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Issue 5/May 2004
Editor, Prof. Barry Rubin
Assistant Editors,
Cameron Brown, Joy
Pincus, Ehud Waldoks
Issue 5/May 2004
Editor, Prof. Barry Rubin
Assistant Editors, Cameron Brown, Joy Pincus, Ehud Waldoks
Please credit if quoting; ask permission to reprint
CONTENTS
3. FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO E-MAIL PUBLICATIONS
4. FUNDING/SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS/WRITING OPPORTUNITIES
5. RESEARCH QUERIES-PLEASE HELP
6. SCHOLARS AND AUTHOR'S ALERTS (writers report on their books, articles, and activites)
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, LECTURES
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS:
GLORIA CENTER PUBLICATIONS
The June 2004 issue of MERIA Journal will be out next month and sent to all subscribers. The following articles will appear: Rodger Shanahan, The Iraqi Islamic Da'wa Party; David Rodman, Armored Breakthrough: The 1965 American Sale of Tanks to Israel; Ali Abootalebi, Iran's Struggle for Democracy Continues; Roundtable Discussion on Iran, 25 Years After the Revolution; Richard H. Shultz, Jr. and Ruth Margolies Beitler, Denial and Deception in Terrorist Operations of Middle East Origin; James A. Russell, The Nuclear Posture Review: The Middle East Redux?
1. PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST
A. Books
Charles Kurzman, The Unthinkable Revolution in Iran (Harvard University Press, released April 1, 2004). $19.57 hardcover at <http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/067401328X/>. Through interviews and eyewitness accounts, declassified security documents and underground pamphlets, Kurzman documents the overwhelming sense of confusion that gripped pre-revolutionary Iran, and that characterizes major protest movements. This book reveals shortcomings of analyses that make the Iranian revolution or any major protest movement seem inevitable in retrospect.
B. Journals, Newsletters. Papers
Ali Carkoglu, "Turkish Local Elections of March 28th, 2004: A Prospective Evaluation," Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association Washington Office. <http://www.tusiad.us>.
Brill Academic Publishers announces that Professor Muhsin al-Musawi is the new Executive Editor of the Journal of Arabic Literature. <http://www.brill.nl>.
George Wright, "Greek Cypriot leaders reject Annan plan," The Guardian, Thursday April 22, 2004. <http://www.guardian.co.uk/cyprus/story/0,11551,1200855,00.html>.
Turkish Policy Quarterly (TPQ) has released its new issue: Vol. 3, No. 1 (Spring 2004) with the title: "The Evasive Crescent: The Role of Religion in Politics." Table of Contents includes: Bassam Tibi, "Euro-Islam: The Quest of Islamic Migrants and of Turkey to Become European in Secular Europe," Ali Bardakoglu, "The Structure, Mission and Social Function of The Directorate of Religious Affairs," Ali R. Abootalebi, "Political Islam, Governance And Democracy," Reha Keskintepe, "On the Compatibility of Islam and Democracy," Gareth Jenkins, "Non-Muslim Minorities in Turkey: Progress and Challenges on the Road to EU Accession," Ioannis N. Grigoriadis, "AKP and the Paradox of Islamic Europhilia," Esra Bulut, "The Role of Religion in Turkish Reactions to Balkan Conflicts," Bulent Aras, "Failure of Political Islam in Turkey," Gokhan Bacik, "Re-Socializing Religion: Islam and the New Social Contract in Turkey," Daniel Freifeld, "Can Religion Heal America's Disadvantaged?" and Jonathan Fox, "Academia: The Unique Role of Religion in Middle Eastern Ethnic Conflict: A Large-N Study." For more information: <http://www.turkishpolicy.com> and to subscribe: <subscriptions@turkishpolicy.com>.
2. WEBSITES/GROUPS ONLINE
A. General:
Peace, Conflict & Development is a refereed online journal focusing on contemporary issues in Conflict and Peace Studies. Based at the Department of Peace Studies, Bradford (UK), and managed by postgraduate students, it aims to publish innovative writing on peace and conflict related topics from an interdisciplinary perspective (sociology, politics, international relations, anthropology, development studies, philosophy). The journal is about to release its fourth issue. <www.peacestudiesjournal.org.uk>.
