NSM

Nordisk Midtaustenbulletin
32, mars 1997

Tema:

This is very much a conference bulletin, we are announcing three Nordic conferences on the Middle East here, organized independently from Finland, Denmark and Sweden respectively. In addition, a heavy update of international conferences; we are clearly moving into the conference season.

Bethlehem: Gender and Society in the Muslim Middle East

A symposium for Scandinavian and Palestinian researchers to be held at Bethlehem, 3-5 September 1997

The purpose of the Symposium organized and sponsored by the Finnish Jerusalem Institute together with the Research Group Gender and Society in the Muslim Middle East, University of Helsinki and University of Tampere is to bring together researchers and post-graduate students from Scandinavia and Palestine, working on issues of gender and society, with particular reference to Middle Eastern societies, and with the historical perspective of paying hommage to the pioneering work of Hilma Granqvist in Palestinian studies.

One of the aims of the symposium is to enhance our knowledge on the historicity and experiences of women in the midst of complex social processes in the Middle East. Another is to to bring together researchers who have in their work considered the work of Hilma Granqvist who worked in the area between 1925-1931 and consequently wrote 5 monographs on the life of peasants in the village of Artas near Bethlehem. Hilma Granqvist focused her writings on the lifecycle of Muslim peasants and wished to produce a realistic appreciation of the everyday life of real people, based on observations and interviews conducted in the field. In this appraoch she differed fundamentally from what have later been coined by Edward Said as "orientalist" approaches in the study of the Orient. In her strivings, Hilma Granqvist also wished to avoid what she called the "Biblical Danger", i.e. the urge to see the lives of the Palestinian peasants as testimonies of the historicity of the Bible. Granqvist wished to appraise the lives of Palestinian peasants in the modern anthropological sense - through efforts to see the world from the point of view of the people themselves.

The symposium wishes

a) to explore the contribution of Hilma Granqvist through presentations given by researchers who have made use of Granqvist's writings in their own work and/or who wish to reexamine her contribution in Middle Eastern studies. For this, a number of established researchers are invited to give their papers, hopefully to be edited into a book later.

b) At the same time, the workshop will provide an opportunity for Scandinavian and Palestinian PhD students to present papers and get comments on their work dealing with Gender and Society in the Muslim Middle East.This is an initial announcement and call for papers. Please indicate your interest in the workshop and the area in which You wish to contribute to it. Indications of interest by 1 April 1997; abstracts of papers to be sent by 1 June 1997.

Dr. Ulla Vuorela, Dept. of Sociology & Social Psychology, PL 607, FIN-33101 Tampere, Finland
Ulla.Vuorela@Helsinki.fi Fax 358-3 215 6080 ; Dahlgren@valt.Helsinki.fior">Dahlgren@valt.Helsinki.fi">Dahlgren@valt.Helsinki.fior Riina Isotalo, ytriis@uta.fi

The Finnish Jerusalem Institute is an institution sponsored by the Government of Finland to support the work of Finnish scientists on the Middle East

Aarhus: Worlds and Visions - Perspectives on the Middle East Today

Conference, 5 - 7 December 1997: University of Aarhus, Denmark. Organized by the Middle East Network (in cooperation with the Dept. of Ethnography and Social Anthropology, Universtity of Aarhus)

The aim of the Middle East Network's seminar, Worlds and Visions: Perspectives on the Middle East Today, is to contribute to an expansion of our understanding of the fundamental and structural process of change taking place in the Arab world as we approach the milleneum.

Established values in the Middle East are currently being challenged in a more concise manner than previously. New groups with contrasting experiences have become active in the societal debate. The trans-national flow of economic, political, and cultural influences implicit in the integration of the various Middle Eastern countries into the global community is part of the current process of transformation. All aspects of society in the Middle East are influenced, as can be seen in contemporary processes such as urbanisation, migration, changing value systems, the understanding of history, religious practices, and in new patterns of consumption.

It is this new and dynamic field which the seminar hopes to address and illuminate by means of six individual workshops which will allow participants to concentrate on the specifics of each topic. The separate workshops will be united by a series of connecting lectures.

The workshops are intended to stimulate intense and in-depth discussion. Each workshop will focus specifically on one particular topic so as to give substance to the various worlds and visions in the Middle East today, thereby providing new perspectives on current processes of change. They will each be run, simultaneously, by one, or two organisers. A number of guest speakers, both from Denmark and abroad, are invited to make presentations to the individual workshops.

Outline of Individual Workshops

A: Labour Migration within and out of the Middle East: Remittances, Social and Cultural Encounters

Organiser: Kirsten Bach; Centre for Development Research, Copenhagen.

Labour migration, both within and out of the region, has become a predominant feature of most countries in the Middle East. National economies in the sender countries have become dependent upon injections of foreign exchange from migrants, as have the individual migrant families and their kin. It has also affected demographic patterns and developments within the sender countries. Migrants become transmitters of social and cultural practices between the receiver country and social networks at home. The aim of the workshop is to identify and discuss similarities and disparities in the various countries of the region.

