Archive for September, 2018

The Law, Authority and Learning in Imami Shiite Islam project (ww.lawalisi.eu an ERC advanced award) at the University of Exeter is recruiting three postdoctoral research fellows:

ONE one-year fixed term post focussing on early Islamic legal developments (up until 15th century, with a focus on Imami Shii law) with a preference for those working in the areas of legal theory/legal doctrine OR Fatwas/Fiqh. Closing date 17th October 2018. Job description and details here: https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BMW153/postdoctoral-research-fellow
TWO two-year fixed term posts focussing on classical and postclassical Islamic legal developments (15th century to the modern period, with a focus on Imami Shii law) with a preference for those working in the area of legal educational institutions OR law/politics. Closing date 18th October 2018. Job description and details are here:

https://www.jobs.ac.uk/job/BML029/postdoctoral-research-fellow-in-islamic-studies

Note: the TWO two-year fellowships were previously advertised – the closing date has been extended to 18th October.

For questions, email Prof Rob Gleave, R.Gleave@exeter.ac.uk

UN Secretary-General’s Report Addresses Pattern of Reprisals in Bahrain

12 September 2018 – Today, the United Nations (UN) published the ninth annual report of the Secretary-General on cooperation with the UN, its representatives, and mechanisms in the field of human rights. The report presents the work of Assistant Secretary-General (ASG) for Human Rights Andrew Gilmour, who addresses intimidation and reprisals against those cooperating with the UN.

See also ADHRB Newsletter 269.

کتاب “مطالعات حدیثی و زبان شناسی تاریخی” منتشر شد

محمدحسن احمدی از انتشار کتاب جدید خود در حوزه حدیث پژوهی با عنوان “مطالعات حدیثی و زبان شناسی تاریخی” خبر داد و به ارائه توضیحاتی در زمینه محتوای کتاب پرداخت.

See also: http://zabanshenasitarikhi.ir/

 

1.Tracing Poetics Beyond the Eurocentric Tradition (Arabic, Chinese, Sanskrit, Persian, Turkish,…)

Panel for the 2019 ACLA conference in Georgetown. Deadline for submission is 20 September

https://www.acla.org/tracing-poetics-beyond-eurocentric-tradition-arabic-chinese-sanskrit-persian-turkish

 

 

 

2. Call for Papers:

The International Center for the Developing Peace, Culture and Rationality in order to promote peaceful coexistence, will hold the first International Peace Studies Conference in 1st MARCH 2019 and intends to gather together scholars and researcher for having a better explanation of peace and reconciliation.

Peace is one of the categories that mankind has been considering since the beginning of creation, and has always been wishing to be in a calm condition and reconciliation; However, in the different ages, human being has suffered because of the lack of peace.

Today, with regard to the complexities of human life and the disruptions in political and social interactions, nations are increasingly aware of the importance of peace and coexistence. The importance of this item can be found in the works of scholars, philosophers and sociologists; as they have considered it in designing Utopia. Accordingly, it is possible to explain peace in different ways, due to cultural, religious, and social beliefs and ideas.

Important dates:

Abstract deadline: 22 Oct. 2018

Full paper deadline: 20 Jan. 2019

Conference day: 1st MARCH 2019

for more information, please refer to https://icpcr.com/en/adm/conference.html

 

 

 

3. The Uses of the Past: Past Perfect Imperfect Present project (www.usspip.eu) is holding its major conference:

 

Uses of the Past in Islamic Law

27th-29th September 2018

Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies

University of Exeter

 

The Programme is available here:

http://www.usppip.eu/news-events/

 

 

N.B. Those who would like to attend:

The conference is free to attend but registration is necessary.

Please register by sending an email to usppip@exeter.ac.uk  detailing which days/sessions you will be attending. Registration is open until 1300 UK time on Friday 21st September. Those attending from outside Exeter can accompany the participants at the evening meals (for which there will be a charge); whilst we cannot arrange accommodation for attendees, we can advise on convenient local hotels. As places are limited, allocation will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

 

 

 

4. The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University seeks to fill the following two positions:

*Assistant or Associate Professor of Comparative Politics*

The Department of Political Science seeks to hire an Assistant or Associate Professor in Comparative Politics for a tenure-track or tenured position beginning in Fall 2019. We seek candidates whose teaching and research focus on political development and political economy, especially with regards to developing countries. Particular areas of interest include human security, health and well-being, global cities and urban politics, environment, and other public policy issues related to citizenship and governance in the Global South.