Arab Writers in English: Promoting Arab Culture Abroad. Contains articles by Arab writers in English, and links to their websites. <http://www.cs.cf.ac.uk/User/O.F.Rana/aranib/writers/writers.html>.
The Journal of Human Rights has a newly designed website which offers detailed information about the journal, past issues, future issues, and current calls for papers. The new site can be found at: <http://www.wellesley.edu/JournalofHumanRights/>
and subscription information at: <http://www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/14754835.html>.
al-Jazeera Middle East news in English can be found here: <http://english.aljazeera.net/HomePage>.
The Telegraph's daily "factfile" on The Middle East: <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/midhome.xml>.
B. Cyprus
The Guardian's guide to Cyprus contains a brief history of the country in flash presentation here:
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/flash/0,5860,1199973,00.html> and a collection of articles here: <http://www.guardian.co.uk/cyprus>.
C. Iraq
The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has a dedicated website about the Iraq crisis, including breaking news, latest commentary and resource, and RUSI articles. <http://www.iraqcrisis.co.uk/>.
Iraq News: A page of links to news sources on Iraq. <http://www.io.com/~prascoe/index_iraq.html>
The Telegraph's daily "factfile" on Iraq. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/ffiraqhome.xml>.
The Tharwa Site is currently featuring a special file on Iraq, one year after the US-led invasion. The File includes a list of English and Arabic interviews with a diverse range of academics, activists and policymakers. The English site can be accessed at <http://www.tharwaproject.com> and the Arabic site at <http://arabic.tharwaproject.com>.
Zinda Magazine for the "International Assyrian Community;" includes coverage of Iraq and the Assyrian diaspora and much news. <http://www.zindamagazine.com/>. There is also a link to "Assyrian Iraqi Documents Project," including historical background, archives, "timeline of brutality", and secret documents on this community compiled by Saddam Hussein, now unveiled. <http://www.zindamagazine.com/iraqi_documents/index.html>.
Iraq Crisis Bulletin: resource going from March 14 to April 16, 2003. <http://www.iraqcrisisbulletin.com/>.
D. Iran
The Telegraph's daily "factfile" on Iran. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/iranhome.xml>.
E. Morocco
Friends of Morocco: Up to date news source on Morocco. <http://friendsofmorocco.org/index.htm>.
F. Sudan
Sudan.net: A variety of news source and media on Sudan, with up to the hour news. Categories include government, education, society and culture, travel and tourism. <http://www.sudan.net/>.
G. Syria
The Telegraph's daily "factfile" on Syria. <http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/syriahome.xml>
H. Turkey
'Insight Turkey' Vol.6 No.1, January-March 2004 has been published. It is entitled 'Turkey and the Middle East.' For more information, contact the editor at <editor@insightturkey.com> or visit the website: <http://www.insightturkey.com>.
3. FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO E-MAIL PUBLICATIONS
MOCAKAUK - Social Critical Archive the Middle East, Central Asia
and the Caucasus offers free mailinglists. To subscribe, contact <mocakauk@planet.nl>.
4. FUNDING/SCHOLARSHIPS/FELLOWSHIPS/WRITING OPPORTUNITIES
The Center for Middle Eastern Studies of Austin, Texas, USA is accepting applications for teaching assistantships for the academic year 2004-2005. The teaching assistant position provides students with financial support as well as valuable experience. Graduate students who have been admitted to the M.A. program in Middle Eastern Studies are eligible to apply. Deadline is May 3, 2004. Contact Hillary Hutchinson at (512) 471-3881 for more information.
The Association Liaison Office for University Cooperation in Development (ALO), in cooperation with USAID and the U.S. Department of State, is accepting applications for the U.S. – Middle East University Partnerships Program. ALO will award up to eight grants of up to $100,000 each to implement partnerships between higher education institutions in the United States and Arab universities located in Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, the West Bank and Gaza, and Yemen. Deadline: June 15, 2004. For more information see: <http://www.aascu.org/alo> or write to <alo@aascu.org>.
The National Endowment for Democracy (NED) invites applications to its Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program. Established in 2001 to enable democracy activists, scholars, and journalists from around the world to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change, the fellowship program is based at NED’s International Forum for Democratic Studies, in Washington, D.C. For more information, download the application at: <www.ned.org/forum/R-FApplication.pdf> or visit <http://www.ned.org> and follow the link to Fellowship Programs. Applications for fellowships in 2005–2006 must be received no later than November 1, 2004.
