1. PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST

A. Books

Thomas Carothers and Marina Ottaway, ed's, Uncharted Journey: Promoting Democracy in the Middle East (Carnegie, 2005). This new Carnegie book offers the first systematic analysis of whether and how the U.S. and other external actors can effectively contribute to advancing democracy in the Middle East. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=15987.    Hear audio of a panel discussion with Tom, Marina, and Joshua Muravchik of the American Enterprise Institute:   http://www.carnegieendowment.org/events/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail&id=737.

Fred A. Lazin, The Struggle for Soviet Jewry in American Politics (Lexington Books, 2005), 382 pages, ISBN 0-7391-0842-5. Cloth $90.00 Order online for a 15% Discount http://www.lexingtonbooks.com.

Monty Noam Penkower, Decision on Palestine Deferred: America, Britain and Wartime Diplomacy, 1939-1945 (Frank Cass, July 2002) 392pp. Hb: 0-7146-5268-7: £65.00.  This volume questions the Allied governments in their attempts to stop the Holocaust and offers a Zionist view of the events of World War II. To order: adele.bennett@tandf.co.uk.

Heather J. Sharkey, Living with Colonialism: Nationalism and Culture in the Anglo-Egyptian Sudan (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2003).  xiii + 232 pp.  $65.00 (cloth),$24.95  (paper), ISBN 0-520-23558-4,0-520-23559-2.

A. J. Venter, Iran's Nuclear Option: Tehran's Quest for the Atom Bomb (Casemate Publishers), 470 pages, ISBN 1-93203303305, $29.95. A detailed analysis of the history, evidence, and course of U.S. as well as Iranian policy regarding efforts to obtain these weapons. For more information and to order: casemate@casematepublishing.com.

The European Transformation of Modern Turkey is the outcome of a research project carried out by CEPS and the Economics and Foreign Policy Forum (EFPF) of Istanbul. This book examines in detail the challenges and opportunities that would arise with Turkey’s full membership of the European Union. The authors consist of both Turkish and West European experts.  It is available in English at http://shop.ceps.be/BookDetail.php?item_id=1156 and in Turkish under the title of Cagdas Turkiye'nin Avrupa Donusumu at http://www.dogankitap.com.tr.

B. Journals, Newsletters. Papers

Claudia Baumgart and Harald Müller, "A Nuclear Weapons-Free Zone in the Middle East: A Pie in the Sky?," The Washington Quarterly, Winter 2004-05, Vol. 28, No. 1, pp. 45-58.  http://www.twq.com/05winter/docs/05winter_muller.pdf.

Nathan Brown, "What's New for Iraq?" a Carnegie Policy Outlook offering a "primer" on next steps following the Iraqi elections. Available at: http://www.CarnegieEndowment.org/democracy.

Nathan Brown, "Post-Election Iraq: Facing the Constitutional Challenge," Carnegie Policy Outlook, February 2005.  An analysis of the daunting challenges that will confront Iraq's newly elected National Assembly, including above all, in the task of writing a new constitution. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=16455.

Thomas Carothers, "A Better Way to Support Middle East Reform," Carnegie Policy Brief # 33, February 2005.  An argument that the Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), a potentially crucial component of U.S. efforts to promote Middle East reform, is falling short and should be relaunched as a private foundation. http://www.carnegieendowment.org/publications/index.cfm?fa=view&id=16413.  

Anthony H. Cordesman and Nawaf Obaid, "Al-Qaeda in Saudi Arabia: Asymmetric Threats and Islamist Extremists," Center for Strategic and International Studies.  http://www.csis.org/burke/reports/050106_Al-QaedainSaudi.pdf. (25 pages)

Heather Grabbe, "When Negotiations Begin: the Next Phase in EU-Turkey Relations," Centre for European Reform.  An essay about the challenges that lie ahead for the EU and Turkey once accession negotiations begin. http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/essay_turkey_hg_nov04.pdf.

Jonathan D. Halevi, "The Palestinian 'Temporary Cease-Fire': Israel's Political Risks & Opportunities with the Sharm el-Sheikh Summit Between Prime Minister Sharon and Chairman Mahmud Abbas (Abu Mazen)," Jerusalem Issue Brief, Vol. 4, No. 16 -  February 7. 2005.  http://www.jcpa.org/brief/brief004-16.htm

Antoine Halff, "Instability in the Gulf and the Threat to Oil Stability," Jerusalem Issue Brief, Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, Vol. 4, No. 6 – October 20, 2004. http://www.jcpa.org/brief/brief4-6.htm.

Amy Hawthorne, "Arab Political Reform:  A New Ferment?" Carnegie Endowment, October 2004. http://www.carnegieendowment.org.

http://www.chathamhouse.org.uk/pdf/research/il/BP0904.pdf. 

2. WEBSITES/GROUPS ONLINE

A.General:

The Gulf/2000 project, sponsored by Columbia University, includes the address links to many research sites on the web dealing with the Persian Gulf and the general Middle East.  http://gulf2000.columbia.edu.
 
