2015 AIMS Graduate Student Writing Workshop

2015 AIMS Graduate Student Writing Workshop

October 10-11, 2015

Center for Middle Eastern Studies at

University of California, Berkeley

The American Institute for Maghrib Studies (AIMS) invites doctoral and masters candidates to its 16th Dissertation Workshop scheduled for October 10-11, 2015 at the Center for Middle Eastern Studies, University of California, Berkeley.

The workshop provides the opportunity for current doctoral or master candidates to present, discuss, and receive valuable feedback on work related to North Africa. Accepted applicants will submit a piece of writing from their dissertations or theses at any stage (prospectus, dissertation chapter, or article draft).  Participants will read and prepare discussion of one or more other submissions in addition to presenting their own.  Scholars who have worked on North Africa in a variety of disciplines will offer feedback, as well as perspectives on publishing, job market conditions, and other topics germane to professional academic development.  The workshop further affords the opportunity to meet and develop relationships with colleagues in the field.

All disciplines are welcome.  In the past they have included: history, political science, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, comparative literature, psychology, public health and more.  There will be some funding for travel expenses and per diem allowances.  Space and funding are limited.

• This workshop is open only to AIMS members. To become a student member (only $50) or renew your membership, please visit the AIMS website at www.AIMSNorthAfrica.org or contact the AIMS Executive Office at aims@aimsnorthafrica.org.
  
  
• Applicants must send a current C.V. and short (300-word) topic proposal to the AIMS Graduate Student Association President David Stenner atdstenner@ucdavis.edu.  
  
  
• Selected participants will be notified by email and asked to submit a chapter/prospectus/ article for review.
  
  
• The deadline for submissions is August 1, 2015.

Please share this announcement with interested colleagues and friends!

This event is sponsored by the American Institute for Maghrib Studies and the Center for Middle Eastern Studies at the University of California, Berkeley.

http://aimsnorthafrica.org/AC/adw.cfm

Europe in the Middle East – the Middle East in Europe (EUME) 2015 Call for Applications

CALL FOR APPLICATIONS

5 POSTDOCTORAL FELLOWSHIPS FOR 

 ACADEMIC YEAR 2015/2016

(Location: Berlin / Closing Date 24 April 2015)

The Berlin-based Forum Transregionale Studien invites scholars to apply for five postdoctoral fellowships for the research program europe in the middle east – the middle east in europe (EUME). 

EUME seeks to rethink key concepts and premises that link and divide Europe and the Middle East. The program draws on the international expertise of scholars in and outside of Germany and is embedded in university and extra-university research institutions in Berlin. It supports historical-critical philology, rigorous engagement with the literatures of the Middle East and their histories, the social history of cities and the study of Middle Eastern political and philosophical thought as central fields of research not only for area or cultural studies, but also for European intellectual history and other academic disciplines. The program explores modernity as a historical space and conceptual frame.

EUME is interested in developing new fields of research that bridge the gap between political science approaches and cultural studies in cooperation with Cilja Harders, Center for Middle Eastern and North African Politics, Freie Universität Berlin, and Rachid Ouaissa, Political Science Departement, Center for Near and Middle Eastern Studies, Philipps-Universität Marburg.

FELLOWSHIPS

The fellowships are intended primarily for scholars of art history, history, literature, philology, political philosophy, political science, religion and sociology who want to carry out their research projects in connection with the Berlin program. Applicants should be at the postdoctoral level and should have obtained their doctorate within the last seven years. Fellows gain the opportunity to pursue research projects of their own choice within the framework of one of the above-mentioned research fields and in relation to the overall program 'Europe in the Middle East - the Middle East in Europe'. Successful applicants will be fellows of EUME at the Forum Transregionale Studien, and associate members of one of the university or non-university research institutes listed below.

As a rule, the fellowships start on 1 October 2015 and will end on 31 July 2016. Postdoctoral fellows will receive a monthly stipend of 2.500 € plus supplement depending on their personal situation. Organisational support regarding visa, insurances, housing, etc. will be provided. Fellows are obliged to work in Berlin and to help shape the seminars and working discussions related to their research field. Scholars are also invited to apply with their own funding. The working language of EUME is English.