5. RESEARCH QUERIES-PLEASE HELP
Sergio Catignani, "The Israeli Defence Forces' Strategic and Tactical Adaption to Intercommunal Warfare and its Effects on Troop Morale," in the new book: Perspectives On War: New Views on Historical and Contemporary Security Issues. Edited by Chris Bullock and Jean-Pierre Marchant (Calgary, Alta.: Society for Military and Strategic Studies, 2003), pp. 39-57. To order: <smss@ucalgary.ca>.
Dr. Amyn B. Sajoo, Muslim Ethics: Emerging Vistas (London & New York, I.B. Tauris, 2004) ISBN 1860648606. 179 pages. In Muslim societies, the interplay of reason and faith yields richly complex ideas of the good, far beyond the poles of contention that dominate public debate. This volume ranges over challenges from civic governance to biomedicine and the environment, through which Muslim ethical frameworks have emerged and unfold in our time. Scriptural texts and diverse normative sources are joined on the analytical canvas by lived settings and cultural expressions in which moral understandings and intuitions are embedded, from novels to fine art. For purchasing information: <asajoo@sfu.ca> or <http://www.ibtauris.com>.
Gadi Wolfsfeld, Media and the Path to Peace (Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2004), 284 pages. ISBN 0521538629. Brief Abstract: Examining the role that the news media play in peace processes, Gadi Wolfsfeld argues that, although often destructive, the role of the press varies over time and political circumstance. Wolfsfeld analyzes these variations by examining three major cases: the Oslo peace process between Israel and the Palestinians; the peace process between Israel and Jordan; and the process surrounding the Good Friday Agreement in Northern Ireland.
Eyal Zisser, "The Face of Syria: Society, Government and State" in The Red Line Series, Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies, 346 pages, NIS 88. This book is a retrospective account of Syrian society and government. The discussion focuses on internal processes and leaves as background Syria's foreign relations, especially its charged relationship with Israel. It establishes fine links between long-term historical processes and present-day developments in Syria, and serves as a platform for the author's extensive knowledge accumulated through his study of Syria.
6. SCHOLAR'S AND AUTHOR'S ALERTS (writers report on their books, articles, and activities)
7. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, LECTURES [This only lists new entries. For additional items, see MERIA News past issues on our homepage. We welcome submissions of events.]
May 7, 2004. Washington D.C. The Middle East Institute presents: "1785 - America's First Encounter with the Muslim World." America faced its first hostage crisis in 1785 when two American ships were captured off the coast of Portugal by Algerine Corsairs, better known as Barbary Pirates. MEI Adjunct Scholar Ambassador Richard Parker will explain how this crisis and others with North African states were eventually resolved by diplomacy rather than force. 16:30 - 18:00. A reception sponsored by the Algerian Embassy will follow the lecture. RSVP is required. Please send acceptances only to <rsvp@mideasti.org>.
May 8, 2004. New York City, NY, USA. NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education and the Kevorkian Center present: "Gender & Youth Culture in the Middle East," a series of Saturday Seminars for Teachers for NY area teachers and teachers in training to help develop an interdisciplinary approach to teaching the history of the Middle East. All K-12 educators are invited to participate. 11:00 - 14:00. Kevorkian Building, 50 Washington Square South, West 4th and Sullivan Street. Seminar is free, but space is limited. More info: <http://www.nyu.edu/gsas/program/neareast/7_teacher_training.html>.
May 11, 2004. Washington DC. The Middle East Institute presents: Israeli Settlements & Politics, Past and Future. Many questions remain about the future of settlements, and Gershom Gorenberg, associate editor of The Jerusalem Report and contributor to The Washington Post and The New York Times, will provide answers and examine future alternatives, based on new research. This event is co-sponsored with the Foundation for Middle East Peace. A light lunch will be served and RSVP is required. Please send acceptances only to <rsvp@mideasti.org>. 12:00-13:00. 1761 N Street, NW.