The political science department is housed within the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, which is committed to citizenship education at the undergraduate level and to graduate education in public affairs and the social sciences. We seek candidates who complement the broader Maxwell mission and have interdisciplinary interests. Successful candidates also may be invited to affiliate with the Moynihan Institute of Global Affairs or one of Maxwell’s other interdisciplinary centers (http://www.maxwell.syr.edu/centers/), and contribute to undergraduate and graduate programs in International Relations.

*Associate Professor with Tenure – International Relations*

The Department of Public Administration and International Affairs (PAIA) seeks to hire an Associate Professor (with tenure) in International Relations/International Affairs beginning in fall 2019. We are interested in attracting a leading scholar in the areas of international political economy, development or security studies. The successful candidate will primarily support our professional Master of Arts in International Relations (MAIR) program. This individual would hold a joint appointment with the department of Political Science. Successful candidates also may affiliate with one of Maxwell’s Centers.

For both jobs, see https://www.maxwell.syr.edu/psc/Faculty_Position_Listings/

 

 

 

 

5. Sixth Conference of the School of Mamluk Studies Conference, Tokyo, June 2019

Call for Papers

 

We are pleased to announce the Sixth Conference of the School of Mamluk Studies which will be held at Waseda University in Tokyo from June 15 to 17, 2019.

 

The conference will be conducted in two parts, and will be preceded by a three-day intensive course on Mamluk archival material from June 12 to 14, 2019, to be conducted in Arabic (see below).

 

The first day of the conference, June 15, will be under the theme “The Sacred in Mamluk Society”. Under this overall rubric, the sacred may be interpreted in a variety of ways, from spaces that were believed to be sacred to those which had any relationship with the sacred, as well as the rituals and/or practices that enabled and maintained the sacred. More concretely, this theme may include anything related to Sufism, the cult of the saints, Sharifism, the history of Mecca, Medina, and Jerusalem, the Hajj, the sacred among Christians and/or Jews, and Mawlids and other social events and practices, amongst other topics. In addition, by including “society”within this theme and by reconsidering the relationships between any of these elements and Mamluk society itself, as well as their roles within that society, we hope to widen the range of Mamluk studies, going beyond the boundaries between academic fields such as historical studies, religious studies, and anthropology. We look forward to papers that will expand the scope of this theme and enrich its content.

 

A maximum of 12 to 15 paper proposals will be selected. Should a greater number of proposals be received, the authors of those which are not selected for the conference may be offered the possibility to publish their contribution in the proceedings. Time allotted to each paper will be twenty minutes, plus ten minutes for discussion.

 

The following two days of the conference (June 16 and 17) will be structured in panels, which may focus on any aspect of the intellectual, political, social, economic, and artistic life of the Mamluk period. The panels will be organized into presentations of three to four papers of twenty minutes each. Panel proposals must be made by a representative, who will be responsible for its organization. Please note that in case of cancellation of two papers out of the three (or three out of the four) composing the panel, the panel will have to be withdrawn from the program. Time allotted to each paper will be twenty minutes. Discussion will take place at the end of each panel.

 

Language: The official language of the conference will be English.

 

Fees: The conference registration fees will be 7000JPY (approximately US$63) for participants and attendees. A farewell dinner will take place on the last day (June 17) at a cost to be determined. Payment of the fees (registration and farewell dinner) must be received by April 30, 2019 (information on the method of payment to be used will be provided in the first circular, which will be sent in January 2019). Participants must make their own travel arrangements; information and suggestions for accommodations will be provided in the first circular.

 

Proposals: Paper proposals for the themed day must be submitted electronically through the School of Mamluk Studies webpage (http://mamluk.uchicago.edu/school-of-mamluk-studies.html) by October 31, 2018. (The website will be open to accept proposals after October 1). Panel proposals must be submitted in the same manner by November 30, 2018. The paper proposals should provide the name and a one-page CV of the speaker, a provisional title, and an abstract of a maximum of 1500 characters (about 300 words) per paper. Panel proposals must be submitted as such, including the relevant information for each component paper as well as the name of the panel’s chair (the chair can be one of the panelists).