  

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

An application should be made in explicit relation to one of the research fields and consist of

-  a curriculum vitae,

- a project description (no longer than 5 pages, and including a title), stating what the scholar will work on in Berlin if granted a fellowship,

-  a sample of scholarly work (maximum 20 pages from an article, conference paper, or dissertation chapter) ,

-  the names of two university faculty members who can serve as referees (no letters of recommendation required).

The application should be submitted by e-mail as three separate word documents or PDF files in English and should be received by 24 April 2015, sent in to:

eume@trafo-berlin.de

Europe in the Middle East - the Middle East in Europe (EUME)

c/o Forum Transregionale Studien
Attn: Georges Khalil

Wallotstrasse 14, 14193 Berlin

Fax +49 30 - 89 001 440

For further information on EUME and for detailed information on the research fields, please visit: http://www.eume-berlin.de .

AUA Semester of Service

APSA Call for 2015 MENA Workshop Fellows

American Political Science Association

“The Resource Curse in MENA”

May 17-21 in Qatar; follow -up workshop in December in Kuwait 

APSA is seeking applications from PhD students and early-career scholars who would like to participate in the 2015 MENA Workshops program on "The Resource Curse in the Middle East and North Africa." This two-part workshop program is a unique opportunity to network with colleagues from across the MENA region and develop discreet research findings related to the impact of rent wealth on democracy, state-building, political stability, and state-society relations.

The first one-week workshop will be hosted by Qatar University’s Social and Economic Survey Research Institute (SESRI) from May 17-21. A follow-up workshop in early December will be held at the Alsalam Center for Development and Strategic Studies in Kuwait. The organizers, with support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, will cover all the costs of participation for up to 26 qualified applicants. The working language of the workshop is English.

The workshop will be led by Professors Justin Gengler (Social and Economic Survey Research Institute, Qatar University), Michael Herb (Georgia State University, USA), Ghanim Alnajjar (Alsalam Center for Development and Strategic Studies and Kuwait University), AlanoudAl Sharekh (Women's Research and Studies Center, Kuwait University), and Mark Tessler (University of Michigan, USA). 

Additional information and application instructions are available online at http://community.apsanet.org/mena/2015-call-for-application. 

The application deadline is March 14, 2015.

Call for Papers 2015 – The Journal of Rotterdam Islamic and Social Sciences

The Islamic University of Rotterdam (IUR) has a heavy and important task in the West; first of all Islam will be taught by Muslim and non-Muslim scholars. This institution should also fulfill a responsible task as a bridge between Islamic World and Western countries, especially by influencing the public opinion and dealing with the public debates. Also the problems of integration of Muslims into the western societies without losing their own norms and values take our high priority.

For the research aspect, IUR annually publishes an academic journal, the Journal of Rotterdam Islamic and Social Sciences, which may contribute to solve social problems, firstly in the Netherlands and secondly in the whole world. The Journal focuses on themes such as philosophy, epistemology, study of religion and comparative studies, takes a critical-analytical approach to the most important contemporary theoretical issues and questions, and aims to create a place for conversation among the elite, scholars, and experts of the above fields about Islamic and social subjects.

The Journal of Rotterdam Islamic and Social Sciences is proud to accept papers for its upcoming edition: Volume 6, Number 1, 2015.  Areas of subject: Theology, Religion, Islam, Social Sciences, Islamic Economics, Psychology, Social and Cultural Studies, Ethnography

Please send your academic paper by e-mail to info@jriss.nl and info@iur.nl

Deadline of submission: SEPTEMBER 30, 2015.

You may submit your paper until this deadline; all papers shall be gathered and evaluated by the Board after the submission closes on SEPTEMBER 30, 2015.

The list of selected papers shall be published on the website www.jriss.nl<http://www.jriss.nl> at the end of October 2015.

ASMEA 8th Annual Conference - Research Grants

 

APPLY NOW!

The Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA) is pleased to offer the following grant opportunities to its Members in conjunction with the Eighth Annual ASMEA Conference to be held on October 29-31, 2015 in Washington, D.C.

