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Call for Papers - Rethinking Jihad: Ideas, Politics and Conflict in the Arab World and Beyond
| Location: | United Kingdom |
| Call for Papers Date: | 2009-01-12 (Archive) |
| Date Submitted: |
2008-10-21 |
| Announcement ID: |
164708 |
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Call for Papers
International Conference "Rethinking Jihad: Ideas, Politics and
Conflict In the Arab World and Beyond"
The Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World
The University of Edinburgh, 7-9 September 2009
Especially since 11 September 2001, the notion of 'jihad' has assumed
centre-stage in public and academic discourses on Islam, Muslims, and
the Arab world, particularly as a byword for terrorism and violence.
But clearly jihad has meant different things to different people at
different times, whether as theory, as action or as metaphor. As a
timely exploration of this diversity, the Centre for the Advanced
Study of the Arab World (CASAW) is convening a major international
conference on the subject of jihad in its multiple dimensions. The
conference has three overarching goals. The first is to bring
together academics and others from a variety of disciplines and
specialisations to generate an in-depth discussion of jihad in its
practical, theoretical, historical, juridical and symbolic
dimensions. It is hoped that by drawing on a diversity of
perspectives (methodological, historical and geographical) the
conference will contribute to a deeper and more critical
understanding of jihad. The second goal is to reflect critically on
the importance of jihad, however defined, to the study of the Arab
and Islamic worlds: to what extent is jihad a useful analytical
concept? Have students of Islam and the Arab world minimised or
overstated its importance? How should jihad be located in future
research agendas? Finally, the conference will seek to engage with
the broader knowledge community and explore current understandings
and representations of jihad within policy and media circles
internationally. It will critique these representations, as well as
explore ways in which academics might contribute to an improved
understanding and contextualisation of jihad in public discourse.
The conference will combine keynote addresses and panel discussions
over three days at the University of Edinburgh. Confirmed speakers
currently include:
Prof. John L. Esposito (Georgetown University), Prof. Fred Halliday
(Barcelona Institute for International Studies), Prof. Carole
Hillenbrand (University of Edinburgh), Prof. Rudolph Peters
(University of Amsterdam), Prof. Tariq Ramadan (University of
Oxford), Dr. Hasan al-Turabi (PCP, Sudan), Dr. Roxanne Varzi
(University of California, Irvine), Prof. Sami Zubeida (Birkbeck,
University of London)
Paper proposals for panels are invited from scholars and graduate
students in all fields of the humanities and social sciences,
including area studies, history, religious studies, political
science, law, international relations, anthropology, cultural
studies, comparative literature, and sociology . Papers addressing
the topics detailed below are particularly encouraged, but we aim to
make the conference as inclusive as possible. As such, any proposal
dealing with jihad (broadly defined), or related topics will be
welcome.
1. Jihad in History
How has jihad evolved in the centuries since the Qur'an, both
doctrinally and in practice? What factors have influenced this
evolution? Are the ideas and political actions associated with jihad
unique to Islam, or representative of more general religious and
political developments? To what extent do particular readings of
jihad in Islamic history inform contemporary debates and practices?
2. Jihad Theory
How much consensus has there been among Muslim intellectuals about
jihad? What are/have been the main areas of convergence and
disagreement? How central is, or has been, the issue of jihad to
Muslim theological and intellectual discourses? Papers may also
discuss the role of, or potential for, interfaith dialogue on the
issue of jihad.
3. Jihad and Martyrdom
What is the relationship between these two categories, and how
central has the idea of martyrdom been to jihad? Papers engaging
with this theme could also compare notions of martyrdom in other
religions.
4. Jihad in non-Muslim Majority Societies
How has jihad been interpreted and practiced in non-Muslim majority
societies? How does this compare to the role of jihad in the Arab
and Islamic worlds? How do transnational intellectual, institutional
and cultural links influence the way Muslims in the West
conceptualise jihad?
5. Jihad, Language and Popular Culture
What is/has been the resonance of jihad within language? How have
its meanings and associations shifted over time? How has jihad been
represented at the level of popular culture, including within
literature, poetry, the press, television and film?
6. Jihad and Social and Political Action
What has been the role of jihad in political mobilisation and
activism? What have been the links between ideas and action? How
has jihad informed or been reflected in social practice?
7. Non-Muslim Approaches to Jihad
How have academic, media and policy communities shaped public
perceptions of jihad in non-Muslim majority contexts? To what extent
have ideas on jihad shaped perceptions of Islam, Arabs and Muslims
more generally? How are jihad and related topics taught as part of
Middle East or Islamic studies programmes in universities and can
this be improved?
8. States, Law and War
To what extent does jihad function as an international legal or
normative framework? How compatible is it with international law?
What are/have been the relationships between jihad, violence,
terrorism and war? How have shifting conceptions of authority
affected jihad? How has globalisation impacted on jihad as theory
and as practice?
Depending on funding, a contribution toward travel and/or
accommodation may be available.
Proposals should consist of a 300-word abstract and indication of
current affiliation, title and position (e.g. student, lecturer, etc.)
Abstracts will be judged by a panel on the basis of theoretical or
empirical originality, coherence of argument and relevance.
Please send proposals by 12 January 2009 to events@casaw.ac.uk. The
results of the selection process will be communicated by 1 April 2009.
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Dr. Ewan Stein
Postdoctoral Fellow
Centre for the Advanced Study of the Arab World (CASAW)
The University of Edinburgh
16-19 George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LD
estein@staffmail.ed.ac.uk
Direct Line: + 44 0131 650 9973
CASAW office phone: +44 0131 650 6814
Fax: +44 0131 650 6804
Web: www.casaw.ac.uk
Email: admin@casaw.ac.uk
Visit the website at http://www.casaw.ac.uk
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