 

Acceptance: Paper and panel proposals will be peer-reviewed. A first circular will be sent by January 2019 to those whose proposals have been accepted, and to those who have expressed interest in attending the conference as listeners.

 

Publication:

1. a) Themed day: the papers will be published in a volume of proceedings.
2. b) Panels: selected papers will be published in Mamlūk Studies Review.

 

Intensive course: Mamluk Archival Material

A three-day intensive course on Mamluk archival material, intended for advanced graduate students and other qualified participants, will be offered by Professor Emad Badr al-Din Abu Ghazi (Cairo University). This will be held at Waseda University on June 12-14, 2019, immediately before the sixth conference of the School of Mamluk Studies. The course will enable students to develop reading skills in Arabic archival material related to the study of the Mamluk period and provide related contextual knowledge. It will deal with various types of archival material, including waqf-related documents, the Ragusa/Dubrovnik documents, Ottoman land registers (which include Mamluk land records), and diplomatic documents, among others. Please note that the course will be taught in Arabic.

 

Since the number of the participants will be limited (a maximum of 12), those who desire to take part in the course are requested to submit a CV, a statement of purpose, and a letter of recommendation by someone familiar with your work to the following email address: sms2019tokyo@gmail.com by the end of January, 2019. Those who are selected for the course will be notified by the end of February, 2019, at which time information about the method of payment for the course fees will be provided.

The course fee is 35000JPY (approximately US$315), which also includes the registration fee for the subsequent conference (June 15-17) and the fee for the farewell dinner (June 17). The fees must be paid by April 30, 2019. Registration and participation will not be confirmed until payment is received. Participants must make their own travel arrangements. The local organizer will provide suggestions for lodging at an affordable price.

We look forward to meeting you in Tokyo, Japan.

 

Tetsuya Ohtoshi, Waseda University (local organizer)

sms2019tokyo@gmail.com

 

 

 

6. Posts:

 

University of Minnesota – Twin Cities – Assistant Professor – Arab
Middle Eastern Studies
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=57226

Illinois College – Tenure-Track Position in Asian Studies
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=57230

University of Chicago – Assistant Professor of South Asian Humanities
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=57253

 

Iowa State University – Indian Ocean World PhD Fellowship
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=57213

 

Duke University – OPEN RANK Asian Religions
http://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=57260

 

Assistant Professor of History on the 20th Century Arab World, University of Wisconsin-Madison

We have a particular interest in the history of modern Arab politics and society, including the interaction between religion, culture, and politics. We will consider applicants specializing in any area of the Arab world.

Deadline for application: 1 November 2018. Information: http://jobs.hr.wisc.edu/cw/en-us/job/498753/assistant-professor-of-history-cluster-hire

 

 

7. The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington is seeking to fill the following position.*

*Position Title*: Senior Resident Scholar (Political Economy)

*Department/Team*: Research

*Location*: Washington, DC

*About AGSIW:*

The Arab Gulf States Institute in Washington (AGSIW), launched in 2015, is an independent, nonprofit institution dedicated to providing expert research and analysis of the social, economic, and political dimensions of the Gulf Arab states and how they impact domestic and foreign policy. AGSIW focuses on issues ranging from politics and security to economics, trade, and business; from social dynamics to civil society and culture. Through programs, publications, and scholarly exchanges the institute seeks to encourage thoughtful debate and inform the U.S. policy community regarding this critical geostrategic region.

*Position Overview:*

One of three senior resident scholars, this position at AGSIW oversees the political economic portfolio at the institute. (S)he is responsible for producing regular high-quality, written analyses of key economic, trade, and financial developments in the Gulf region, and their broader geopolitical implications. Senior resident scholars are recognized experts in their field and will be expected to draw upon an extensive network of professional contacts to recruit participants for AGSIW public programs and private roundtables, and will themselves serve as panelists or moderators for these programs. (S)he also will recruit non-resident experts who can contribute written analyses on economic issues for publication by AGSIW. The senior resident scholar supervises one research associate and assists with mentoring of interns. Senior resident scholars report to the executive vice president.