ASMEA Research Grants

ASMEA will offer research grants of up to $2500 to qualified scholars and students engaged in the study of the Middle East and Africa. Application deadline is Monday, March 2, 2015. Find out more information, HERE.

Moroccan Studies Research Grant

ASMEA and the Moroccan-American Cultural Center (MACC) will offer research grants to scholars and students whose research is focused on the Kingdom of Morocco. Grants of up to $2500 will be awarded to qualified applicants. Application deadline is Monday, March 2, 2015. Find out more information, HERE.



Become a MEMBER of ASMEA or REGISTER for the Eighth Annual Conference.


Any questions or for more information, contact ASMEA at 202.429.8860 or info@asmeascholars.org.

Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa

www.asmeascholars.org

UT-Austin Middle Eastern Studies Language Summer Institute

Arabic and Persian Summer Institutes now accepting applications!

• Ten-week intensive program running from June 4 to August 14, 2015
• Meets FLAS fellowship requirements
• Equivalent to one full academic year
• Emphasis on communicative teaching methodology
• Priority application deadline March 2, 2015

  

For more information, click here.

Arabic, Persian, and Turkish Language Immersion Institute (APTLII) Summer Program 2015

The Arabic, Persian, and Turkish Language Immersion Institute (APTLII) at the University of Wisconsin-Madison is accepting applications for the summer 2015 program. APTLII is an eight-week intensive summer language immersion program for undergraduates, graduate students, and professionals. Outside of the classroom, students commit to using their target language at all times - in their shared living space on campus, at meals, and at co-curricular activities that combine to create a language immersion experience.

Courses are offered at levels ranging from Beginner to Advanced (depending on sufficient enrollment), and provide two semesters of academic credit. Instruction is given in small groups taught by native speakers and experienced language teachers. The classes are intensive, involving a minimum of 4.5 hours contact hours Mondays through Fridays, with a packed schedule of afternoon and evening activities and workshops. APTLII meets the requirements for Title VI Foreign Language & Area Studies (FLAS) fellowships. Our$7,000 fee covers tuition, housing, and meals.

For more information about APTLII, including student newsletters from past summers and the current application, visit our website at http://aptlii.global.wisc.edu/.

CME Summer and Winter Programs

Coexistence in the Middle East (CME) is an intercultural academic field program at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, ranked among the world’s top 100 universities.

The 6-credit summer session, one of the most popular summer programs at Hebrew University’s Rothberg International School (RIS) for three consecutive years, will take place from July 8 - August 5, 2015.

An intensive 12-day winter session will also be offered from December 27, 2015 - January 7, 2016 for students, faculty members, diplomats, policy makers, and other professionals. Custom dates may be arranged for institutions and organizations.

Through an extensive series of field trips and encounters, CME offers a unique, hands-on opportunity to engage different national, religious, and ideological groups and learn first-hand about the challenges and complexities of coexistence in Israel, a crossroads of humanity.

Narratives and Realities: Inside the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict  | 3 credits
	Gain insight into the Israeli-Palestinian conflict through a wide range of perspectives, realities, and initiatives. Visit key sites and meet with Israeli and Palestinian government officials, opinion leaders, political figures, and social activists to broaden your understanding of the conflict, its complexity, and its possible evolution and solutions. Learn More | View Syllabus Photo: 2014 Program - Encounter with Israeli-Palestinian Bereaved Families for Reconciliation and Peace
Israel and the Post-Arab Spring: An Interactive View | 3 credits
	Explore the religious, political, and cultural forces shaping the post-Arab Spring Middle East. Gain an in-depth understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing different societies and governments in the region through a series of field trips and discussions with regional players and experts. Learn More | View Syllabus Photo: 2014 Program - Talk by Paul Hirschon, Deputy Spokesperson, Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs

For more information about CME, please refer to our website, program video, and 2015 pdf brochure (www.coexistencetrip.net/pdf?ref=facm).

Middle East History and Theory (MEHAT) Conference; May 1-2, 2015

The 30th Annual Middle East History and Theory (MEHAT) Conference will take place at the University of Chicago on Friday and Saturday, May 1–2, 2015. We are pleased to invite students and faculty to submit papers for the conference. 

