NSM

Nordisk Midtaustenbulletin
35, September 1997

Tema:

New books

Tetz Rooke: In my childhood: A study of Arabic autobiography. Stockholm (Almqvist and Wiksell, distributors) 1997, ii, 304 pp.

The purpose of this study is to analyse the development of a modem form of Arabic prose literature, the autobiography of childhood, and explore its generic characteristics. The basis of this investigation is a representative corpus of Arabic autobiographies rich in childhood material published between 1929 and 1988 by twenty writers from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Palestine and Morocco. Starting from a wider sample of autobiographical texts it contrasts autobiography with its contemporary adjacent genres and historical cognates in Arabic literature. Special interest is accorded to the divergence of autobiography from the novel. The study reaches the conclusion that childhood autobiography is a distinct genre in modem Arabic literature with a tradition of its own, but that there also exist many mixed forms of autobiography that relativize this independence. It also identifies three typical themes of the genre developed by the Arab authors to express their personal identity: the eternal imprint of their birthplace, escape from poverty and rebellion against the family. [From the Abstract.] This book is the author's doctoral dissertation, defended Friday 26 September 1997.

We have also by chance come across in a bibliography another relevant doctoral dissertation, defended in 1997, for which I only have the reference:

Khaled Salih, State-making, nation-building and the military: Iraq 1941-1958. Göteborg University: Göteborg studies in Politics 41, 1996, 177 pp.

Another item which I found by chance through on a mailing list - the History in Africa list - is also some monhts old, but we haven't reported it earlier:

Karl-G. Prasse: The Tuaregs: The Blue People. Copenhagen: Museum Tusculanum Press 1995. 85 pp. Maps, photographs, bibliography. $34.00 (cloth), ISBN 8-7728-9313-3.

I excerpt from the review on the list: "The Tuareg: The Blue People is a fairly recent addition to the English language literature on the Tuareg. Written by Karl-G. Prasse, professor of linguistics at the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, it was translated from the Danish by Poul Tornø and published by the Museum Tusculanum Press." It discusses the culture, history and current political situation of the Tuareg in the various countries where they are present in the Sahara. As noted, it is a translation from a previous edition in Danish.

Øystein Noreng: Oil and Islam: Social and Economic Issues. London: John Wiley & Sons Ltd. 1997 352pp cloth $74.95

In the 1970s and early 1980s, the Middle East and North Africa appeared as exceptionally successful, but the region now appears as a resounding economic and social failure. Social criticism and political opposition increasingly refer to religion. Islam is not only a religion, but was historically also a political and social project. The major aim of this work is to demonstrate how the mismanagement of the petroleum wealth has caused serious economic problems and rising social tensions within a framework of unrepresentative political institutions. In an Islamist perspective, oil should not finance wasteful consumption or excessive military expenditure, but public welfare. Abstaining from interest calculations, as is Islamist practice, the long-term perspective on oil revenues gains weight compared to short-term income needs. Hence there could be a case for keeping more oil in the ground. Following on from this, the book then looks forward to how the oil interests of these countries could be coupled with Islamic economic principles [from publisher's blurb]. Noreng is a professor at the Norwegian School of Management (BI), Oslo.

Konferanserapportar, Danmark

Eg nemnte sist at vi har fått to rapportar frå det danske Mellemøstnettverkets konferanser, men at eg ikkje visste korleis dei var tilgjengelige. Det veit eg nå, utgivaren har gitt denne utfyllande beskjeden:

"De to rapporter koster DKK 50,00, og kan rekvireres på denne adresse: The Carsten Niebuhr Instiute, Snorresgade 17-19, DK-2300 Copenhagen S. Tel. [+45] 3532 9092, fax. [+45] 3532 8926; att. Christel Braae, ME-Network." -- Carsten Niebuhr-inst. ligg altså ikkje i Leifsgade, slik eg ved ein feil skreiv.

