Conf/CfP - Re-thinking Nationalism, Sectarianism, and Ethno-Religious Mobilisation in the Middle East, 26 - 28 January 2018, UK

At the centennial of the end of WWI, and as the region appears to be at a new crossroads, this conference intends to reflect on nature of borders and boundaries, to be explored from both historical and contemporary lenses with an aim to draw comparative lessons and identify the dynamics of continuity and areas of change. Focusing therefore on the questions of why, how and in what ways borders and boundaries have and are being (re)constructed and their implications for the management of diversity, the conference invites submissions from different disciplines such as history (late nineteenth century to present), sociology, IR, politics and gender studies among others, alongside interdisciplinary and comparative perspectives. 

Possible topics include, but are not limited to:

• New theoretical thinking on ethno-religious borders and boundary making, including processes of minoritisation and majoritisation, and the role of religion in ethnic mobilisation and conflict.
• The role of intellectuals such as religious leaders, ulama, historians, thinkers, writers, and artists in constructing new sectarian/national identities.
• Colonialism and its influences on the nature of borders and boundary making.
• Challenges to the nation-state framework and management of diversity in an environment of transforming boundaries and borders.
• The dynamics of sectarianism and sectarianisation.
• Interventions and influences of transnational political or religious networks, mass migration and diaspora movements on ethno-religious mobilisation.
• Impact of new technologies and media.
• Official or unofficial representations of ethnic/religious identities as inclusive or exclusive, or of society as deeply divided.
• Theoretical reflections on the utility of ‘religion’ as a comparative category in studying sectarianism.