En introduktion till den moderna arabiska litteraturen, som visar på
banden med den litterära traditionen, drar upp utvecklingslinjer och
diskuterar olika huvudteman som sysselsätter dagens arabiska
författare. Boken innehåller en kommenterad förteckning
över de fleste böcker som översatts til svenska från
arabiska under de senaste 30 åren. [Hovudkapittel: Pijonärerna;
Några viktiga teman i arabisk litteratur; Naguib Mahfouz och realismens
genombrott; Modernismen; Yttrandefrihetens gränser]
[frå
forlagets omtale]
It is organized by the European Science Foundation. This is a body set up by the national research councils (NFR, HFSR etc.) and gets all their money from them. They thus have nothing to do with the EU, as the name might indicate. The object is to promote research across disciplines and geographic barriers both concerning the researchers and the research topic. It is probably based on an unspoken presumption that this will aid the development of theoretical thought in our area; or at least make fruitful contacts across traditions of research.
The theme is thus initially very broad, as the title indicates, but is supposed to be narrowed down to set of specific topics that fill this aim of cutting across disciplines and regions. The key word in the title is however "individual" and all topics are meant focus on the individual rather than group in social interaction etc.
This process of refinement has thus started, and the project is constituted through seven theme groups, given below. The main work is to be done by these groups. How they proceed will vary, but the norm is that each group of 10-15 "established" and 3-5 "junior" researchers will hold one European workshop every year in the 1996-99 period, generally on a different topic every year. In addition, local seminars may be held where funds are given to invite other group members, or (in one case) two parallell seminars where participants circulate from one to another.
The result is thought of as a series of publications, which will probably also vary widely both in form and content, while relating in one form or another to the overall thematic of individual in society. There is thus not going to be any one great tome or total summary of everything at the end. Publications from the project may appear in the interim period or after the project is ended in 1999.
As for junior scholars, special efforts are planned. As mentioned, workshops will normally have a few places open for junior scholars who are working on the particular topic discussed. In addition, the ESF has announced a "junior scholarship" program. It has been mentioned here, and most of your institutes have received large yellow posters giving a deadline of May 96. These posters were, however, less than informative, as they did not say anything e.g. about what kind of scholarships or sums were offered, nor was the further procedure completely transparent.
It is now clear that they are basically travel support. Each of the seven theme groups are given 25.000 FF each year for such support in their theme. They are free to distribute them as they like, to "2-10" people; normally three - six, to be used for travel to the field or to another European city e.g. to contact another research group (but not to the workshops, those monies are separate). We are thus not talking about large sums, but perhaps helpful. By "junior scholars" is meant someone who does not have a permament position (tenure) but is working on or has recently finished a doctorate.
Because of the unclarity - the definition of the themes was only done now at Granada - it was decided not to make any decision at this point, and in effect to lift the deadline. Further applications are thus to be accepted. At this point, there were few Nordic applicants (3 Finns, 1 Norwegian), so more are welcome from our region.
The themes and their immediate workshop plans are:
(the following headlines are only from my rapid notes made at the Granada meeting, thus are schematic and may be confused)
These headlines may not be very informative, but when I get a more complete report, hopefully later this summer, I will make it available (probably on the Eurames Web page).
If anyone are interested in more information, you may contact the four Nordic representatives in the Steering Committe:
Denmark: Gretty Mirdal, Copenhagen U: [member of Group
7]
Finland: Tuomo Melasuo, Tampere [Group 3]
Sweden: Jan Hjärpe, Lund: [Group 6]
Norway: Knut S.
Vikør, ici present [Group 6]
Present in Granada were also Jørgen Bæk Simonsen [7], Helena Hallenberg [6], Irmeli Perho [3] and Karin Ådahl [5]
Applications for junior scholarships should still be directed to ESF in Strasbourg, see the formal requirements on the ESF info poster in your university.
ESF: G. Darmon, 1, quai Lezay-Marsénia, F-67080 Strasbourg Cedex, fax +33-8837 0532
Carsten Niebuhr instituttet,
Snorresgade 17-19,
DK-2300 København S.
Denmark
The telephone and fax numbers as well as email addresses remain the same as before.
Knut
Responsible for this Web page is Knut S. Vikør. Archived 28.6.96