MENAS Associates, an independent British consulting firm, publishes newsletters on Algeria, Iran, Iraq and Libya. Samples and subscriptions obtainable here: http://www.menas.co.uk/sample.htm.
 
The Institute for International Law of Peace and Armed Conflict, established in 1988 at the University of Bochum in Germany, aims to intensify academic research and instruction of the laws and practices regulating armed conflicts. Among other activities, it publishes a quarterly journal and books, organises conferences and seminars in humanitarian law and human rights law, and makes statements on current international issues. More info: http://www.ifhv.de.
 
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy announces a new website with better access to daily insights from experts, a new bookstore, and an extensive archive of policy papers, testimony, commentary, speeches, maps & graphics.  http://www.washingtoninstitute.org

B. Iraq

Iraqi Turkmen Human Rights Research Foundation.  Website includes reports, news and articles.

http://www.Turkmen.nl/SOITM.html.

This translation of an official announcement that appeared last month in a Kuwaiti newspaper is a complete listing of the parties, coalitions and individuals that competed in the January 30 elections in Iraq. Published on Juan Cole's weblog:  http://www.juancole.com/2005/01/electoral-lists-kind-person-in-baghdad.html.

3. FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO E-MAIL PUBLICATIONS

4. FUNDING/GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS/WRITING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

A project entitled "Transit Migration in Turkey" in the framework of AENEAS Programme, funded by the European Commission and directed by Alessandro Angius, is now seeking eligible partners. The project involves research into transit migration in Turkey.  Eligible partners include:  regional or international organizations; non-governmental organizations; non-State actors; federal, national or local governments; and Institutes, association, public and private operators.  Grant is between 500.000 and 2.000.000 euros, Deadline for applications is March 30, 2005.  Interested parties should contact Mr. Angius at aleangius@yahoo.it or +32484125708.

The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs is pleased to announce a new competition of the Fulbright Visiting Specialists Program: "Direct Access to the Muslim World."  Deadline: April 1, 2005.  This program is designed to promote understanding of the Muslim World and civilization by providing opportunities for U.S. higher educational institutions to host specialists from the Muslim World for short-term programs.  More info: vstngspec@cies.iie.org or http://www.cies.org/Visiting_Specialists/.

August 1-19, 2005.  Stanford, California, USA.  The Center on Democracy, Development, and the Rule of Law (CDDRL) at the Stanford Institute for International Studies, Stanford U. California invites policy makers and activists from countries undergoing political, economic and social transitions to participate in its first annual summer fellows program on democracy, development, and the rule of law to be held at Stanford U. on its northern California campus.  Program is aimed at early to mid-career policy-makers, academics, and leaders of civil society organizations. For more info: http://cddrl.stanford.edu or write to Ganka@stanford.edu. Deadline: April 1, 2005. 
 

Insight Turkey is calling for papers for its January-March 2005 issue, which will focus on Turkish foreign policy issues in general with a regional focus on the Middle East. Of particular interest are 1) articles on Turkey and: Iraq/Iran/Syria; the Middle East; U.S. relations; the Cyprus Question; Armenia; the Black Sea; Israel; the E.U and 2) Terrorism as a regional threat; Islam and Democracy; Turkish Cypriot elections. Feel free to propose any other paper ideas, including book reviews to the Editor. Deadline to submit is March 1, 2005. For more info write the editor at editor@insightturkey.com or visit the website at http://www.insightturkey.com.

Contributions are invited for Transnational Broadcasting Studies (www.tbsjournal.com). Academic papers sought for the hard-copy edition must be products of formal research or scholarship in the field of transnational broadcasting in the Arab and Islamic worlds. Papers may be no longer than 8,000 words, including footnotes, and must conform to The Chicago Manual of Style. Send submission and half page abstract by March 1, 2005 for Spring/Summer issue.   Articles submitted for the regular non-reviewed section of TBS should be sent by March 31, 2005. Send all papers to Dr. Humphrey T. Davies at tbs@aucegypt.edu. For more info:  linds@aucegypt.edu.

Prof. Lahoucine Ouzgane is soliciting articles for a book collection devoted to masculinities in Middle Eastern and North African Literature and Film.
For more information: louzgane@ualberta.ca.  Abstracts of 200 words are due by April 1, 2005.  Essays are due by August 1, 2005.

Europe Journal, published by The Polish Institute of International Affairs in Poland, is seeking original articles by authors from the Middle East region, on issues concerning relations between the region and Europe, or the perception of Europe in Israel and its neighbours.  For more details:  http://www.pism.pl or write wyciszkiewicz@pism.pl.

The Editors of French Historical Studies are soliciting articles for a special issue on France and Islam.  Papers on research topics covering all chronological periods from the medieval to the present are welcome.  The framework of the issue will rest on three considerations: Relations between France and Islamic countries; Encounters and Responses of France or the French to Islam or of Islamic countries or Muslims to France or the French; Influences of Islam or Islamic countries on France or on French communities and French influences on Islamic countries or on Islamic culture. Send queries to Patricia Lorcin plorcin@umn.edu  or Paula Sanders sanders@rice.edu.  For writing guidelines: http://fhs.ucdavis.edu/style.shtml.  Deadline: October 1, 2005.