B: Educating the Muslim Woman; Female Subjectivities & Monopolies of Knowledge

Organisers: Lene Kofoed, The Carsten Niebuhr Institute, University of Copenhagen, & CONNIE CAROE, Institute of Anthropology, University of Copenhagen.
In the aftermath of colonialism local particularity in the Middle East is, as it is in other parts of the world, being reasserted against universalism which is often regarded as being synonymous with 'the West'. When global power relations are perceived in this dichotomous manner official and private policymakers are faced with real dilemmas regarding education. This workshop will focus on education in the broadest sense of the term, i.e. formal and institutionalized education as well as the quest for learning and knowing carried out in organisations of a religious/political character. At practically all levels of education more women are to be found today. What are the consequences of this new female presence? And does this affect educational models of either a universal or particular character?

C: Conflict Resolution, Self Regulation & Law in the Middle East

Organiser: Bodil Selmer; Dept. of Ethnography and Social Anthropology, University of Aarhus.
Recent developments in the study of complex societies and globalisation processes have led to a growing awareness of the legal pluralist nature of most societies. In the Middle East customary and statute law coexist and national laws are made up of various elements; foreign elements from the colonial period and others from the principles of Sharia. This workshop will examine how these various legal orders are dynamically related to other local and global orders by looking at how legislation affects social practise and how in concrete terms these orders interact with individual interests, power relations and informal norms in court rooms and in informal settings.

D: Islamist Perspectives on `Islam, State and Society'

Organiser: Michael Irving Jensen, & Thomas Illum, The Carsten Niebuhr Institute, University of Copenhagen, & Lars Pedersen, Dept. of Ethnography & Social Anthropology, University of Aarhus.
Islamism is linked to social forces; forces evolving in a historical context, as an effect of history, as an answer to history, and in a dialogue with history. The manner in which Islamic movements `produce' Islam is part and parcel of a social and political praxis that is not unambiguous but which can lead in a number of directions. The point of departure of this workshop is, therefore, that Islam and (by extension) Islamism do not form a monolithic, active unit. The aim is to draw a general view of the political-theoretical discourse of Islamism on this basis. Issues concerning political leadership, democracy and access to social participation for women and religious minorities are central to the political criticism of Islam. These questions deal with the general issue of the relation of the Islamists to `civil society'.

E: New Challenges in the Western Mediterranean Region: The Maghreb

Organiser: Lars Erslev Andersen; Dept. of Contemporary Middle East Studies, University of Odense.
As a consequence of the Gulf War (1990-91), the Peace Process, the situation in Algeria since 1992, and the "Euro-Mediterranean Partnership Initiative" signed in Barcelona in November 1995, the USA, Nato and the EU have refocussed their attention on the Mediterrean region. The three main reasons for this are; migration from North Africa, political instabilty, and drug smuggling. Cooperation has been agreed in the fields of politics, economics, and culture. The main aim of this workshop will be to discuss the possible impact of the new Euro-Med initiative on the three Maghreb states; Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia.

F: Local and National Histories Rethinking Collective Identities in the Middle East

Organiser: Hans Christian Korsholm Nielsen, Dept. of Ethnography & Social Anthropology, University of Aarhus; Christel Braae & Jørgen Bæk Simonsen, The Carsten Niebuhr Institute, University of Copenhagen.
During recent years a number of valuable studies have been published covering the relationship between local and national histories, the creation of local and national identities through narratives and artifacts, the interaction between the written and the oral and the relationship between power and history in the Middle East. Many scholars have recently moved towards a relational, or dialogical understanding of the production of history and identity, thereby including biography, tribal history, personal memoir, etc. Official history has also been challenged in many places by local stories which stress the importance of alternative histories and world maps. Based on historical and ethnographical material from the entire region, this workshop will focus on developments in the creation and writing of national and local history, and identity.

Lund: The Peace Process and Future Visions of the Middle East

19 - 21 September 1997, Lund University, Sweden, Program for Middle Eastern and North African Studies

The Conference is sponsored by: The Swedish Council for Research in the Humanities and Social Sciences (HSFR), The Royal Academy of Letters History and Antiquities (Vitterhetsakademien) and the New Society of Letters at Lund (Vetenskapssocieteten).

The broad aim of the conference is to highlight visions (national, social/political, tribal/ethnic, religious, etc.) and how these are conceptualised, sustained or transformed. At the conference, various ideas and problems related to the present peace process will be discussed, for example, the final status of Jerusalem, refugees, water resources and settlements in the West Bank and the Gaza Strip. In what ways may former enemies cooperate and coexist; what considerations are given to the international context; how are minorities perceived in an integrated region; how do younger and older generations relate to the notion of peace; and how may images and beliefs held by governments affect and influence public opinions? These questions are illustrative of some of the ideas we would like to raise and discuss at the conference. The conference will take place on 19-21 September 1997 and will consist of lectures held by keynote speakers, discussions and paper presentations in workshops.

