon from the
perspectives of different disciplines; to study the political,
psychological, and spiritual impacts of Ramadan on different social
classes and groups; to question Ramadan’s effect on identity formation
of individuals; to distinguish constants and variables by means of
comparing the Ramadan experiences of traditional and modern Islamic
communities; and to compare the perspectives of different disciplines
on the meanings of fasting.
We welcome articles or proposals in Turkish and/or English from all
perspectives and on all subjects in social sciences, humanities and
theology.
Abstracts Deadline: 15th October 2011. Please submit your abstracts
and address all inquiries to info@ramadansymposium.com. Website:
www.ramadansymposium.com
________________
13. The 3rd Media Arabic Webclass (Winter Term 2011/12): “Dive into
al-Jazeera and Co.”, Munich
The Munich Institute of Near and Middle Eastern Studies offers an
intensive course to meet the needs of PhD students, scholars,
diplomats, lawyers, etc. with a sound theoretical knowledge of
Standard Arabic, but no time to follow conventional language training.
In this webclass, we will improve your listening comprehension of
films and TV shows.
Further information and registration:
http://www.naher-osten.uni-muenchen.de/studium_lehre/weiterbildung/maw/index.html.
Registration is open until 25 September, 2011.
various fellowship and conference opportunities
September 6th, 2011
The following list of opportunities was forwarded to me by Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs.
***
EURAMES Info Service 25/11
Dear Madame, dear Sir, dear colleague and friend,
Please find below the following announcements:
1. Research Fellowship on the History of Islamic Religions, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
2. Position: Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art and Architecture, Aga Khan Program of the Fine Arts Library, Harvard
Library
3. Conference:“The Iran-Iraq War: The View from Baghdad”, Washington, DC, 25-27 October 2011
4. Conference: “Cinema in Iran: Circulation, Censorship and Cultural Production”, Berlin, 16-18 December 2011
5. International Research Conference: “Micro-Level Analysis of Well-Being in Central Asia”, Berlin, 10-11 May 2012
6. Sessions on “Rethinking Cultures and Identities in the Medieval Mediterranean I-II” at the International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo MI, USA, 10-13 May 2012
7. 5th Annual International Conference on Mediterranean Studies, 4-7 April 2012, Athens, Greece
8. Islamic Seals Database, Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
Best regards,
Guenter Meyer
Centre for Research on the Arab World (CERAW), University of Mainz,
www.ceraw.uni-mainz.de
__________________
1. Research Fellowship on the History of Islamic Religions, Ruhr University Bochum, Germany
The Kaete Hamburger Kolleg “Dynamics in the History of Religions between Asia and Europe” at the Ruhr University Bochum, Germany, invites applications for a research fellowship in the academic year 2012 on “The history of Islamic religions under the conditions of religious contact in Early Modern and Modern Times”.
The invitation primarily addresses experienced researchers, but young academics are also encouraged to apply. Candidates must at least hold a PhD degree and are expected to stay in Bochum over the course of the fellowship. The working language of the collegium is English. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2011.
Further information
http://www.khk.ceres.rub.de/en/service_en/call-for-applications_2012/
.__________________
2. Position: Visual Resources Librarian for Islamic Art and Architecture, Aga Khan Program of the Fine Arts Library, Harvard
Library
Reporting to the Public Services Librarian, this position is responsible for research support, collaboration, and outreach for visual materials in the field of Islamic art and architecture to faculty, students, and researchers.
Qualifications:
-Master’s degree in library and/or information science or equivalent experience
-Advanced degree at the master’s level or higher in the history of art and architecture related to the study of the Islamic world, or the equivalent combination of education, experience and/or background etc.
-3-5 years related professional library experience required
-Knowledge of at least one Middle Eastern language (Arabic, Persian, Turkish)
Full job description
https://sjobs.brassring.com/1033/asp/tg/cim_jobdetail.asp?jobId=821729&PartnerId=25240&SiteId=5341&type=mail&JobReqLang=1&recordstart=1&JobSiteId=5341&JobSiteInfo=821729_5341&gqid=0
__________________
3. Conference:“The Iran-Iraq War: The View from Baghdad”, Washington,
DC, 25-27 October 2011
Defense University’s Conflict Records Research Center and the Wilson Center’s Cold War International History Project are organizing this meeting. The conference will be centered on newly available documentary evidence from Iraqi archives stored digitally at the CRRC and available to researchers at NDU. These new materials, including high-level Iraqi government documents and recorded conversations between Saddam Hussein and his top deputies shed new light on the origins of the conflict, its global and regional Cold War context, the decision-making process of Iraq’s leadership, and a wide variety of
other topics
Further information coldwar@wilsoncenter.org; www.cwihp.org; www.ndu.edu.