The Kuwait Times seeks article submissions for its analysis/op/ed features. KT is a daily English language publication based in Kuwait and hopes to present a balanced and well-informed series of analyses about regional events including the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the US occupation of Iraq, the upcoming Iraqi elections, Al-Qaeda and etc. Interested parties should submit articles - no more than 1,000 words in length, to analysis@kuwaittimes.net. 

5. RESEARCH QUERIES-PLEASE HELP 

6. SCHOLAR'S AND AUTHOR'S ALERTS (writers report on their books, articles, and activities)

Brian Loveman, ed., Strategy for Empire: U.S. Regional Security Policy in the Post-Cold War Era Series: The World Beat Series (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, July 2004). 384 pp. PB $26.95, 0-8420-5177-5, Cloth $75.00, 0-8420-5176-7. Info and to order: http://www.rowmanlittlefield.com/.

Matteo Legrenzi, "The Long Road Ahead: Economic Integration in the Gulf States," UNDP Cooperation South Journal.  In light of the recent controversy surrounding the Bahrain-United States Free Trade Agreement, this might be of interest. http://tcdc.undp.org/coopsouth/2003-2/CoopSouth_E-37-49.pdf.

Christopher Rundle, From Colwyn Bay to Kabul: An Unexpected Journey (The Memoir Club 2004).  Memoirs of a British diplomat and academic, covering primarily time spent in Iran before and after the revolution and in Afghanistan before and after the Taliban, as well as the 'war on terror'. 240  pages, ISBN 1 84104 068 1. HB £17.50. Telephone orders +44 (0) 1388 529060 or visit website http://www.thememoirclub.co.uk.

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.]

February 28, 2005.  Tel Aviv, Israel.  Hamagshamim presents Prof. Barry Rubin, Director of the Global Research for International Affairs Center (GLORIA), IDC Herzliya, who will speak on "The New Palestinian Leadership:  Holding onto the Past or Embracing the Future?" Hear about life after Arafat, the new Palestinian Authority and the changes to come.  19:00. For more info: contact 02-561-9165 x 204, 211 or
yael@themerkaz.org.

March 1, 2005.  New York City, NY, USA.  The Women’s Learning Partnership (WLP) with the support of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) presents an International Symposium, "Leading to Change: Eliminating Violence Against Women in Muslim Societies."  Speakers at the Symposium will include women activists, scholars, and policy-makers from Muslim-majority societies and experts on violence against women.  Location: The Church Center, Plaza Room – 2nd Floor, 777 UN Plaza. For more info: http://www.learningpartnership.org/events/2005/symposiumflier.pdf.

May 13-14, 2005.  Chicago, Illinois, U.S.A. The 20th Annual Middle East History and Theory Conference, at the U. of Chicago, invites papers treating Middle Eastern and Central Asian art/architecture, literature, society, history and politics from the 7th century to the present. This year's conference will also focus on the role of literature and literary imagination in the writing of history. The deadline for one-page abstracts and C.V.'s is February 28, 2005.  Working papers due by April 3, 2005.  For info: mgreen1@uchicago.edu or http://cas.uchicago.edu/workshops/mehat/conference.html.

May 27 -June 3, 2005. Istanbul and Bodrum, Turkey.  Towson U.'s Institute for Teaching and Research on Women (ITROW) is co-hosting the Summer Institute, "Turkey at the Crossroads:  Women, Women's Studies, and the State," in collaboration with Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara, Turkey. An application and information can be found at:  http://pages.towson.edu/ncctrw. Early registration ends March 15. Attendees interested in presenting at a panel or roundtable session should submit a one page proposal describing their presentation, how it relates to the institute themes, and what issues it will include. Send proposals to Dr. Karen Dugger at kdugger@towson.edu by March 8.

September 29-October 2, 2005.   Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A.  The Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS) invites paper and roundtable proposals for the Sixth CESS Annual Conference to be held at Boston University.  Can relate to all aspects of humanities and social science scholarship on Central Eurasia.  Deadline:  April 1, 2005.   For full details: http://cess.fas.harvard.edu/CESS_Conference.html or write to CESSconf@fas.harvard.edu. 

November 2-3, 2005. France, Paris.  Announcing the second international meeting on Middle Eastern Printing and Publishing History.  Organizers: Dr. Geoffrey J. Roper <gjr2@cam.ac.uk>, and Sara Yontan <sara.yontan@bnf.fr>.   All interested participants should respond to Sara Yontan as soon as possible.

January 20-21, 2006. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. USA. The University of Oxford and the University of Pennsylvania are co-sponsoring a conference, "Commemorating the Constitution, 1906-2006 State Building & Global Responses to Iranian Constitutionalism," to be held at the U. of Pennsylvania.  Panelists are invited to submit abstracts of approximately 250 words assessing the process of nation formation, the development of a civic culture, or the international ramifications of this broad-based constitutional movement in the Middle East.  For more info: conference-1906@history.upenn.edu.  Deadline: March 31, 2005.