As always, we welcome a broad range of submissions from across disciplines, including (but not limited to) anthropology, art history, cinema and media studies, economics, history, literature, philosophy, politics, religion, sociology… or any other topic concerning the Middle East from the advent of Islam to the present day. This year we are particularly interested in submissions relating to the fields of modern Arabic literature and Central Eurasian studies. A small number of conference participants with papers in those areas may be eligible to receive a modest travel subsidy.

We are thrilled to announce that the keynote address at the 2015 conference will be delivered by Michael Cook of Princeton University. 

Those wishing to participate should send a 250-word abstract to the conference organizers at MEHATConference@gmail.com by Friday, February 20, 2015. We will accept both individual papers and prearranged themed panels; the latter format is especially encouraged.

For the most up-to-date information on the conference, please refer to the MEHAT website (http://cas.uchicago.edu/workshops/mehat/conference). 

Important announcements will also be shared through the MEHAT Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Middle-East-History-and-Theory-MEHAT/175313945840631).

Call for Papers: Middle Eastern and North African Undergraduate Organization Conference

The Middle East and North Africa Undergraduate Organization (MENA-U), the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (CMES), and the School of Middle Eastern and North African Studies (MENAS) at the University of Arizona cordially invite you to participate in the 1st Annual Middle Eastern and North African Undergraduate Organization Conference to be held Thursday March 5th, and Friday March 6th, 2015 at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona.

Keynote Speaker:
Roger Allen, Professor of Arabic Language & Literature, University of Pennsylvania  will be this year’s keynote speaker. On Friday March 6th he will deliver a talk entitled “The 1001 Nights: A Tale of Two Tale Collections.”

LEAP's Project SHINE

Project SHINE

Summer Help IN English

Apply to LEAP’s Project SHINE and Teach English in the Palestinian Refugee camps of Lebanon this Summer

Apply today

Deadline: February 13, 2015  

ABOUT LEAP

Learning for the Empowerment and Advancement of Palestinians (LEAP) is an educational empowerment program for Palestinian refugee-youth in Lebanon dedicated to nurturing the intellectual growth and creative curiosity of our students. LEAP encourages youth to become agents of change by supporting them in their educational pursuits during their most formative years.

LEAP aims to illuminate the plight of Palestinian refugees, particularly in Lebanon, through volunteer-run educational programs and scholarship opportunities; simultaneously facilitating a rich cultural exchange, and deepening the understanding of Palestinian refugees. It provides a space in which ideas, goals and aspirations can be nurtured to their full potential. Learn more...

PROJECT SHINE - Summer Help IN English

The SHINE project is a summer intensive English program.  LEAP recruits volunteers to teach English and extracurricular activities, while living and working in the refugee camps of Lebanon. In turn, our volunteers learn about the Palestinian refugee reality in general, but particularly in Lebanon where the situation for Palestinian refugees is particularly dire, especially in recent years due to the Syrian refugee crisis.  Volunteers and students share a mutual learning experience.  Upon return to their home communities, volunteers are expected to raise awareness about the plight of Palestinian refugees and amplify the voices of refugees through report-backs, information sessions, and other community events.

In addition to the remedial English classes, SHINE offers students weekly field trips and recreational activities to encourage physical and emotional growth at a pivotal stage in students’ lives.  Some of these activities include yoga, debke (a Palestinian folkloric dance), theater, social media, film, photography, poetry, and creative writing.

WHY LEAP IS IMPORTANT

Only one third of refugee-students enrolled in first grade at UNRWA schools go on to complete their high school education.  One major factor contributing to high dropout rates is failure to pass the Lebanese Brevet high-school entrance examination.  The exam is administered in English and Palestinian refugee students exhibit high failure rates in marked contrast to their Lebanese counterparts simply because they are not proficient in English. 

Project SHINE provides a summer session in remedial English in order to prepare students for the Brevet examination, strengthen their English proficiency, and provide a space for intellectual and recreational activities to change the routine of camp life during the summer and nurture children’s intellectual curiosity and growth.

