CfP: New Horizons in Conflict Systems Analysis: Applications to the Middle East

This three-day (Oct. 28-30, 2011) NSF-funded conference at the University of South Carolina will bring together conflict scholars, primarily from Political Science, applying a range of advanced, rigorous analytic and data gathering techniques, to address the single empirical domain of the contemporary Middle East conflict system. Analytic approaches from several other disciplines will also be represented, including network analysis (Sociology), GIS [geographic information system] techniques (Geography), and identity-based analyses to social conflict (Geography and Linguistics). Focusing on a single empirical domain (the Middle East conflict) will more readily allow for a head-to-head comparison of the various approaches to conflict analysis. It will further allow for more objective evaluation of different types of data, and data gathering techniques. Finally, it will permit those interested in how the Middle East conflicts could be managed or resolved to see points of leverage and productive strategies. The program chairs invite submissions from any of the above fields for inclusion in a special poster session designed to feature graduate student and graduate student co-authored research. The conference poster session will complement the six invited panel sessions. The deadline for poster proposals is March 15, 2011. Poster proposals may be submitted through the LINGUIST LIST portal.