_________________
4. Conference: “Cinema in Iran: Circulation, Censorship and Cultural Production”, Berlin, 16-18 December 2011
Hosted by the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, with the Free University of Berlin, Institute for Film Studies, and George Washington University. Iran is undergoing a period of socio-political transformation joined to a cultural space that despite binding censorship regulations, circumnavigates restrictive bans and, in the world of film, generates award winning, critically acclaimed masterpieces. In the course of this two and a half day workshop, participants will investigate cinema in Iran as part of Iran’s rich media and cultural ecology:
CFP deadline was August 31, 2011. Further information irancinema@asc.upenn.edu.
_______________
5. International Research Conference: “Micro-Level Analysis of Well-Being in Central Asia”, Berlin, 10-11 May 2012
The German Institute for Economic Research (DIW Berlin) invites submissions for this international research conference. The
transition from a planned to a market economy has had dramatic consequences in all post-Soviet republics but especially so in Central Asia. Twenty years after the collapse of the Soviet Union, we wish to examine the well-being of individuals and households in these countries.
We aim at bringing together researchers from several disciplines, especially economics, sociology, geography, and anthropology, in this conference. We do not impose any specific definition of well-being but welcome papers using different concepts.
The submission deadline is 30 September 2011. For further information contact centralasia@diw.de and indicate “Central Asia 2012″ in the subject.
______________
6. Sessions on “Rethinking Cultures and Identities in the Medieval Mediterranean I-II” at the 47th International Congress on Medieval Studies, Kalamazoo MI, USA, 10-13 May 2012
The Congress is organized by the Medieval Institute, Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo. For further information see
http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/congress/sessions.html
Call for papers:
http://www.wmich.edu/medieval/Assets/pdf/congress/CallForPapers2012.pdf
______________
7. 5th Annual International Conference on Mediterranean Studies, 4-7 April 2012, Athens, Greece
The conference website is: www.atiner.gr/mediterranean.htm. Please submit an abstract (using email only to: atiner@atiner.gr) using the abstract submission form available at
http://www.atiner.gr/docs/2012FORM-MDT.doc by 5th September 2011
_____________
8. Islamic Seals Database, Chester Beatty Library, Dublin
The Chester Beatty Library is pleased to announce the launch of its Islamic Seals Database, an online, interactive database of seal impressions found in Islamic manuscripts. The site can be located at www.cbl.ie/islamicseals or through the link on the Islamic Collections page of the Library’s website (www.cbl.ie).
Visitors to the site are invited to participate in deciphering the seals, identifying the individuals or institutions named, and
providing information such as other sources of seals that name the same individual or institution. The database currently contains 150 seal impressions found mainly in the manuscripts of the Chester Beatty Library’s Arabic Collection but also in manuscripts from its Persian, Turkish and Indian Collections. New images will continually be added to the site until all seals in the Library’s Islamic manuscripts are included. We are happy to include seals from other collections if
proper permission to do so and photographs are provided.
Further Information Dr. Elaine Wright, Curator of the Islamic Collections, The Chester Beatty Library, email: ewright@cbl.ie
various conference opportunities
August 21st, 2011
The following list comes courtesy of Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs.
*****
EURAMES Info Service 24/11
Dear Madame, dear Sir,
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Please find below the following announcements:
1. Position: Lectureship in Arabic Language & Linguistics, Leiden University
2. Conference: "(De)Westernization in International and Intercultural Communication", Erfurt University, 27-29 October 2011
3. Papers on a Session “Court Culture in Medieval Iberia” at the 47th International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan, 10–13 May 2012
4. Symposium: " Intertwined Worlds: The Judaeo-Islamic Tradition", Selwyn College, Cambridge University, 11-13 September 2011
5. Conference: "The Iran-Iraq War: The View from Baghdad”, Washington, DC, 25-27 October 2011
6. Workshop: "Rationalist Sciences in Islam in the Post-Classical Period (ca. 1200-1900)", St. Louis, Missouri, 3-6 November 2011
7. Conference: "Contemporary Research in Arab American Studies: New Trends and Critical Perspectives”, Dearborn, Michigan, 4-6 November 2011
8. Conference: "Cinema in Iran: Circulation, Censorship and Cultural Production”, Berlin, 16-18 December 2011
9. Conference: "Islam, Citizenship and the New Media in Pre- and Post-Revolutionary Egypt", Cairo, 18-20 December 2011
10. Conference: "Middle East in Revolt: The First Anniversary", Melbourne, 17-18 March 2012
11. Conference: "Islam and Democracy: Potential and Possibilities”, London, Ontario, Canada, 23-25 March 2012
12. Conference: “Women and Gender in the Middle East: Recognition, Reflection, and Realignment”, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 4-5 June 2012
13. Conference: "The Hashiya and Islamic Intellectual History", St. Louis, Missouri, 13-16 October 2012
Best regards,
Guenter Meyer
Centre for Research on the Arab World (CERAW), University of Mainz, www.ceraw.uni-mainz.de
__________________
1. Position: Lectureship in Arabic Language & Linguistics, Leiden University
The Faculty of Humanities at Leiden University invites applications for a fulltime Lectureship in Arabic Language & Linguistics (38 hours per week. Vacancy number: 11-192). Initial appointment will be fixed-term from September 2012 through August 2015, with the possibility of extensions of up to three years, and of tenure thereafter. The Lecturer will hold a joint appointment at the Leiden University Institute for Area Studies (LIAS <http://www.hum.leiden.edu/
Tasks: Original research involving primary sources and fieldwork as appropriate – Teaching at undergraduate and graduate levels, in lecture and seminar formats – Supervision of BA and MA theses and of PhD research – Acquisition of project funding etc.