*Responsibilities:*

§Author timely and relevant analyses of important trends in the Gulf region. Senior resident scholars are expected to produce one full-length issue or policy paper, and at least three to four shorter blog posts, per quarter, including material suitable for AGSIW’s blog Market Watch.

§Maintain AGSIW’s online Gulf Economic Barometer to ensure it reflects the latest events impacting ongoing economic reform efforts in the Gulf region.

§Work closely with the Programs and Outreach team to develop concepts for AGSIW’s programing and participate as program moderator or panelist. Help recruit guest panelists for AGSIW’s public programs and private roundtables.

§Work with the Publications and Digital Media team in developing compelling multimedia content, including participating in and conducting interviews for videos and podcasts.

§Promote the AGSIW brand, and his/her own professional reputation, by contributing to scholarly publications and regional and international media outlets, and participating in conferences and seminars on relevant issues, both in the United States and abroad.

§Actively recruit subject-matter experts, both in the United States and the Middle East, with an eye toward building a cadre of non-resident fellows who can contribute to AGSIW publications and programs.

§Participate actively in AGSIW’s annual strategic-planning process.

§Travel to the region to establish/maintain relationships with individuals and institutions and to conduct research, in support of AGSIW’s overall mission.

§Identify and assist with recruitment of visiting scholars from the region.

§Identify, recruit, and supervise one part-time research associate.

§Mentor interns.

*Qualifications:*

§Applicants should hold a PhD and have 8 to 10 years of research and/or academic experience with a focus on the political economy of the Middle East. A specific focus on these issues as they impact the Arab Gulf states is highly desirable.

§The ideal candidate must have exceptional oral and written communication skills and must have held positions that required significant writing, publishing, and public speaking.

*How to Apply:*

Applicants should submit a curriculum vitae and cover letter that explains their interest in joining AGSIW and how they expect to contribute to its mission to jobs@agsiw.org <mailto:jobs@agsiw.org> by September 28.

AGSIW is an equal-opportunity employer that is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive workplace. We welcome applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, physical or mental disability, marital status, veteran status, or other factors protected by law. No phone calls please.

 

 

 

8.  Colgate University (Hamilton, New York) seeks a Lecturer in Arabic Studies. I would be grateful if you would share this email with with any interested candidates and your organization’s members.

Here is a link to the job ad and application instructions:

https://academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/11825

Nominations may be sent to ncatgenova@colgate.edu.

 

 

 

9. Jews in the Islamic World (Emory)

The Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies and the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies at Emory University, Atlanta, GA invite applications for the position of tenure-track Assistant Professor in the area of Jews in the Islamic World. Applicants must have Ph.D. in hand by August 1, 2018. Disciplinary, geographical, and chronological focus open. Applicants should be able to teach survey courses in both Jewish studies and Middle Eastern Studies as well as more specialized courses in their area of expertise. We expect the successful applicant, whatever the area of specialization, to demonstrate a broad knowledge of the cultural and historical context of Jewish-Islamic interactions across time and space and to have excellent relevant language skills. The successful applicant will demonstrate an excellent record in scholarship, ability to teach undergraduates, and capacity to guide graduate students in Jewish Studies and Islamic Civilizations Studies. The candidate will be expected to participate actively in the life of both the Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies and the Tam Institute for Jewish Studies.

Interested candidates should submit a statement of interest, a c.v., two sample course syllabi, a writing sample, and a statement in which the candidate reflects upon his or her experience and vision regarding the teaching and mentorship of students from diverse backgrounds. Candidates should request three recommenders to submit letters on their behalf. All application materials should be submitted via Interfolio: https://apply.interfolio.com/54503

We will start reviewing applications November 9, 2018 and continue until the position is filled. Applications received up to 30 days after review begins will be given full consideration.

 

 

 

10. 25^th International Congress of DAVO

Frankfurt, 4−6 October 2018

Preliminary Program (16 Sept. 2018)

http://www.ffgi.net/en/davo-25.html

 

 

 

11. First International Conference on “Imam Reza (AS) and Dialogue of Religions”, Isfahan, 30-31 January 2019

Deadline for abstracts: 7 October 2018. Information: https://adyan.aqr.ir/en/

 

 

 

 

12. Five full-time Research Associate and Visiting Faculty Positions in the Women’s Studies in Religion Program 2019-20, Harvard Divinity School

Proposals for book-length research projects using both religion and gender as central categories of analysis are welcomed. They may address women and religion in any time, place, or religious tradition, and may utilize disciplinary and interdisciplinary approaches from across the fields of theology, the humanities, and the social sciences.

