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Call for Papers Theme: Conflict and Dialogue in the Middle East Type: Interdisciplinary Conference Institution: Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures, Polish Academy of Sciences Location: Warsaw (Poland) Date: 8.–9.12.2014 Deadline: 20.10.2014 __________________________________________________ The Middle East faces several challenges, which have escalated in the XXI century. The challenges are structural in nature, deeply rooted in Middle Eastern societies and can only be understood after further, careful, historical and interdisciplinary analysis. Weaknesses of state institutions; a rapid but superficial modernization; poverty; inequality and slow economic development; demographical issues, as well as globalization (with its positive and negative cultural and economic outcomes) have helped to create the conflicting landscapes of the contemporary Middle East. Conflicts are inevitable and endemic but finding a solution to them is inevitable as well and this cannot be done without the help of dialogical and cooperative attempts to solving current problems, albeit it seems difficult – at least today – to overcome these issues by peaceful and conciliatory means. The conference aims at presenting interdisciplinary research from the social sciences and humanities, as well as discussing approaches that concern problems of conflict and dialogue in contemporary Middle Eastern societies. We also would like to discuss the question as to how the recent social unrest called the Arab Spring has changed the old patterns in finding solutions to political, economic, cultural, religious, as well as international conflicts in the Middle East. Submissions We invite the submission of abstracts from any disciplinary field which covers one of the main themes. It is anticipated that the discussion will include a variety of perspectives from which this topic can be understood, dealing with all MENA sub-regions. The following sub-themes of the conflict-dialogue problem are proposed: - Political conflicts and negotiations - Military confrontation and reconciliation - Sectarian and ethnic relations - Economic rivalry and cooperation - Cultural tensions and change To send an abstract of a conference paper of around 500 words, and a short bio, including a list of publications, please use this link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1BKo3TC8fBfJMzWSMguMaYEgKf0s7Qa9u93SqJkFGLGM/viewform?usp=send_form Please note that we cannot take any responsibility for abstracts that are submitted by other means. Any other queries should be sent to the following key persons: Mahnaz Zahirinejad ([email protected]) Michal Lipa ([email protected]) Rachela Tonta ([email protected]) All submitted abstracts, which should be sent before 20th October 2014, will be peer reviewed. Any information on accepted abstracts will be returned by 30th October 2014. Accepted papers will be published in the quarterly 'Hemispheres, Studies on Cultures and Societies': http://www.iksio.pan.pl/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=38&Itemid=55 Place Conference will take place in the seat of the Polish Academy of Sciences in the Staszic Palace (Nowy Swiat 72, Warsaw, Poland) Organizer The Institute of Mediterranean and Oriental Cultures is a research unit with the Polish Academy of Sciences, a state scientific institution founded in 1952. From the very beginning, it has functioned as a learned society acting through an elected cooperation of top scholars and research organizations, via its numerous scientific establishments. It has also become a major scientific advisory body through its scientific committees. Organizing Committee: Professor Jerzy Zdanowski Dr. Mahnaz Zahirinejad Dr. Rachela Tonta Michal Lipa M.A. Agata Wójcik M.A. Payment and accomodation We do not provide accommodation, however we can provide a list of recommended hostels and hotels that are located close to the place of the conference. Travelling costs are covered by the participants at their own expense. Conference fee – 40 EUR or 160 PLN. Non-Polish participants are asked to pay the fee in cash immediately upon registration. Polish participants are asked to pay the fee by 30th November with a note “MENA 2014” for the account: 97 1240 6003 1111 0010 3462 6628 (Instytut Kultur Srodziemnomorskich i Orientalnych PAN) Conference website: http://www.imoc-merc.eu __________________________________________________ InterPhil List Administration: http://interphil.polylog.org Intercultural Philosophy Calendar: http://cal.polylog.org __________________________________________________