Requirements: An excellent command of Arabic; formal training in Arabic Studies with a specialization in Linguistics, and/or in Linguistics with a specialization in Arabic; openness to interdisciplinary cooperation. – Excellent research qualities, visible in a PhD degree (candidates near completion of the degree may be considered), research experience in situ, and an internationally accessible publication record, as measured against relative seniority. – Demonstrable commitment to high-quality teaching practice, and the ability to teach Arabic language acquisition (all skills, all levels, wide variety of textual genres) and Arabic and general linguistics. – Commitment to the acquisition of research funding from national and international funding agencies. – Administrative abilities, as measured against relative seniority. An excellent command of English.
.
We offer: The rank of lecturer (Universitair Docent) corresponds roughly to that of assistant professor in North-American terms. Salary range: from € 3195 to € 4970 per month, commensurate with qualifications, with additional holiday and end-of-year bonuses.
Review of applications will commence by 4 October 2011 and continue until the position is filled. For information an application and other inquiries please contact Prof. Maghiel van Crevel (Academic Director, LIAS: m.van.crevel@hum.leidenuniv.nl
__________________
2. Conference: "(De)Westernization in International and Intercultural Communication", Erfurt University, 27-29 October 2011
Registration for this conference is now open. The conference features keynotes by Dr. Raka Shome (Harron Family Endowed Chair of Communication, Villanova University) and Prof. Dr. Daniel Hallin (University of California San Diego) and the following panels:
- Roundtable discussion: Tracking Orientalism in German Social Sciences and Humanities
- Panel 1: Reflexive Research-o-graphy: Juxtaposing Incommensurable Perspectives?
- Panel 2: De-Westernization as Reference Frame in Communication Research
- Panel 3: Media and Development: Western Claims and Local Needs
- Panel 4: Diaspora and Media: The Periphery as a Dynamic Center
- Panel 5: Journalism: Demarcating, Transcending and Subverting Borders
Please register online: http://www.uni-erfurt.de/
The conference schedule is to be found here: http://www.uni-erfurt.de/
Inquiries can be made to iic2011@uni-erfurt.de
____________________
3. Papers on a Session “Court Culture in Medieval Iberia” at the 47th International Congress on Medieval Studies in Kalamazoo, Michigan, 10–13 May 2012
This session is intended to study the characteristics of Medieval Iberian Royal Courts (incorporating both royal households and parliamentary bodies). Papers included may address political patronage and the creation of networks of power and influence, the dynamics of hierarchy and interdependence and how those contributed to the formation of networks, connecting individuals, groups and/or cliques. Of particular interest are papers that explore literature and patronage, and related issues such as the production, circulation and consumption of ideas, books and objects. Together all of this will contribute to a discussion of courtly patronage as a means for establishing the legitimacy of the monarchy and the political status quo.
Send proposal (150-word abstract and a one-page CV) before September 15, 2011 (earlier proposals are welcome and encouraged). Send proposals to Nuria Silleras-Fernandez at silleras@colorado.edu
_______________
4. Symposium: " Intertwined Worlds: The Judaeo-Islamic Tradition", Selwyn College, Cambridge University, 11-13 September 2011
Registration is now open for this Symposium (deadline: 31 August 2011), which is co-sponsored by the Centre for the Study of Muslim-Jewish Relations, Woolf Institute and the Centre of Islamic Studies, Cambridge University.
The symposium aims to examine the state of play in the academic study of Muslim-Jewish relations. It consists of two parts:
1) Presentations will explore the diverse ways in which the traditions, cultures and heritage of the Jews and Muslims of the Islamic world were interconnected in history, including exegetical works, devotional practices, artistic expressions, literary and intellectual cross-fertilisation, social interaction, and common spaces and places.
2) A round table discussion involving all participants and invited guests. Invited international speakers who will serve as round table discussants will be asked to address three central questions which will guide the discussion: Is there/could there be a Judaeo-Islamic tradition? How do we define it? How do we study this tradition?
For further information, please visit Woolf Institute at www.woolf.cam.ac.uk or Centre of Islamic Studies at www.cis.cam.ac.uk .