Workshops


A. Resources: Water, Land and Economy

In this workshop, resources will be discussed in regards to ideas of peace. For instance, how should we approach hydropolitical problems and other environmental questions; to what extent is the distribution of territory affected by these issues; what are the prospects and problems of economic development; and how do demographic factors affect these resources?
Convenor: Magnus Persson, magnus.persson@hist.lu.se, phone: 2227967, fax: 2224207 (all prefix +46-46).

B. Strategies of Conflict Resolution

In what ways can former adversaries transform their relations from conflict to cooperation: separation, coexistence or integration? How may external actors facilitate a process towards conflict resolution, for example, third party intervention? In this workshop, we intend to explore different notions of peace underlying strategies of conflict resolution.
Convenor: Karin Aggestam, karin.aggestam@svet.lu.se, phone: 2224923, fax: 2224006

C. Nation-building and Civil Society

Democracy and civil society are significant aspects of nation-building. The workshop focuses on how the peace process may be affected by different notions of nation-states; the importance of human rights and pluralism; questions on gender and minorities within a democratic framework; and the role of education.
Convenor: Khaled Bayomi, khaled.bayomi@hist.lu.se, phone: 2223194, fax: 2224207

D. Culture, Religion and Identity

The role of religion and culture has in recent years gained wider attention among scholars. The workshop will focus on changes in political cultures and how these affect visions of peace; the role of historiography; and the various meanings and understandings of "reform and renaissance."
Convenor: Jan Hjärpe, jan.hjarpe@teol.lu.se, phone: 2229753 fax: 2224426

Conference participation and paper proposals

If you are interested to present a paper at the conference, please fill out the form included in this invitation and send it to us before 30 April 1997. A proposal of a conference paper has to include an abstract (max. 500 words) and be addressed to one of the workshop convenors before 15 June 1997. The convenors will also provide you with further information regarding travel arrangements, accomodations and grants. Organizers are Jan Hjärpe, Karin Aggenstam, Khalid Bayomi and Magnus Persson.
Address:
Bredgatan 4
S-222 21 Lund
Sweden
Fax: 2224207

Conferences

From the DAVO, MESA and BRISMES newsletters and elsewhere.

Job Offers

As ususal, taken from the H-Net list; US- and History-oriented.

Arkansas State University

MIDDLE EAST/AFRICA, HISTORY. The Department of History at Arkansas State University invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professorship, pending budgetary approval, in Middle Eastern/African History. The successful candidate must teach upper-division and master's-level courses in both the Middle-East and Africa. Specialization in both fields is open. Candidate must also teach freshman survey courses in World History to 1600 and since 1600.

Send letter of application describing training, scholarly interests and courses prepared to teach, plus curriculum vitae, transcripts and three letters of recommendation postmarked by March 1, to
Pamela Hronek, Chair, History Department, P.O. Box 1690, State University, Arkansas 72467.
Arkansas State University is an affirmative action, equal opportunity employer dedicated to building a diverse academic community. (10.2.97)

University of Washington

MODERN MIDDLE EASTERN HISTORY. The Department of History and the Jackson School of International Studies at the University of Washington invite applications for the position of Giovanni and Anne Costigan Lecturer, defined for 1997-98 as a six month (two-quarter) position in modern Middle Eastern history, beginning December 1997. Applicants may be of any current academic rank, should have completed or nearly completed the Ph.D. degree and be highly qualified for undergraduate teaching. The successful candidate will be expected to teach a survey course on the modern Middle East, as well as an upper-division lecture course and seminars in his or her areas of specialization.

Applications, including curriculum vitae, a statement of research and teaching skills and interests, and three letters of recommendation should be sent to
Professor Jere Bacharach, Chair, Costigan Lectureship Committee, Department of History, Box 353560, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington 98195-3560.
Priority will be given to applications received before June 1, 1997. The University of Washington is building a culturally diverse faculty and strongly encourages applications from female and minority candidates. AA/EOE. (10.2.97)

Edinboro University of Pennsylvania

MIDDLE EAST: HISTORY. Edinboro University of Pennsylvania. Part-time temporary Instructor/Assistant Professor available Fall 1997 only. Position #200-0683
Responsibilities: Teach a course in modern Middle East history.
Qualifications: Master's degree plus 10 graduate credits; three years teaching or equivalent experience.

Applications must be postmarked by February 28, 1997.
Send application letter, resume, copies of transcripts, names/addresses/ telephone numbers of three references to:
Dr. Donald Dilmore, Acting Dean of Liberal Arts, Edinboro Univ., Edinboro, PA 16444. AA/EOE (24.2.97)

Back Home Contents Index Forwards

Responsible for this Web page is Knut S. Vikør. Archived 17.3.97