Workshop on the Politics of Every Day Contestation in the Arab World
20 – 21 March, 2020
Call for Abstracts
Sponsored by the Bobst-AUB Collaborative Initiative:
Co-Organized: Tania Haddad (AUB) and Amaney Jamal (Princeton University)
Almost a decade after the Arab Spring, what has become of the momentum that led societies to challenge their governing regimes? Are Arab societies replacing active and vocal contestation with new forms of participation and political engagement? Or in the wake of political upheavals and instability, have Arab societies become more acquiescent? Are new political actors and new forms of social and political activism emerging? What roles are civil societies, youth movements, and secular and religious groups playing? Finally, what are the new and old informal and formal political spaces structuring political participation?
This workshop seeks to foster a better understanding of everyday political life in Arab societies. The focus is on both individual and collective forms of engagement. Papers should be based on field-based evidence. Methodological diversity is encouraged. We welcome proposals from advanced graduate students and PhDs.
Please send a one page abstract (500 words) outlining the core research question, methodology and empirical evidence that the paper will use to Nadine Mezher (nm131@aub.edu.lb) and Christy Govantes (govantes@princeton.edu) by 16 September 2019.
The workshop will be held at the American University of Beirut on 20 - 21 March 2020.
Economy class travel and accommodation expenses will be covered for participants whose proposals are accepted
Following the discussions and revisions by scholars, the papers (chapters, dissertations, proposals) could be published as a special issue in a peer-reviewed English journal.
About the Bobst-AUB Collaborative Initiative:
The Mamdouha S. Bobst Center for Peace and Justice and the Faculty of Arts and Sciences (FAS) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) are pleased to announce the continuation of their ongoing joint initiative. This initiative is supported by the generous funding of the Bobst Foundation, according to the wishes of philanthropist Mamdouha S. Bobst on projects designed to promote studies relating to the Middle East in order to advance the cause of peace, mutual understanding and justice. This unique collaboration seeks to leverage both institutions’ intellectual capital and mutual interests to raise awareness about the politics of transformation in MENA.