International Summer Academy for Doctoral and Post-Doctoral Researchers

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In the framework of the research program “Europe in the Middle East – the Middle East in Europe” (EUME) the Berlin-based Forum Transregionale Studien, the Max Weber Stiftung – German Humanities Institutes Abroad, and the  École de Gouvernance et d’Économie in Rabat invite scholars from the fields of Comparative Literature, Cultural Anthropology, Middle East Studies, Political Science, History, Geography, Urban Studies and Sociology to apply for an international Summer Academy that will be convened from 25.8. – 5.9. 2014 at the École de Gouvernance et d’Économie (EGE) in Rabat on the theme

CONFLICT AND MOBILITY IN THE CITY:
URBAN SPACE, YOUTH AND SOCIAL TRANSFORMATIONS

(Closing date: 31 March 2014)

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Call for Papers – McGill Journal of Middle East Studies (MJMES)

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The McGill Journal of Middle East Studies (MJMES) is now accepting submissions for its 2013-2014 issue! The Journal is an excellent opportunity to gain experience in writing, submitting, and revising articles for an academic journal. If selected for publication, an author’s article will be printed in the Journal and distributed to various libraries and institutions around the world as well as on our website: http://mjmes.com

MJMES encourages undergraduates, recent graduates, graduate students, post-docs and professors all to contribute to the Journal. Papers must be written in in English, French, or Arabic, and abide by standards of academic  integrity regarding plagiarism and citation.

MJMES also accepting submissions of photo essays comprised of at least nine photographs and cover photos. Both papers and photo essays must be submitted by e-mail to mejournal@gmail.com by February 10, 2014. The journal is also currently accepting shorter contributions on a rolling basis for its blog: http://mjmes.wordpress.com

To be eligible for publication, a student’s paper must be at least 10 pages in length, contain insightful and original research and/or analysis, significantly concern the modern Middle East, receive a grade of an A- or better. MJMES will also accept papers that have been written outside of a classroom context and are thus ungraded. Papers must be written in in English, French, or Arabic, and abide by standards of academic  integrity regarding plagiarism and citation.

If you have any further questions about the mission, content or requirements of the Journal, please do not hesitate to contact MJMES at the e-mail address mentioned. Past volumes may be viewed on the website in the Archives section.

Performing Human Rights: Creative Expression as a Means of Engagement

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This is a call for participation in an innovative, performance-based project to raise awareness about human rights and earn independent study credit in Human Rights (Human Rights Institute)

Syrian actor, director and human rights activist (Visiting Professor in Dramatic Arts and the Human Rights Institute) will lead a dynamic, interactive independent study project to raise awareness about a human rights through performance in non-traditional venues. The project will take place over the Spring Semester 2014, including weekly meetings to contextualize and interpret a body of human rights documentation, develop a theatre production, and perform it in a variety of campus locales/venues.

The goal of the independent study project is to provide students with an opportunity to engage creatively to raise campus awareness on an international human rights issue that the group defines as important.

Content:  A group of 10-15 students will work on materials collected from different sources to develop a creative performance.  Participants will be encouraged to provide related materials, texts, photographs, paintings, musical themes (songs), video materials, web links, etc. relating to the subject.

Program: The first three months of the semester will be devoted to weekly meetings (time and frequency to be determined by the group) in which the program is developed. At the end of the semester,  participants will perform in a variety of venues across campus.

The group should be committed to the entire duration of the project and three credits of independent study in Human Rights (HRTS) will be earned by those who participate fully in the project.

For more information and guidelines on how to register for the Independent Study, please email Jeremy Pressman, Director, Middle East Studies.

Request for Applications: Understanding Social Movements

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USAID’s Democracy Fellows and Grants (DFG) program, managed by the Institute of International Education (IIE), has just published a new grant opportunity for researchers to support USAID’s understanding of social movements, with the goal of determining how USAID can identify, understand, and support the informal networks, systems, and leadership that have characterized the social movements of the Arab Spring. We wanted to let you know about the grants, since your research and expertise may be relevant, and hope that you will review the grant solicitation.

The successful applicant will receive an eight-month, $50,000 grant to draft a case study review of social movements in the Middle East and North Africa region, present the case study at a workshop for peer review and for USAID’s Center of Excellence for Democracy, Human Rights, and Governance (DRG Center), and finalize the document based on feedback. The full request for applications (RFA) and all application instructions are available on DFG’s website at this link: http://www.iie.org/Programs/USAID-Democracy-Fellows-and-Grants-Program. Applications are due on December 10, 2013 at 11:59 PM EST.

Any questions on the RFA should be emailed to dem.grants@iie.org; IIE will publish all questions (without attribution) and answers on the DFG website, so that all applicants may benefit.

Zehra Arat joins Middle East Studies Faculty

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The University of Connecticut has embarked on a four-year hiring initiative to expand its faculty by approximately 500 tenure-track positions. As a result of this initiative, we welcome Zehra F. Kabasakal Arat, Professor of Political Science, who has also joined the Middle East Studies faculty. She is involved in the subfields of comparative politics, political theory, and international relations. Her publications focus on human rights, with an emphasis on women’s rights, as well as processes of democratization, globalization, and development. She also conducts empirical research by employing both qualitative and quantitative methods. Currently she is working on several projects, including: theorizing women’s rights and empowerment and assessing the progress; the gap between the theory and practice as reflected in the relationship between human rights scholars and non-governmental organizations (NGOs); the impact of domestic actors (e.g., political parties) and politics on human rights policies; and human rights discourse and practices in Turkey since the 1920s.

View her faculty page.

Lefebvre named Fulbright Scholar Specialist Program Fellow

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Prof. Jeff Lefebvre has been selected as a Fulbright Scholar Specialist Program Fellow (2012-2017). Fulbright Specialist Fellows are awarded a five-year term during which time they may receive two 2-6 week research/teaching appointments at universities overseas. He has been invited to spend 2-3 weeks at the University of Jordan by Dr. Zaid Eyadat, Dean of International Studies and Political Science, University of Jordan. Lefebvre will lecture and participate in a conference on the Arab Spring and the Middle East.