Deadline for applications: 15 October 2018. Information: https://wsrp.hds.harvard.edu/apply

 

 

 

13. NISIS Autumn School: “Travelling Muslims”, Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, University of Groningen, 15-18 October 2018

We investigate how various kinds of travel have informed Muslims religious views, practices, and different senses of belonging. In particular, we will look into three, often interrelated kinds of travel: pilgrimage, migration, and ‘holidaying’ & travelling to gain knowledge. PhD candidates, research master students and advanced MA students are invited.

Deadline for application: 24 September 2018. Information: https://www.universiteitleiden.nl/en/events/2018/10/nisis-autumn-school-2018

 

Bahraini Narratives About the United States

The eruption of Bahrain’s political crisis seven-and-a-half years ago marked a watershed in Manama-Washington relations. It also transformed how both Bahrain’s regime and its Shia-dominated opposition viewed the United States. For decades, Bahrain’s leadership has seen the United States as the archipelago kingdom’s offshore security guarantor and a bastion against political ambitions from regional powers.

Movie Theaters and Women Driving Won’t Placate Saudi Shiites

After generating some positive press earlier this summer by lifting the ban on women driving, Saudi Arabia is once more the target of reproach. In August, the country’s notorious terrorism court sought the death penalty against Israa al-Ghomgham, a female activist.

The Renaissance of Shiʿi Islam in the 15th-17th Centuries: Facets of Thought and Practice | The Institute of Ismaili Studies

Introduction The 15th century marked the renaissance of the Ismaili and Twelver Shiʿi traditions after centuries of marginalization. It was with the commencement of the imamate of Mustanṣir biʾllāh II around 868/1463- 1464, that the Anjudān revival of the Nizārī Ismailis began.

Saudi Arabia’s ambitious Vision 2030 plan in trouble

Saudi Vision 2030, the brainchild of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to reduce the kingdom’s dependence on oil income, is coming undone. The king has stripped away the central pillar of the project. The country is becoming more autocratic and repressive. The slide toward greater repression is prompting capital flight.

 

1.The Islamic Manuscript Association—in partnership with the Orient-Institut Istanbul, the Bibliotheca Arabica Projectat the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig, and the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation—is pleased to announce that it will hold a part-day symposium entitled New Research on Ottoman-Era Manuscript Libraries at the Orient-Institut Istanbul on Saturday, 8 September 2018 from 13.00 to 17.00.

The symposium’s speakers are Prof. Dr. Hans Georg Majer, emeritus chair of Turcology and the history and culture of the Near East at Ludwig-Maximilian University of Munich; Dr. Konrad Hirschler, professor of Islamic studies at the Free University of Berlin; Dr. Boris Liebrenz, research fellow with the Bibliotheca Arabica Project at the Saxon Academy of Sciences and Humanities in Leipzig; and Dr. Berat Açıl, associate professor in the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at İstanbul Şehir University. The symposium’s programme, papers’ abstracts, and speakers’ biographies are available on the Association’s website.

The symposium will be followed by the Association’s 2018 annual general meeting, which will only be open to Association members who have paid their fees for the 2018 membership year.

Admission to the symposium is free of charge, but registration is essential. Please register via the Eventbrite widget at: http://www.islamicmanuscript.org/symposia/new-research-on-ottoman-era-manuscript-libraries.aspx

Please note that the symposium is an English-language event: neither English-Turkish nor English-Arabic interpretation will be available.

The address of the symposium venue, the Orient-Institut Istanbul, is Susam Sok. No. 16, Apt. 8, Cihangir, Beyoğlu, Istanbul, Turkey.

Please do not hesitate to contact the Association via admin@islamicmanuscript.org if you have any queries about the symposium or our organization.

