CFP: New Politics and Society in the Middle East

The Institute for Social Sciences of Sakarya University announces “1stMiddle East International Congress: New Politics and Society” to be held 9 - 11 October, 2012 in Sakarya, Turkey. The Middle East is once again under spotlight thanks mainly to the Arab Awakening. This conference invites observers and students of the region to reconsider and rework not only the highly topical events of the day but also several related phenomena that include citizenry, political action, state building, democratic politics, social legitimacy of authority, social justice, social media, new political consciousness, national self-determination and the post 9/11 international politics of the Middle East. Participants are asked to consider that while Europe and the U.S. needed several centuries to develop modern political governance and civil society, the challenge for the Middle Eastern peoples is to press on the means of democratic politics in a much shorter time frame and under perilous conditions. Sakarya University, Institute for Social Sciences invites scholars, public figures and activists of all stripes to join the panels and colloquiums for advancing our understanding of the new dynamics of the region. The language of the Congress will be English, Arabic and Turkish with simultaneous translations provided. Proposals should be received by 7 May 2012. Please see the conference website for more information.