__________________
5. Conference: "The Iran-Iraq War: The View from Baghdad”, Washington, DC, 25-27 October 2011
The National Defense University’s Conflict Records Research Center and the Wilson Center's Cold War International History Project are organizing this conference .The conference will be centered on newly available documentary evidence from Iraqi archives stored digitally at the CRRC and available to researchers at NDU. These new materials, including high-level Iraqi government documents and recorded conversations between Saddam Hussein and his top deputies shed new light on the origins of the conflict, its global and regional Cold War context, the decision-making process of Iraq's leadership, and a wide variety of other topics.
For information, contact: coldwar@wilsoncenter.org; www.cwihp.org; www.ndu.edu
______________
6. Workshop: "Rationalist Sciences in Islam in the Post-Classical Period (ca. 1200-1900)", St. Louis, Missouri, 3-6 November 2011
This text-based workshop explores how the logical, philosophical, and theological commentaries of the post-classical period shaped the Arabo-Islamic rationalist (ma'quli) tradition. All events are open to the public.
For information, contact: Asad Q. Ahmed (aahmed@wustl.edu). For details, visit: http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~
______________
7. Conference: "Contemporary Research in Arab American Studies: New Trends and Critical Perspectives”, Dearborn, Michigan, 4-6 November 2011
A Conference in Honor of Michael Suleiman (1934-2010). For information, contact: Elaine Hagopian at echagop@verizon.net.
______________
8. Conference: "Cinema in Iran: Circulation, Censorship and Cultural Production”, Berlin, 16-18 December 2011
Hosted by the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania, with the Free University of Berlin, Institute for Film Studies, and George Washington University. Iran is undergoing a period of socio-political transformation joined to a cultural space that despite binding censorship regulations, circumnavigates restrictive bans and, in the world of film, generates award winning, critically acclaimed masterpieces. In the course of this two and a half day workshop, participants will investigate cinema in Iran as part of Iran’s rich media and cultural ecology:
Paper presenters’ travel related costs and accommodation will be provided. Please submit an abstract of 2-3 pages and CV toirancinema@asc.upenn.edu. CFP deadline: August 31, 2011.
Further information http://www.iranmediaresearch.
___________________________
9. Conference: "Islam, Citizenship and the New Media in Pre- and Post-Revolutionary Egypt", Cairo, 18-20 December 2011
Organized by the Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo. Within the framework of the research programme ‘Strengthening knowledge of and dialogue with the Muslim world’, the NVIC project originally took Islamic preaching in the new media in Egypt as its subject, with an initial focus on the various communication strategies developed by competing Islamic actors. In the course of this (still ongoing) research, new perspectives arising from our findings, as well as changes in focus brought about by the 25th January revolution, broadened our approach to the central question of Islamic discourse. Its relation to issues of citizenship – understood broadly as a sense of identity, as a sense of belonging to a community, and as a capacity, that of producer-consumer of culture – in present-day Egypt has become more topical, and we invite you to explore this together.
We welcome submissions from both graduate students and established academics. Should you wish to present a paper at the conference, we ask you to register before August 1st 2011. A definitive title and a 300-word abstract will be expected by October 01, 2011. Register before November 01, 2011. Send all correspondence, registration and abstracts to p.c.baujard@nvic.leidenuniv.nl
_______________
10. Conference: "Middle East in Revolt: The First Anniversary", Melbourne, 17-18 March 2012
This conference aims to revisit the Arab revolution on its first anniversary. This popular uprising has challenged authoritarian rule and highlighted the widespread desire for political accountability and responsible government. Yet it may be premature to celebrate the ‘Arab Spring’ as heralding democracy to the region. Democracy in the Middle East remains a difficult and long-term project. This conference is aimed at examining the prospects of democracy in the Middle East by exploring some key factors:
This conference is jointly organized by The University of Melbourne, Australia and Freedom House, Washington DC. CFP deadline: October 01, 2011. Further information http://asiainstitute.unimelb.
________________
11. Conference: "Islam and Democracy: Potential and Possibilities”, London, Ontario, Canada, 23-25 March 2012
The Faculty of Law and the Faculty of Social Science at the University of Western Ontario, together with Huron University College and King’s University College at the University of Western Ontario, invite paper submission. This conference will consider critical and timely questions: first, what is the outlook for democracy in Muslim-majority states? And related to this, to what extent are the principles of Islam and Democracy compatible? Through intellectual exchange and interdisciplinary synthesis among legal scholars, historians, political scientists, philosophers, sociologists, anthropologists and professionals from outside of the academy, the conference aims to identify and foster the development of a set of core principles suited to democratic constitutions in Muslim-majority states.