Göteborg, adresseendring

Vi har fått følgande melding frå Centrum för studiet av Kulturkontakt og internationell migration, Göteborg:

Centrum KIM har nu flyttat till ny adress:

Brogatan 4
S-413 01 Göteborg, Sverige

Tel, fax och e-mails samma som förut.
Åke Sander

World History Conference in Oslo

The 19th world conference of Historians will be held in August 2000 in Oslo. This is a major affair, with an expected 4,000 strong attendance, and covers all fields of history. It is worth noting here, however, because several of the suggested themes deal with our part of the world - partly because one of the four main directions of the conference is `global history'. Thus, out of twenty `specialized themes', we find `Muslim societies over the centuries' along with general themes which may also interest Middle Easterners (`Demography: Bridging family and population; a comparison of societies in Asia and Europe'; `Religion and gender'; 'Slavery and other forms of unfree labour'). Among the twenty-five Round-table discussion themes are `Orientalist historians and the writing of Arab history', and also `Encounters and confrontations between European and non-European legal and judicial systems' seems relevant to us. Thus, not without interest for Middle Easterners. I am told that there may also be organized `fringe meetings' of Mediterranean and Middle East historians.
Those wanting to go should note that the deadline for suggesting papers or panels is as early as 31 March 1998; thus the early warning in this bulletin. The address for subsmissions is, Prof. Renate Bridenthal, The Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, 33 West 42 Street,New York, NY 10036-8099, USA.

Conferences

Mostly from the DAVO newsletter.

Jobbtilbud, vitsk. ass., Bergen

-----CHR. MICHELSENS INSTITUTT SØKJER VIT.ASS./PROSJEKTMEDARBEIDAR

Midt-Austen, og spesielt Israel/Palestina, er eit av CMI sine hovudsatsingsområde. Institusjonen er allereie inne med større samarbeidsprogram i regionen. Frå hausten 1997 vil dette engasjementet verta ytterlegare utvida, gjennom eit samarbeid med to palestinske forskingsinstitutt. Prosjektet skal medverka teoretisk til utviklinga av eit opplæringsprogram om demokrati og individuelle rettar for israelske og palestinske skular. Prosjektet er finansiert av norsk UD.

I den samanhang søkjer me etter vitskapleg assistent til eit i utgangspunktet 6 månaders prosjektengasjement. Me søkjer etter personar med idear, formulerte gjennom kortfatta prosjektskisse, til relevante, avgrensa og gjennomførbare prosjekt re laterte til tematikken demokratisering og tilhøvet mellom individ og kollektiv. Problemstillingar kan gjerne vera komparative og teoretiske, men bør likevel relatera seg til forestillingar om individ og fellesskap i ein Midt Austen-kontekst. I tillegg til godt gjennomført hovudfag (samfunnsvitskap/ev. humaniora), bør søkjar såleis kunna demonstrera spesifikk Midt-Austen kompetanse. Den tilsette vil verta pålagt ansvar for administrativ oppfølging og koordinering av prosjektet.

Stillinga er plassert i lønnstrinn 30 i Statens lønnsregulativ. Nærare informasjon om stillinga kan ein få ved å kontakta Dag Jørund Lønning, CMI, tlf. 55574241, e-post: dagjl@amadeus.cmi.no

Søknad sendest til Chr. Michelsens Institutt, Fantoftvegen 38, 5036 Fantoft.
Søknadsfrist: 30. september 1997

Job offer: Research group, Bochum

We have received from the Bochum the following job announcement, directed to the Society; which probably means that applications from our countries will be welcome:

"The Department for Oriental and Indian Studies, Ruhr University, Bochum, Federal Republic of Germany, offers the following vacancy to be filled early in 1998:

Head of the Junior Research Group: "Networks of Islamic Scholarship and Education in Local and Transnational Contexts (18th-20th Centuries)"

Funded by the Volkswagen Foundation, the group will focus on the utilization of social networks for the description and analysis of transformation processes in Muslim societies. It comprises four sub-projects of comparative research in Islamic education and scholarly culture in selected areas of the Islamic world.