 

 

 

2. Call for Submissions: Muslim-American Writers at Home

We all possess plural self-identities. North American Muslims are, however, increasingly viewed by their co-citizens through a biased lens in which ‘American’ and ‘Muslim’ are plotted as diametrically opposed to each other. And yet for Muslims, whether newly arrived or having immigrated in an earlier century (or converts), the United States or Canada represent at least one pole of what “home” is. For a projected anthology, we are looking for submissions of poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, or memoir that address themes of “identity” and “home” from North American writers who fully self-identify as Muslim. Themes could include, but are not limited to, topics like:

How you experience your Muslim American identity.
How you or your ancestors made your home in America.
How your Muslim beliefs and practices are integrated into your life here.
What connects you with the home your family migrated from.
How/when you have felt the most welcome here.
How/when you have felt the most misrepresented or misunderstood here.
What you would most like for other people to know about your culture, your beliefs, your journey, etc.

Please send 3-5 poems or prose up to 3500 words to the editors Kitty Costello and Valerie Behiery at muslimamericansathome@gmail.com before October 1st, 2018 (Extended to 15th). Authors will receive a response by the selection committee (Kitty, Valerie, and Hanan) by December 30th 2018 and hopefully earlier.

About the editors:
Kitty Costello is a poet, writing facilitator, and psychotherapist who uses writing as a tool for insight and healing. Her recent poetry book is entitled Upon Waking. She has served for nearly 30 years on the editorial board of Freedom Voices Publications, which publishes works that speak to and from communities on the margins.

Valerie Behiery, Ph.D., is an arts writer specializing in contemporary culture related to the Muslim World. Dedicated to healing social divisions, her writing has been published in academic journals, art catalogues, and freelance publications like Intense Art Magazine, Azizah, Tribe, Nafas, or esse. She has taught at universities in Canada, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia.

Hanan Hazime is a multidisciplinary artist, community arts educator, and writing facilitator. She has a M.A. in English Literature & Creative Writing. Hanan’s writing aims to empower Muslim women and other individuals who have experienced mental health issues. Her debut poetry chapbook “Aorta” was published by ZED Press in April 2018. She is currently working on her first novel.

 

 

 

3. Call for Papers: “From the Ruins of Preservation” A symposium on rethinking heritage through counter-archives, to be held in London, 11-12th July 2019

Colonial legacies in heritage preservation have intersected and clashed with local realities since their inception. Heritage sites have often been created by way of processes which segregate them both temporally and geographically from the contemporary world, and the people who live with and amongst them. This might result in restrictions of habitation and cultivation, religious and ritual practice, and the removal of entire local settlements from inside and around natural and  cultural heritage sites. Individuals and communities, however, have always had their own ways of preserving and engaging with material and immaterial significances. Objects, places and landscapes were and are embedded and reactivated in the domains of contemporary life. These realities defy and challenge the disciplinary baggage, canons and categories as well as prevailing methods, discourses, concepts and practices of heritage studies, which in many cases have proved unhelpful in engaging such records outside of “the archive” as it is conventionally understood.

The problem of adequately engaging the histories of these intersections has been exacerbated by methodological challenges. Historians have long ignored the gaps and unspoken emotions and bodies in written and visual archival sources. Visual analyses often lack the methods to engage with different iterations of the diverse and heterogenous agencies of both humans and nonhumans outside of the scope of official archives—the locals going about their lives in ancient ruins; the workers who labour on archaeological excavations; those often nameless individuals who serve as human scales next to an excavated building; the local guides who help “open up” landscapes to preservationists; or the agencies and affordances of forms of material culture themselves. Due to a turn against the forms of authority empowered in conventional archival sources, critical heritage studies have largely denied the usefulness and significance of archives for the study of such non-official forms of heritage preservation, which has led to the de-privileging of historical and visual analysis. This frustration has resulted in a general turning away from such sources by researchers within heritage studies to focus on contemporary issues, and their accompanying methods, especially “oral history” and ethnography. However, this move has frustrated historians who have seen heritage studies as a field in which the historical contexts of the contemporary phenomena which such scholars study has been effectively written out of the picture.