May 11th, 2004. Washington DC. The Saudi Institute announces a conference in Washington titled "the Road to Democracy in Saudi Arabia." The conference will feature a group of reformers, and intellectuals from Saudi Arabia who will examine the crisis of democratic reforms and political developments in Saudi Arabia. The conference will focus on the road to democracy in the country and means to support the democracy movement and popular participation in political process. 13:00 to 15:00 at the National Press Club, First Amendment - 13th Floor. The Event is limited to government officials, journalists, and academic specialists. To RSVP contact Ali Alyami at (202) 466-9500 or email at <alyami@saudiinstitute.org>.
May 11th, 2004. Washington, DC, USA. American University’s Center for Global Peace in collaboration with the African and Middle Eastern Division and the Kluge Center of the Library of Congress announce: "Vital Voices: Women in Post-Revolutionary Iran." 17:00 to 19:00. Kay Chapel, American University, 4400 Massachusetts Ave., NW. For more information, contact Betty Sitka at (202) 895-1326 or <salima@american.edu>.
May 12, 2004. Washington DC. The Middle East Institute presents: A Path to Peace Over Empire. Edward Said Professor of Arab Studies at Columbia University Dr. Rashid Khalidi. will discuss the history of Western involvement in the Middle East, speculate on likely outcomes of the war in Iraq, and make recommendations on how US policy might be shaped to mitigate those outcomes. 12:00-13:00. 1761 N Street, NW. Seating is first come-first serve. <http://www.mideasti.org/programs/programs_events.php>.
May 12, 2004. Washington DC, USA. National Democratic Institute for International Affairs & Turkish Industrialists’ & Businessmen’s Association present a talk on: "Turkey Update: Domestic Politics After Cyprus Referenda." 15:00 - 17:00. National Democratic Institute, 2030 M Street, NW, Fifth Floor. RSVP by phone (202) 776-7770 or email <otanriver@tusiad.us>.
May 13, 2004. Washington DC. The Middle East Institute presents: "The Politics of Truth: From Yellow to White." Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson will discuss events leading up to the latest war in Iraq, with readings from his newly published book, The Politics of Truth. 12:00 - 13:00. This event is for MEI members only; please RSVP to <rsvp@mideasti.org>.
May 13, 2004. Washington DC. The Middle East Institute presents: Improving Afghanistan Reconstruction Policy. Gary Bowersox, also known as the Gem Hunter, will provide a window into recent developments in Afghanistan, focusing on he mineral resources market and US investment and anecdotes from his treks. Samples of gems collected during his travels will be on display and copies of his book The Gem Hunter: True Adventures of an American in Afghanistan will be available for purchase and signing. 15:30 - 17:00. This event will be held in the MEI Garden. <http://www.mideasti.org/programs/programs_events.php>.
May 24, 2004. Chicago. The Middle East Institute presents: A Pragmatic Assessment of Middle East Democracy. Dr. Michael Dunn, editor of the Middle East Journal will assess the idea of the Middle East becoming democratized and current democratic movements in region. This event is Co-sponsored with the College of Du Page and the Chicago Council on Foreign Relations. 19:00 – 21:00. This event will be held at the College of Du Page, 425 Fawell Boulevard, McAninch Arts Center in Chicago. Tickets are available through at <http://www.ccfr.org/events/eventdetail2.asp?id=280> for the cost of $20 for MEI members and $30 for the general public.
May 25, 2004. Washington DC. The Middle East Institute presents: CONFERENCE: Afghanistan: Promise and Fulfillment. Co-sponsored with the American Institute on Afghanistan Studies, the Middle East Institute presents a half-day conference on security, relief-to-development, and state-building in Afghanistan. US point man on Afghanistan, Ambassador William Taylor, will keynote and His Excellency Said Tayeb Jawad of Afghanistan will make closing remarks. 13:00- 17:30. Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, 1779 Massachusetts Avenue NW. Attendance is by RSVP only, no later than Friday, May 21 at noon; MEI members will be given preference. <http://www.mideasti.org/programs/programs_events.php>.
May 27, 2004. Washington DC. The Middle East Institute presents: "Islamic Cities Project: Tehran." . The first conference in the Library of Congress’ Islamic Cities Project, “Tehran,” led by Dr. Mina Marefat. For full details: <http://www.loc.gov/cities>. 8:30 – 16:45. Coolidge Auditorium at the Library of Congress, 101 Independence AV SE. Although the event is open to the public, space is limited, so please register at <http://www.loc.gov/loc/kluge/tehran/tehran-register.html>.