By its programme "Junior Research Groups at Universities" the Volkswagen Foundation wants to provide young and excellent scholars and scientists with the opportunity to organize their own independent research team. The post of the Head of the Research Group (BAT 1a) is to be filled for five years. His / her field of duties includes research in one sub-project, coordination and planning of the Group's activities, and lecturing at the Department (at least 2 hours per week).

Application is open to young scholars of Islamic studies or of Oriental Studies, Ottoman, Turkish or Iranian Studies with an Islamological orientation (age to 35 years, Ph.D.). Applicants are required to have research experience in Islam in Russia/Central Asia (relevant publications desirable) and a thorough knowledge of Arabic, Turkish, Persian, and Russian as well as German and English.

Applications including the ususal credentials and a sketch of the applicant's research interests are to be sent before 30 November to:
Prof. Dr. Stefan Reichmuth,
Ruhr-Universität Bochum,
Seminar für Orientalistik und Indologie,
GB 2, Universitättsstraße150, D-44780 Bochum.
The Ruhr-Universität seeks to promote women in research and instruction.

Job Offers, USA

Unfortunately, we skipped this section in the last issue, however little was offered over the summer, Most of the below, all that has appered since June, came in the last three weeks. All from the H-Net Job survey.

College of Charleston (SC)

COMPARATIVE ANCIENT HISTORY: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and/or South Asia Tenure-track position beginning August, 1998, at Assistant Professor level. Ph.D. by time of appointment, potential for excellence in teaching courses in World or European survey and in at least two of the following areas of specialization: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and /or South Asia. Additional opportunity to teach in M.A. Program as well as interdisciplinary programs (e.g., African Studies, Jewish Studies, Women's Studies, and the prospective Asian Studies). Send letter of application, c.v., transcripts, and three letters of recommendation by October 17, 1997, to Dr. Jung-fang Tsai, Chair, Search Committee, Department of History, Maybank Hall, Room 315, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, South Carolina 29424-0001. AA/EOE, applications from women and minorities encouraged. [1.9.97; 15.9.97]

Penn State University (PA)

MEDIEVAL JEWISH STUDIES: The Department of History and Religious Studies Program, in conjunction with the Jewish Studies Program, seeks to make an appointment at the rank of assistant professor, tenure track, specializing in the history of Judaism, with undergraduate teaching competence in the period from rabbinic into the Haskala. Preference will be given to candidates with a primary or secondary research focus on the relationship of Jewish to Christian thought, especially later medieval-early modern, including Christian Hebraism. Applicants must have a strong research agenda, with Ph.D. in hand; preference will be given to those with a publication record, and a demonstrated ability to teach both large undergraduate surveys and upper-level and graduate courses. Applications due by October 15, 1997, with preliminary interviews at the 16th Century Studies meeting in Atlanta and the AAR-SBL meeting in San Francisco. Send current vita, along with the names of three references to: Baruch Halpern, Chair, Jewish Studies, 108 Weaver Building, Penn State University, University Park, PA 16802-5500. AA/EOE. [8.9.97]

The Institute of Ismaili Studies (UK)

RESEARCH ASSOCIATE/LECTURER: The Institute of Ismaili Studies is involved in promoting scholarship and learning on Muslim cultures and societies, historical as well as contemporary, and a better understanding of their relationship with other societies and faiths. The Department of Academic Research is inviting applications for a position of research associate/lecturer in Islamic studies. Applicants will preferably hold a PhD in one of the following fields of Islamic studies: a) Quranic studies, b) esoteric traditions in Islam; c) law, ethics, and society. Apart from undertaking research and teaching in the Institute's Graduate Programme in Islamic Studies and Humanities, the successful candidate will be expected to participate in various departmental projects and to undertake administrative and organisational duties associated with the position. Salary will be determined on the appropriate academic scale, with placement depending on the qualifications and experience of the successful candidate. Review of applications begins 1 August 1997 and will continue until the position is filled. SEND letter of application with CV, and three letters of reference to: Dr. Farhad Daftary, Head, Department of Academic Research, The Institute of Ismaili Studies, 42-44 Grosvenor Gardens, London, SW1W 0EB, United Kingdom. TEL: 44-171-881-6000, FAX: 44-171-881-6040. [21.7.97]