In order to address these issues, we are seeking contributions for a symposium (to be held at the German Historical Institute London) and linked edited volume that aims to reconstruct new histories and viewpoints in order to re-examine the “ruins of preservation” and to rethink the varied agencies—both human and non-human—which surround both natural and cultural heritage preservation practices through new conceptual and methodological approaches. We expect such papers to engage with a range of alternative sources and counter-archives (neglected aspects of photography; engagement with more-than-human agents; rethinking objects, landscape and built environment as archives), and/or to discuss new approaches to oral and public history. Re-engaging such histories is not only important in building a new historical approach to heritage, but will also help researchers to reconceptualise and recontextualise contemporary heritage phenomena. By re-centring the discourse about “heritage” to examine specific non-state practices (or conflicts between state and non-state practices) through such methods we also seek a more nuanced and effective understanding of how preservation has been determined over time and from different perspectives. Papers should thus present a methodological intervention into reductionist preservation histories by developing a new diachronic, more diverse vocabulary and directions for future research in and on this field.

CONFIRMED KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

Rachel Ama Asaa Engmann, Assistant Professor of African Studies, Hampshire College

Trinidad Rico, Director of Cultural Heritage and Preservation Studies, Rutgers University

Karen Salt, Director of the Centre for Research in Race and Rights (C3R), University of Nottingham

Please send abstracts of 300-400 words and queries to: fromtheruinsofpreservation@gmail.com

DEADLINE: November 1, 2018. Speakers will be notified in late November. We have a modest budget to cover travel for participants who require this; please indicate whether you would need to have your travel covered when you send your abstracts, and where you would be travelling from. All accepted participants will have their accommodation covered in London for three nights.

Co-organized by Mirjam Brusius (Research Fellow in Colonial and Global History) German Historical Institute London and Rodney Harrison (AHRC Heritage Priority Area Leadership Fellow/Professor of Heritage Studies at the UCL Institute of Archaeology).

Visit the conference site at GHIL https://www.ghil.ac.uk/from_the_ruins_of_preservation/

and UCL https://heritage-research.org/2018/08/20/call-papers-ruins-preservation-symposium-rethinking-heritage-counter-archives/

 

 

 

4. Call for Papers

(Deadline Sept. 19^th, 2018)

Summer Doctoral School

“Religion and Atheism in Pluralist Societies”

 

Nantes, 17-19 June 2019

The Institut du pluralisme religieux et de l’athéisme (IPRA ; www.ipra.eu) is organizing a summer school on religion and atheism in pluralist societies. We seek to bring together doctoral students in different disciplines (history, religious studies, sociology, law, art history, anthropology, etc.). Presentations may be given in English or in French. Participants should be able to understand both languages. We seek in particular to bring together doctoral students from Iran, France, other European countries and the USA.

 

Eligibility:

The summer school is open to doctoral students enrolled in any country, in any discipline, as long as their dissertation subject, and the proposed talk, are related to the theme of the summer school.

 

Costs:

The summer school will be financed by IPRA and the University of Nantes and will be free of cost to the students accepted. Participants will be lodged in student housing at no cost. Lunch will be provided free to participants. Travel to Nantes will not be paid by IPRA, and participants should seek funding from their home institutions.

 

Format:

The summer school will take place 17-19 June 2019. Doctoral students will each make a 20-minute presentation; faculty from IPRA and other partner institutions will chair the panels and give their reactions to student presentations.

 

For more information, please visit:

http://ipra.eu/en/2018/04/09/summer-doctoral-school-2019-religion-and-atheism-in-pluralist-societies/

 

Students from Iran should contact pedram.khosronejad@okstate.edu.

 

 

 

5. Panels on Sixth Annual Conference of the British Association for Islamic Studies (BRAIS 2019), University of Nottingham, 15-16 April 2019

The organisers invite proposals for whole panels or individual papers. Islamic Studies is broadly understood to include all disciplinary approaches to the study of Islam and Muslim societies (majority and minority), modern and premodern.

Deadline for proposals: 30 November 2018. Information: http://www.brais.ac.uk/conferences/brais-2019-call-for-papers

 

 

6. Conference: “Religion and Resistance”, American Academy of Religion Western Region (AARWR), Arizona State University, 2-3 March 2019

The Islamic Studies Section invites papers and panels focusing on the main theme of the conference addressing questions such as: how might resistance best be understood within Islam and Islamic traditions theologically and/or culturally? How have the different forms of resistance in Islam changed throughout history? Etc.