LEAP EXPECTATIONS

LEAP seeks dynamic, compassionate, and motivated volunteers who enjoy working with young adults; value the right to quality education for all people; believe in refugee-rights; have a passion for social justice; maintain respect and diplomacy in their interactions with people of different backgrounds; and are capable of working under challenging circumstances.

Volunteers must be prepared to work in small classrooms with sporadic or scarce electricity, extreme heat, and limited resources. Volunteers must also be able to endure difficult living conditions such as cramped and uncomfortable apartments, as well as extreme heat and discomfort. Most importantly, LEAP volunteers must be culturally sensitive and carry themselves in a mature, appropriate, and respectful manner at all times during the program.

We strongly encourage interested applicants to apply. This is a unique opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of the Palestinian refugee reality in Lebanon. The Program has consistently been described as a meaningful, unforgettable experience, for youth and volunteers alike, and we hope that you will join our team.

GET INVOLVED:

To apply to Project SHINE, please complete the online application before the deadline on 

13 February 2015.  Apply today!

To learn more, support our projects and/or partner with us, please visit the LEAP website.

Contact: info@leap-program.org

Call for papers: AIMS Workshop

AIMS Workshop on Linking Public Opinion and Political Action

May 30 – June 1, 2015

We invite applications for the 2015 AIMS annual workshop, “Linking Public Opinion and Political Action,” to be held May 30 - June 1, 2015 in Tunis, Tunisia.  The workshop aims to strengthen our understanding of the link between public opinion, elite behavior and outcomes. There is often a gap between public attitudes and political outcomes.  For instance, public opinion surveys show widespread support for democracy in Egypt, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya, but this support has not translated into smooth transition processes toward democracy. Similar gaps are found with regard to service provision, foreign policy and other outcomes, and the distance between preferences and outcomes varies across time, between countries and sub-regionally.

There are several potential explanations for these gaps.  It may be that elites remain unaware of public sentiment even when relevant polls exist, or they distrust the information that reaches them. It may also be that some segments of the public are more relevant than others, and elites respond to their interests.  Or, potentially, that pressure from those with political connections or other competing interests overrides public concerns – at least in some places, at some times.

The workshop will bring together scholars and policymakers from North Africa and the US/Europe to examine the relationship between public opinion and government behavior and policymaking on a series of issues:  elections, democratization, social service delivery, cultural and religious policy, and foreign policy. The goal will be to examine the extent to which public opinion and elite behavior are congruent; to determine the reasons for convergence or divergence; to engage in theory-building regarding the relationship between public opinion and elite behavior; and, where possible, to offer suggestions about ways to narrow the gap between ordinary citizens and decision-makers.

The workshop will center around four interactive roundtables based on substantive areas of public concern and a fifth session that will summarize and outline conclusions.  Substantive panels are expected to focus, respectively, on governance and political accountability, social service delivery, cultural and religious policy, and foreign and security policy.  At each roundtable, panelists will reflect on and endeavor to explain the relationships between public opinion and ultimate outcomes in the thematic area under consideration. 

To facilitate this discussion, the co-organizers will circulate results of available public opinion polls regarding the topic at least one month before the meeting.  Prior to the conference, panelists will be asked to reflect on findings based on these data, or other survey data to which they may have access, and to assess their significance and impact in relation to key events and elite action, or inaction, in selected (or all) Maghrib countries.   These reflections and assessments will be summarized in memoranda that will be circulated in advance of the meeting and then briefly presented as a starting point for the discussion at each thematic roundtable.

The results of roundtable discussions will be transcribed and form the basis of five joint papers: one on each topic and a final paper that aims to summarize both Maghrib- or country-specific lessons learned and more generalizable analytical insights. These papers will be drafted by the co-organizers and panel chairs, circulated for comment and review among the participants on each panel, and then submitted for a special issue of JNAS.  

We invite scholars and policymakers who have worked on these issues from different perspectives (e.g., institutional, elite, public opinion/political behavior, and policymaking) to submit expressions of interest.  Please include your CV, a brief statement of interest that includes the substantive questions you would like to address, the theoretical perspective you bring to the table, and your approach to anticipating the link between public opinion, elite behavior and outcomes. Applications are due February 15^th and can be submitted in English, French, or Arabic. Panelists will be selected by March 1^st. Selected panelists will submit memoranda by May 1, 2015.