University of California, Los Angeles

OTTOMAN HISTORY: The Department of History at the University of California, Los Angeles invites applications for a tenured appointment in Ottoman history at the associate or full professor level. The department seeks a scholar with a distinguished, international record of scholarship and teaching whose research is concentrated on the Ottoman empire during the 15th to 18th centuries. Position will remain open until filled; review of applications will begin December 1, 1997. Send letter of application, vita, publications or other writing samples and three letters of recommendation to Richard von Glahn, Department Chair, UCLA Department of History, 6265 Bunche Hall, Box 951473, Los Angeles, California 90095-1473. The History Department of UCLA is committed to greater diversity in its curriculum offerings and faculty appointments. UCLA is an AA-EOE. [8.9.97]

Georgetown University (Washington DC)

OTTOMAN HISTORY: Assistant Professor in Ottoman history. Research interests in the Ottoman Empire from the 15th through the 19th centuries with a focus on the central parts of the Empire. Ability to train students in reading Ottoman Turkish texts and documents. The candidate will be involved in the curriculum at all levels: the undergraduate History and the Arab and Turkish programs, the Masters program in Arab Studies, and the Doctoral program in History, working with students in the fields of Middle East, Russian, and European History.

Candidates should send their cv, letter of interest, and three letters of recommendation as soon as possible, since we will begin considering applications in November. Final deadline to submit applications is December 1. Materials should be sent to: Professor Judith Tucker, Ottomanist Search Committee, Department of History, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057. Georgetown University is an AA/EOE. [15.9.97]

The University of Dayton (OH)

MIDDLE EASTERN HISTORY: The history department of the University of Dayton invites applications for a tenure-track assistant professorship, beginning fall 1998. Applicants should have as their primary field of research a topic dealing with some aspect of Middle Eastern history. Secondary field in Europe or Asia preferred. A concomitant requirement of the position is a willingness and ability to teach introductory sections of Western civilization and to participate effectively in the university's general education program. Candidates should demonstrate a balanced and ongoing commitment to both teaching and research and have the Ph.D. in hand by time of appointment. Send letter of application, c.v., three letters of reference, and copies of academic transcripts by December 1, 1997 to Dr. John Heitmann, MEH Search, History Dept., University of Dayton, 300 College Park, Dayton, OH 45469-1540. The University of Dayton is an AA/EOE. [15.9.97]

California State University Long Beach (CA)

MIDDLE EAST HISTORY: Tenure-Track Faculty Position (department and field) is available, beginning Fall, 1997. Please contact the appropriate Department Office for more information before applying for a position by writing to: Chair, Department of [ ], California State University, Long Beach, California, 1250 Bellflower Boulevard, Long Beach, CA 90840.

In addition to meeting fully its obligations of nondiscrimination under federal and state law, CSULB is committed to creating a community in which a diverse population can live, and work, in an atmosphere of tolerance, civility, and respect for the rights and sensibilities of each individual, without regard to economic status, ethnic background, political views, sexual orientation, or other personal characteristics or beliefs. AA/EEO/ TITLE IX [Abbreviated. Check http://www.csulb.edu or H-Net guide, 22.9.97]

New York University (NY)