May 27, 2004. Berlin, Germany. The Centre For Modern Oriental Studies (CMOS)
announces a lecture by Prof Ousmane Kane, Columbia University, entitled "The
Islamic Intellectual Tradition in Africa: Rethinking the African Library."
17:15 at the Centre, Kirchweg 33. Free admission. <http://www.zmo.de>.
May 28, 2004. Oxford, UK. The South East European Studies Programme (SEESP) presents a conference on: "The Continued Rapprochement Between Greece and Turkey: (Still) Genuine or Strategic?" Location: Maplethorpe Conference Room, St Hugh's College, University of Oxford. 09:00-16:00. To register, contact SEESP at 44(0)1865-274470 or visit the website: <http://www.sant.ox.ac.uk/areastudies/southeasteur.shtml>.
May 28-30, 2004. Bethesda, MD. International Society for Iranian Studies announces its Fifth Biennial Conference on Iranian Studies, cosponsored by The Association for the Study of Persianate Societies (ASPS). The conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bethesda. For further information and to download the pre-registration and membership forms, see: <http://www.iranian-studies.com>.
June 3, 2004. Washington DC. The Middle East Institute presents: Progress Report on the Iraqi Axis and Beyond. The Honorable Mark Palmer, former US ambassador to Hungary, will discuss his rating of the performance of the Bush Administration in Iraq and across the Middle East and how Senator John Kerry stacks up, all according to recommendations made in his latest book: Breaking the Axis of Evil: How to Oust the World's Last Dictators by 2025. 12:00-13:00. 1761 N Street, NW. Seating is first come-first serve. <http://www.mideasti.org/programs/programs_events.php>.
June 11, 2004. Washington D.C. American University announces an International Conference on Iraq: "Iraq: Power Sharing and Its Discontents and The Challenge of Constructing a Permanent Iraqi Constitution." For information and to register: Melinda Witter at AU Center for Global Peace. Phone: 202-895-1327 Fax: 202-885-5989. E-mail: <IraqConf2004@american.edu>.
June 15, 2004. Washington DC. The Middle East Institute presents: The Sunni Insurgency in Iraq - Revista. Recently returned from Iraq, Dr. Hashim, Professor of Strategic Studies at the US Naval War College and author of "The Sunni Insurgency in Iraq," an MEI Perspective, will share with MEI's audience his observations of his theories in practice and what he foresees for June 30, 2004. 12:00-13:00 pm.
This event is for MEI members only. <rsvp@mideasti.org>.
June 24, 2004. Berlin, Germany. The Centre For Modern Oriental Studies
(CMOS) announces a lecture by Dr Insa Nolte, Centre of West African Studies,
University of Birmingham, entitled "Chieftaincy and the State in Abacha's
Nigeria." 17:15 at the Centre, Kirchweg 33. Free admission. <http://www.zmo.de>.
September 3-4, 2004. Queensland, Australia. The University of Queensland announces a call for papers for: Islam and Society: Perspectives and Prospects, A National Conference on Islam, to be held in Brisbane at the St Lucia Campus. Visit the conference website for details: <http://www.uq.edu.au/hprc/ipap/>. Academics or Postgraduates interested in participating in this conference are requested to submit their abstracts (250-300 words) and a short bio. to one of the organizers by the June 1, 2004.
October 8-10, 2004. Istanbul, Turkey. The Center for Civilizational Studies of the Foundation for Sciences and Arts is calling for papers for an international symposium: Rethinking the Classical. Reinterpretation of classics plays a significant role in civilizational transformation. The Islamic, Western, and Ottoman-Turkish experiences will be the primary focus of the symposium. All the interested scholars are invited to
present papers. Deadline for abstracts: May 31, 2004. Deadline for final papers: September 10, 2004. For further information: <http://www.bisav.org.tr/> and <mam@bisav.org.tr>.
MERIA is indexed in the SOAS Library in London's Index Islamicus. Staff: Publisher and Editor: Barry Rubin; Assistant Editors: Cameron Brown, Elisheva Rosman-Stollman, Joy Pincus, Ehud Waldoks. London representative: Lawrence Joffe. Turkish representative: Ozgul Erdemli
MERIA offers you discounts on books and publications. We welcome special arrangements for our readers. To propose articles, items for publication, give others free subscriptions, or other correspondence, write: gloria@idc.ac.il