Conference organizers invite submission of papers from established scholars and graduate students. CfP deadline: 1 October 2011. Information:http://www.ipsa.org/news/
________________
12. Conference: “Women and Gender in the Middle East: Recognition, Reflection, and Realignment”, Bridgewater, Massachusetts, 4-5 June 2012
This multidisciplinary conference addresses the issue of gender equity in the Middle East through a number of exploratory themes. Researchers and activists from a variety of academic fields are encouraged to share their approaches and insights into how they interpret gender equity, how women face barriers, overcome limitations, form identities, and shape their multiple roles through careers, family and religious life.
The deadline for proposals is 7 October 2011. Information http://www.bridgew.edu/soas/
_____________
13. Conference: "The Hashiya and Islamic Intellectual History", St. Louis, Missouri, 13-16 October 2012
This conference explores the nature, function, and scholarly value of commentaries and glosses written within different disciples of Islamic scholarship. The event is open to the public. Information, http://www.artsci.wustl.edu/~
______________________
Associate Provost Ann Lesch sends another potentially valuable list of opportunities:
EURAMES Info Service 19/11
Dear Madame, dear Sir,
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
Please find below the following announcements:
1. Conference: "Muslim in Britain: Perceptions and Realities", Middle East Institute and SOAS, London, 14-16 September 2011
2. Symposium: "First Şah İbrahim Veli Symposium”, Bicir Köyü / Malatya, İnönü Üniversitesi Malatya, and Mezirme (Ballıkaya), 29 September – 2 October 2011
3. Symposium: "Citizenship after Orientalism", The Open University, Milton Keynes, 6-11 February 2012
4. Conference: "Relationships between Diasporas and Their ‘Homelands’ and Their Impact on the State, National Identities, and Peace & Conflict", Beirut, 3-5 February 2012
5. Postdoctoral Fellowship in Contemporary Italian-Libyan Studies, Rome
6. Research Assistant, British Institute in Damascus (or Amman)
7. Job Opportunity: Director of the Kenyon Institute, Jerusalem
8. Call for Articles: New Middle Eastern Studies (NMES), the Innovative New E-Journal of the BRISMES Graduate Section
Best regards,
Guenter Meyer
Centre for Research on the Arab World (CERAW), University of Mainz, www.ceraw.uni-mainz.de
__________________
1. Conference: "Muslim in Britain: Perceptions and Realities", Middle East Institute and SOAS, London, 14-16 September 2011
Focusing on Muslims in Britain, the programme will examine the impact of successive migrations to Britain that have shaped the ethnic, sectarian and cultural approaches to Islam belonging to or adopted by first, second and third-generation British Muslims. It will address specific issues that have emerged in the British context, including debates regarding law, gender, media, finance, and conversion. The programme will also pursue a close examination of how public perceptions of British Muslims are formed and the extent to which those perceptions both shape and are shaped by public policy.
The programme will combine leading academic expertise in a number of subject disciplines with the experience of several practitioners to guarantee a wide-ranging and informative three days, including an opportunity to visit a London mosque. It would be invaluable for professionals engaged in local government, hospitals, schools, police force, counter-terrorism and immigration. Although the programme is country specific, it would also be of interest to those working in the public sector in countries that have Muslim populations.
Further information at www.soas.ac.uk/enterprise/
______________________
2. Symposium: "First Şah İbrahim Veli Symposium”, Bicir Köyü / Malatya, İnönü Üniversitesi Malatya, and Mezirme (Ballıkaya), 29 September – 2 October 2011
A cooperation of the University of Heidelberg, Germany, and İnönü Üniversitesi Malatya, Turkey.
The Şah İbrahim Veli Ocağı is one of the important Alevi dede lineages. Traditionally, its members served Alevis from Western Anatolia down to Northern Syria. Its centre lays in the modern province of Malatya, especially in the village Mezirme, today’s Ballıkaya. In the villages and among the dede families, manuscripts are abundant, not to mention the diverse sources of ‘oral history’. Despite the importance of the region, the historical and ethnographic research on the Alevi ocaks in general, and on the Şah İbrahim Veli Ocağı, in particular is limited.
The symposium will serve to present the state of current research on the Ocak and related topics. Moreover, it will facilitate further research. Additionally, lectures that are suited to contextualise the history and ethnography of the Şah İbrahim Veli Ocağı within the history, sociology, and social-cultural anthropology of the region are also welcome.
Abstracts for proposed contributions (one page printed text maximum) must be sent by 20 July 2011 to:info.sah.ibrahim.veli.
Further information www.malatya-alevi-sempozyumu.
_____________________
3. Symposium: "Citizenship after Orientalism", The Open University, Milton Keynes, 6-11 February 2012
The Oecumene project is pleased to announce this Symposium which will include:
- A Conference ‘Opening the Boundaries of Citizenship’,
- An International PhD School ‘Tracing Colonialism and Orientalism in Social and Political Thought’,
- A series of workshops addressing specific topics on critical new ways of conceptualising citizenship.