Deadline for abstracts: 1 October 2018. Information: https://www.aarwr.com/call-for-papers.html

 

 

 

7. Conference: “Global Islam in the Interwar World”, University of Leuven, 27-29 March 2019

We are seeking contributions from different disciplines by junior and senior researchers dealing with the Muslim global history of the period 1914-1945 in the wider sense. We aim to discuss new methodological perspectives about how intellectual Muslim networks and figures (including minor or less prominent figures) tried to position themselves and their actions in the world history of that era.

Deadline for abstracts: 26 October 2018. Information: http://www.muslims-in-interwar-europe.com/CallForPapers.html

 

 

 

8. Director of the Islamic Chaplaincy Program, Hartford Seminary

Preference will be given to candidates whose work exhibits appreciation for contemporary significance and relevant methods. The successful candidate must be able to teach at the introductory and advanced graduate levels, and must be able to guide and advise students within the Islamic Chaplaincy Program, including field placements and CPE settings. Rank is open; Ph.D. or suitable equivalent degree strongly preferred.

Review of applications start: 1 October 201. Information: http://mideast.unc.edu/hartford-seminary-director-of-the-islamic-chaplaincy-program/

 

 

 

9. Islamic Studies Position, Bard College

This is a full-time, tenure-track position in the area of Islamic Studies, to begin September 2019. Applicants should possess a strong foundation in the formative or classical traditions and literatures of Islam, with appropriate language proficiency such as Arabic and/or Persian, and an understanding of later and contemporary developments within Islamic societies.PhD or near completion is required.

Deadline for applications: https://apply.interfolio.com/54151 . Information: https://apply.interfolio.com/54151

 

 

10. Lecturer in Arabic Language, Columbia University

The position is at the rank of Lecturer in Discipline and beginning July 1, 2019. We are seeking a professional language teacher with a serious commitment to teaching languages for academic purposes while developing pedagogical materials and incorporating technological innovations into the curriculum. Preference will be given to applicants who have a Ph.D., but those with a Master’s degree and considerable language teaching experience are also encouraged to apply.

Review of applications start: 1 October 2018. Information: https://www.h-net.org/jobs/job_display.php?id=57205

 

 

 

11. Assistant Professor in the History of the Modern Middle East, Texas Tech University

Candidates who have very strong records of scholarship supported by extramural funding and who have the proven capacity or clear potential to bring externally sponsored research to Texas Tech University are encouraged to apply. Service duties include program-building, as well as commitment to extra-curricular activities. Service to the department, college, university, and community is expected. Applicants should have completed a PhD in modern Middle Eastern history at the time of the appointment.7

Review of applications start: 15 October 2018. Information: https://sjobs.brassring.com/TGnewUI/Search/Home/Home?partnerid=25898&siteid=5637#jobDetails=414845_5637

 

 

 

12. Persian Language Winter School 2018, Yerevan, Armenia, 2-22 December 2018

This 14 or 21 days’ winter school offers participants to master skills in written and oral modern Persian, reading and interpreting Persian texts from different periods as well as rapidly deepening their knowledge in colloquial Persian. This school is designed for students, at least 18 years-old, who want to make well-grounded progress in their knowledge of the Persian language, deepen their knowledge of Persian Grammar, colloquial speech and literary language.

Deadline for registration: 10 October 2018. Information: https://networks.h-net.org/node/73374/announcements/2319313/persian-language-winter-school-2018-yerevan-armenia

 

 

 

13. Training Course on the Study of Oriental Manuscripts: “Codicological and Paleographical Aspects of Islamic Manuscripts, with a Special Focus on Manuscript Notes”, Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin, 25-29 March 2019

The training course is intended for advanced MA and doctoral students as well as other junior researchers in the fields of Oriental Philology, Islamic Studies, Ethnography or Comparative Manuscript Studies.

Deadline for registration: 30 November 2018. Information: http://staatsbibliothek-berlin.de/die-staatsbibliothek/abteilungen/orient/aktuelles/

 

 

[Wednesday] Revisiting the History of the Shi’a Marja’yah under the Ba’ath regime in Iraq

Abbas Kadhim, senior adviser to the UNESCO Chair at Kufa University in Iraq. The Hawza Under Siege: Studies in the Ba’ath Party Archive, Kadhim delves into formerly highly-classified documents surrounding the positions of the Marja’iya toward the Ba’athist authorities.