Institute for Middle East Studies

Middle East Studies Workshop

The Institute for Middle East Studies at the Elliott School is launching a new Middle East Studies Workshop that will bring in leading scholars to present a work-in-progress.  The goals of the series, modeled on the successful IGIS, ICSC and Comparative Politics workshops, are to provide PhD students focused on Middle East politics with an opportunity to conduct a meaningful exchange with leading scholars in the field, and to build a robust intellectual community at GW. Papers will be circulated in advance, and one student will be chosen to deliver structured remarks on the manuscript followed by a free-flowing discussion.

Students and faculty who participate in the workshop will be expected to regularly attend scheduled sessions and read the papers in advance; students are also expected to volunteer to be the lead discussant where appropriate. GW faculty, postdoctoral researchers, and advanced graduate students may also present papers. To join the Middle East Studies Workshop, please send a note to Shana Marshall, Associate Director at the Institute for Middle East Studies (smarshall@gwu.edu). Participants are also encouraged to suggest future speakers.

We aim to hold these events approximately once every two-to-three weeks. Unless otherwise noted, the workshops will be held from 12:00 noon to 2:00 pm in Room 5120, located in the Institute for Middle East Studies Suite on the 5th floor of the Elliott School.
**Please note: Spring 2013 workshops will be held in Room 505 (adjacent to the IMES suite.)**

The Spring 2013 schedule currently includes:

Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Dr. Amaney Jamal (Princeton University)

Paper: "US Military Intervention and the Status of Women in the Arab World"

Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Dr. Ellen Lust (Yale University)

Paper: "Social Organization, Political Institutions and Electoral Participation in the Arab World"

Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Dr. Caitlin Talmadge(George Washington University)

Paper: "Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? The Future of U.S. Presence in the Persian Gulf"

Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Dr. Orit Bashkin (University of Chicago)

Paper: "On Sponges and Lost Love: Three Poems and a Few Comments on Iraqi Jewish History"

Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Dr. Laura Deeb (Scripps College)

Paper: "The Post-Cold War Politics of Middle East Anthropology"

The Fall 2012 schedule included:

Monday - September 24, 2012
Dr. Lisa Wedeen (University of Chicago)

Paper: "Ideology and Humor in Dark Times: Notes from Syria"
**PLEASE NOTE: this workshop will take place in Room 505 in the Elliott School (adjacent to the IMES suite)**

Monday - October 15, 2012
Dr. David Patel (Cornell University)

Paper: "Don't be Square! Diffusion, coordination, and the centrality of public spaces in Arab revolutions"

Monday - October 22, 2012
Dr. Sarah Parkinson (George Washington University)

Paper: "Lessons from a Car Thief: Insubordination, Solidarity, and Morality in Wartime Lebanon"

Friday, November 2, 2012
Dr. Jason Brownlee (University of Texas at Austin)

Paper: "Economic Redistribution and the United States' Response to the Arab Revolts"

Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Dr. Wendy Pearlman (Northwestern University)

Paper: "Breaking the Barrier of Fear: Emotions and Mobilization in the Arab Uprisings"

Events Archive