Keynote speakers: Judith Butler (University of California, Berkeley), Paul Gilroy (LSE), Bryan Turner (CUNY), Engin Isin (The Open University).
PhD School Conveners: Ian Almond (Georgia State University), Roberto Dainotto (Duke University).
The first Symposium will explore what it means to open up the boundaries of citizenship. How can we give an account of other ways of being political? Which political practices have been rendered inarticulable as political by exclusionary ideas of citizenship? These questions seem most relevant today, in light of the contemporary re-articulation of orientalist and colonial projects, the increasing popular discontent towards renewed exclusionary logics, and the contested meanings of democratic politics across boundaries.
The deadline for applications is 12 September 2011. For further details please seehttp://www.oecumene.eu/events/
______________________
4. Conference: "Relationships between Diasporas and Their ‘Homelands’ and Their Impact on the State, National Identities, and Peace & Conflict", Beirut, 3-5 February 2012
http://www.lau.edu.lb/news-
The Institute for Migration Studies (IMS) at Lebanese American University (LAU), in partnership with the Centre for Intercultural Studies, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, is organizing this conference. Core members of the organizing committee for the conference: Professor Anton Escher (zis@uni-mainz.de), Dr. Paul Tabar (ptabar@lau.edu.lb), Dr. Jennifer Skulte-Ouaiss (j.skulte_ouaiss@lau.edu.lb)
The conference organizers encourage the presentation of papers on the increasingly systematic and intense relationships between Diaspora communities and their communities of origin. What are the emerging patterns in this new development and what are their basic features? What are the most appropriate theoretical concepts and structures that best describe and analyze these new patterns (e.g., transnationalism, cosmopolitanism, etc.)? Are second- and third-generation migrants implicated in these new developments? If yes, what are the character and the extent of this involvement? Participants are encouraged to pay special attention to the role of diasporic associations (hometown associations, political groups, charitable and village associations, religious groups and institutions, etc.) and their homeland counterparts, as well as the states of the sending (homeland) countries and their agencies abroad (e.g., embassies and consulates).
Deadline for submission of abstracts: 10 November 2011. Further informationhttp://www.lau.edu.
________________
5. Postdoctoral Fellowship in Contemporary Italian-Libyan Studies, Rome
The Society For Libyan Studies and the British School at Rome (BSR) are seeking to appoint a Postdoctoral Fellow in Contemporary Italian and Libyan Studies for the academic session 2011/12.
The Fellow will work on bilateral relations between Libya and Italy, within the wider context of relations between North African countries and the countries of the EU’s southern border. Key issues include migration from Africa to the EU, using Libya as a transit corridor, managing urban development and the problem of rural-urban migration; energy supplies; and the black market economy between Libya and the EU. In addition, relevant research might include planning and development issues, the ways in which Libya’s colonial past has affected continuing bilateral relations with Italy, and the issue of colonial reparations, all of which remain important topics.
The successful candidate will receive free board and lodging at the British School at Rome, and in addition a stipend of £450 p.c.m
Deadline for application 12 August 2011. For more information see http://www.bsr.ac.uk/wp-
________________
6. Research Assistant, British Institute in Damascus (or Amman)
The Council for British Research in the Levant is offering a new, fixed-term research position to be held at the British Institute in Damascus from October 2011 to March 2012. The successful applicant will assist with fieldwork, interviews and administration as part of a new British Academy-funded research project on ‘Mapping the Social Sciences in Syria’, led by Dr Daniel Neep.
Applicants should:
• Have completed a PhD (or be close to completion of a PhD) in a social science discipline. Candidates with a background in the sociology of knowledge or higher education in the Middle East are particularly welcome, but all relevant fields will be considered.
• Have a strong grasp of research methodology, especially qualitative interviewing;
• Have an excellent command of the Arabic language (at a level sufficient to conduct in-depth interviews with academics and practitioners);
• Have previous fieldwork experience in the Middle East.
The position will initially be offered from 1 October 2011 to 31 March 2012, with a possible extension of a further 3 to 6 months if funding permits. The post includes a monthly allowance of £1000, health insurance and one return flight between London and Damascus. Should the political situation prevent fieldwork in Syria, the project will move to the British Institute in Amman and instead focus on mapping the social sciences in Jordan.
Applicants should submit a CV and covering letter and arrange for two references to be sent directly tocbrl@cbrl.org.uk by the deadline of 29 July 2011. IInquiries may be addressed to Dr Daniel Neep, CBRL Research Director (Syria): director@bi-damascus.org.uk
_______________
7. Job Opportunity: Director of the Kenyon Institute, Jerusalem
We are currently looking for a new director here at the Kenyon Institute. The CBRL conducts research in the social sciences and humanities in the Levant as supported by the British Academy. The successful candidate will be a senior/experienced university academic conducting research in a relevant subject within Israel and the occupied Palestinian Territories. The CBRL is keen that its research personnel should maintain strong links with universities in the UK. Applicants are therefore encouraged to propose ways in which they might maintain a connection during their period of appointment with a UK university department. The post is suitable for secondment. Their duties will include overseeing the running of the Kenyon Institute, developing its networks and profile, supporting UK researchers, fund raising, and conducting research. They will be based in Jerusalem.