Please send submissions or inquiries to the conference organizers, Dr. Ellen Lust (ellen.lust@yale.edu) and Dr. Mark Tessler (tessler@umich.edu).

Call for Paper Proposals: Conference on Islam in Russia

October 15–16, 2015  •  Deadline to apply: February 1, 2015

Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University

http://daviscenter.fas.harvard.edu/events/conference-islam-russia

The Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University invites submissions of paper proposals for an international conference on Islam in Russia.

Islam in Russia takes many forms, from the Tatars’ moderate EuroIslam to traditional Sufism in the Caucasus to the radicalized Salafi ideas found among a minority of young Muslims throughout the country. These different Muslim identities interact with a state that has in recent years come to be increasingly dominated by ethnic Russian and Orthodox Christian identities. At the same time, the strengthening of the Russian state has led it to increase its influence on Muslim religious practices and the everyday lives of Russian Muslims.

The Crimean crisis of 2014 has again highlighted the significance of Islam in contemporary Russia. The Russian government tried to mobilize state-supported Muslim organizations to sway Crimean Tatars to its side. This strategy was consistent with Moscow’s long-standing practice of co-opting religious groups by appointing a state-sanctioned representative. Since the time of Catherine the Great, Islamic authorities were expected to promote interpretations of Islam that supported the state. Needless to say, attempting to co-op believers into supporting a particular religious interpretation runs the risk of alienating those who disagree with the official interpretation. The resulting power struggles have played an important role in shaping Muslim identity in Russia in the post-Soviet period.

This conference will focus on what it means to be a Muslim in Russia today and how these meanings are reflected in Russian political life. Conference participants will examine the variety of Muslim identities in modern Russia and also consider the evolving role of Muslims in Russian history.

Suggested Themes
We are interested in papers from a range of disciplinary perspectives that address the history, evolution, and future of Muslim communities, cultures, and identities in Russia. We encourage papers that move beyond the description of particular populations or institutions and introduce analyses of the problems, paradoxes, contradictions, and challenges involved in thinking about Muslims in Russia.

The following themes are suggested as guides for the formulation of topics for paper proposals:
 

• History of Muslims in Russia
• Radical Islam in the Caucasus
• Integrated Islam across Russia    
• Islamic Society and the Russian State
• Muslim Migrants across Russia

Papers will also be considered on any other themes relevant to the role of Islam and Muslim populations in Russia. Note that the working language of the conference is English: all papers must be submitted and presented in English.

Graduate Student Workshop
In addition to the conference, a smaller graduate student workshop will be held immediately prior to the conference. The workshop will allow graduate students pursuing research projects related to Islam in Russia to get feedback and suggestions for their work from both their peers and from senior scholars participating in the conference. Travel funding will be available for students attending from outside the Boston area.

Submitting a Proposal
Junior and senior scholars in the humanities and social sciences, as well as others working in relevant areas, are eligible to apply, irrespective of citizenship or country of residence. Proposals should be submitted via the conference website. Students applying to participate in the graduate student workshop should follow the same process as regular applicants, noting their graduate student status in the appropriate place on the online application form.

The deadline for submitting proposals is February 1, 2015. All materials must be submitted in English. Decisions will be announced by May 1, 2015. Presenters must submit their final conference papers by Sept 15, 2015. Selected papers will be considered for publication in a special issue of Problems of Post-Communism.

The Davis Center will cover presenters’ expenses for travel, lodging, and meals. A modest honorarium will also be provided (contingent on presenter’s eligibility to receive payment).

Project Organizers
Timothy Colton, Morris and Anna Feldberg Professor of Government and Russian Studies, Chair of the Government Department, Harvard University

Dmitry Gorenburg, Editor, Problems of Post-Communism, and Associate, Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies, Harvard University

More Information
Please contact the Davis Center at 617-495-4037 or daviscenter@fas.harvard.edu with any questions about this event.

The conference and student workshop are made possible by the generous support of Carnegie Corporation of New York.