MUSLIM MIDDLE EAST: The Department of Middle Eastern Studies at New York University expects to make a tenure-track appointment at the assistant professor level in the history of the Muslim Middle East, seventh-fifteenth centuries, beginning Fall 1998, pending administrative and budgetary approval. The department is seeking candidates who share its interests in historically-grounded, comparative and interdisciplinary approaches to the study of the Middle East, and will complement its strengths in history, anthropology, literature and languages. Candidates must have the Ph.D. by the time of appointment, demonstrate potential for superior scholarly accomplishment, and be prepared to teach a wide range of graduate and undergraduate courses and supervise doctoral dissertation research. Candidates should send a detailed letter, c.v., and at least three letters of recommendation by October 15, 1997, to: Chair, Department of Middle Eastern Studies, New York University. NYU encourages applications from women and members of minority groups. [8.9.97]

The Evergreen State College (WA)

MIDDLE EAST STUDIES: Broadly trained person with advanced graduate studies (Ph.D. preferred), research and teaching experience in Middle East Studies with an interdisciplinary emphasis. The successful candidate will have the ability to teach in two of the following areas: history, culture, politics, economy, gender studies, and/or Islamic religion and political movements. The ability to teach one Middle Eastern language is also desirable. Review of complete files starts December 1, 1997 [and continues until finalists are selected].

This opening is a Regular position; such faculty are typically first appointed to 3-year term contracts and are eligible for permanent appointment after 3-6 years of full-time teaching at Evergreen. Position requires an advanced degree, with strong preference given to candidates with a Ph.D. or analog (e.g. MFA), and broad interdisciplinary training, experience, or interest. Candidates for position must demonstrate potential for excellence in teaching and in collaborative work.

To apply, send curriculum vitae, letter of application which highlights qualifications for the position, 1-2 page statement of teaching philosophy and practice, 1-2 page statement of multicultural experience/expertise, example of scholarly or artistic work, evaluations by students, and 2-3 current letters of reference. Finalists may be asked to submit additional materials. Address application and inquiries to Faculty Hiring Coordinator, The Evergreen State College, L-2211, Olympia, WA 98505; call (360) 866-6000, ext. 6861 (voice) or TDD line at (360) 866-6834; or e-mail blodgetd@elwha.evergreen.edu. [Abbreviated. Check http://www.evergreen.edu or H-Net guide, 15.9.97]

University of California at Los Angeles

WEST AFRICAN HISTORY: We are pleased to post the following announcement for an open search in the history of West Africa at UCLA. Inquiries may be made to Professor Edward A. Alpers , who is chairing the search committee, or to Professors Christopher Ehret or William Worger . The Department of History at the University of California, Los Angeles invites applications for a regular tenure-track or tenured (rank open) appointment in West African history. The department seeks a scholar with a distinguished record of scholarship and teaching. Scholars working in any period and subfield of West African history are encouraged to apply. Position will remain open until filled; review of applications will begin November 1st, 1997. Send letter of application, vita, publications or other writing samples, and three letters of recommendation to Richard von Glahn, Department Chair, UCLA Department of History, 6265 Bunche Hall, Box 951473, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1473. The History Department of UCLA is committed to greater diversity in its curriculum offerings and faculty appointments. UCLA is an AA-EOE. [14.7.97; 8.9.97]

Duke University (NC)

WEST AFRICAN HISTORY: The Department of History and the African and African-American Studies program of Duke University invite applications and nominations for an appointment as associate or full professor beginning September 1998. Applications will be considered in all thematic specializations and interests, including the African diaspora. Preference will be given to candidates with strengths in the history of west Africa south of the desert edge, central Africa, or southern Africa. Submit letter of application, curriculum vitae, and the names of three referees to Janet Ewald, Chair, Africa Search Committee, Department of History, Box 90719, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708. Applications received by December 1 will be guaranteed consideration. Duke University is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer. [22.9.97]

Knut

Back Home Contents Index Forwards

Responsible for this Web page is Knut S. Vikør. Archived 25.9.97