The post is tenable for three years, subject to successful completion of an initial six-month probationary period. Salary is at point 46 in the University single scale, currently at £48,096 per annum, less a charge of £2,500 for the accommodation provided in Jerusalem.
For further details on the post see http://www.cbrl.org.uk/kenyon-
____________
8. Call for Articles: New Middle Eastern Studies (NMES), the Innovative New E-Journal of the BRISMES Graduate Section
The British Society for Middle Eastern Studies announces the initial publication of articles by New Middle Eastern Studies (NMES), the innovative new e-journal of the BRISMES Graduate Section. The articles, reviews and quick studies are available at http://www.brismes.ac.uk/nmes/
For further information about publishing with NMES, visit the website or contact Andrew Patrick atnmeseditor@gmail.com.
African-Arab Advanced Institute
July 9th, 2011
A good lead forwarded by Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs.
CODESRIA-SEPHIS
African-Arab Advanced Institute
Inaugural Session
Theme: The Changing Political Economy of Afro-Arab Relations
Date: 19 – 30 September, 2011
Venue: Rabat, Morocco
CODESRIA and SEPHIS are pleased to announce the first edition of the African-Arab Advanced Institute. This annual advanced institute on African-Arab relations will be held alternatively inNorth Africa and in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Institute is conceived as a high-level knowledge-building, agenda-setting and networking forum for scholars in the prime of their careers desirous of experimenting with new fields of knowledge and exploring new conceptual terrains. The Institute is underpinned by a desire to extend and transform the frontiers of African and Arab Studies by simultaneously challenging and transcending the inherited boundaries set by the colonial encounter and Cold War-inspired area studies. Participants in the Institute will be drawn from across Africa and the Arab World and will work together during ten days around a specific theme. The inaugural session of the Institute will take place in Rabat, Morocco, from 19 – 30 September, 2011. It will focus mainly on
The African-Arab Advanced Institute
Africa is one continent whose peoples share a common position of subalternity in global relations, and a number of common historical experiences and cultures. The historical ties and exchanges that exist between Africa and the Arab World are numeros.
The number of Arabs and non-Arab people using Arabic as a working language is estimated at 300 millions, two thirds of whom are Africans. The Arabic script is used by a much larger number of people, some of whom use it to write African languages, which is what has given birth to Adjami. There is therefore a considerable degree of overlap between Africa and the Arab World, geographically and sociologically, and there are intense trade and economic exchanges between these two worlds.
Furthermore, there is a long history of higher education in the Arab World, and very old traditions of scholarship, and there is a huge body of literature in Arabic that is unknown to non-Arabic speaking African scholars. Similarly, there are a lot of books written in English, French and Portuguese that have not been translated into Arabic, but the extensive Arabisation policy promoted in a number of North African countries has made it more difficult for many scholars of this part of Africa, particular the young scholars, to participate in scholarly and policy debates in Africa conducted in English, French and Arabic.
There is also a growing number of African intellectuals who studied, and many students currently studying in the Arab World. All these people are operating at the margins of the African intellectual community.
More generally, the study of Africa was bounded in a context defined globally by colonialism and the Cold War, and regionally by the post-1945 consolidation of apartheid. In this configuration, North Africa was said to be a part of “the Orient” and, thus, of the area called “Middle East”, while apartheid South Africa was considered an exception to be studied separately. The domain of African Studies came to be developed around the land area between the Sahara and the Limpopo. Socially, Africa was Bantu Africa; spatially, it was equatorial Africa. This notion was, however, never accepted in the post-colonial academy in Africa, including in the programmatic work of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa (CODESRIA) that emerged as the pioneer and apex African social research organization on the continent. Established in 1973, CODESRIA defined the study of Africa as including both the continental land mass and theIndian Ocean islands, and set up research networks accordingly.
Part of the “Arab World” is in Africa. As has been noted above, out of the estimated 300 million inhabitants of the Arab World, 200 million (i.e. two thirds) live in Africa. Culturally, many millions of Sub-Saharan Africans are also linked to the Arab World through religious networks (Islam).
The post-Cold War and post-apartheid era calls for a careful and sustained problematisation of received boundaries in the study of Africa. It is suggested that this endeavor requires comparative studies which, while thematically focused, deliberately transgress these boundaries with a view to exploring historical terrains that were obscured by the dominant paradigm, and charting new grounds in identity theory and politics. In so doing, it is hoped that the study of African-Arab relations will not only be revitalized but, equally important, that new important insights will be developed that will contribute to a radical re-direction of our reading of African history, sociology and politics away from the hegemonic occidentalist bias that has been predominant. Furthermore, in exploring the historical legacies resulting from the flow of peoples and goods across boundaries and the contemporary patterns that are playing themselves out, it is expected that the initiative would explode various myths about the nature, content and direction of the complex interfaces between peoples and cultures in the making of politics, economy and society in Africa and the Arab World.
As an endeavour at the generation of new knowledge, the Institute will be structured as a multidisciplinary intervention.
Inaugural Session of the African-Arab Advanced Institute: The Changing Political Economy of Afro-Arab Relations
The inaugural session of the Institute will focus on the changing political economy of Afro-Arab Relations as a point of departure. Prospective participants in the session will be invited to submit proposals of not more ten pages on any aspect of the theme of The Changing Political Economy of Afro-Arab Relations that they might be interested in pursuing. Up to 10 fellows drawn from across Africa and the Arab World, and from the African and Arab Diaspora, and from different disciplinary backgrounds, will be invited to participate in the session. The session will be convened and led by a Director designated by CODESRIA and SEPHIS to offer intellectual leadership and coordinate the output of the fellows into a joint SEPHIS-CODESRIA publication.
Among the sub-themes of The Changing Political Economy of Afro-Arab Relations around which reflection will be organized are the following:
a. Colonialism
b. Post-colonial Nationalisms
c. The Spirit of Non-Alignment and Bandung
d. The Political Economy of the Nile
e. African and Arab States in the Global Oil Politics
f. Trade and Investments
g. Regionalisms
h. State and Human Security Challenges in Africa and the Arab World
i. The Structural Transformation of the Public Sphere and the Promise of Democracy inAfrica and the Arab World
Eligibility
Participants in the Institute will be drawn from among those scholars whose proposals on the theme for which CODESRIA and SEPHIS invite applications are adjudged to be the most promising. Priority for participation in the Institute will be given to scholars from Africa and the Arab World. Participants will be experienced scholars with a well-established academic record that equips them for the challenges of the kind of radical and well-grounded innovative thinking that is designed to be a key distinguishing feature of the Institute. Authors of proposals will be invited to focus on both particular place(s) and theme(s) in developing their work. This way, each fellow of the Institute will combine a case study with a thematic focus in the work that they will carry out. Methodologically, this approach will allow for the combination of detailed empirical observation with a comparative analysis and, in so doing, will both build on the historical strength of area studies, the focus on the local, and move away from its historical limitation, the tendency to translate political boundaries (the area) into boundaries of knowledge production. The working languages of the Institute are Arabic, French and English.
Application Procedures
Laureates: Applications should include the following:
1) a Curriculum Vitae (maximum of two pages),
2) an application letter
3) a research proposal outlining the candidate’s current research project, including the methodology that is being employed or considered (at most four pages),
4) a sample of the applicant’s work
Convener/Resource Persons: Applicants for the position of Course Convener and Resource Persons should submit: 1) an application letter; 2) a curriculum vitae; and 3) a two-page course outline of three lectures specifically focusing on the issues to be covered in the sub-themes, and 4) a sample of the applicant’s work.
Applications must be written in English, French or Arabic. The deadline for the submission of applications is 07th August 2011. An international scientific committee will examine the dossiers of all candidates by 16th August 2011. Successful applicants will be notified immediately after the completion of the selection process.
Incomplete and unnecessarily lengthy applications will not be taken into consideration.
All faxed and e-mailed applications must also be accompanied by a hard copy original version sent by post if they are to be considered.
Additional information about the African-Arab Advanced Institute can be obtained via:
♦ the CODESRIA web site: http://www.codesria.org
♦ the SEPHIS web site: http://www.sephis.org
Applications and requests for more information should be sent to:
CODESRIA/SEPHIS Africa-Arab Advanced Institute
CODESRIA
Avenue Cheikh Anta Diop, angle Canal IV
B.P. 3304, Dakar, Senegal
Fax: (221) 33 824 12 89
Tel: (221) 33 825 98 22/23
E-Mail: africaarab.institute@codesria.
Twitter: http://twitter.com/codesria
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/
fellowship opportunities
July 1st, 2011
Dr. Ann Lesch, Associate Provost for International Programs, has drawn our attention to the following fellowship opportunities, all of them open to non-U.S. citizens:
1. Fellowships at The Wilson Center 2012-201
Deadline: October 1, 2011
http://www.wilsoncenter.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=fellowships.welcome
2. Yale University Fellows Program
Deadline: December 9, 2011
http://www.yale.edu/worldfellows/about.html
3. Campbell Fellowship for Women Scholar-Practitioners from Developing Nations
Deadline: November 1, 2011
http://sarweb.org/index.php?
