CMES

Newsletter #31

October 2022

CMES Public Panel on the Protests in Iran

On 17 October CMES co-hosted (with UPF) a panel about the ongoing protests in Iran. The Middle East experts - Rola El-Husseini Dean, Barzoo Eliassi, Narges Mosavat, Rouzbeh Parsi, and Sarah Anne Rennick - discussed how the recent political acts of resistance by young people in Iran can be understood and what role the Iranian diaspora can play. The event was introduced by Vice Chancellor Erik Renström and chaired by Karin Aggestam.

CMES Strongly Supports the Statement by the Association of Swedish Higher Education on the Ongoing Protests in Iran

"SUHF, the Association of Swedish Higher Education Institutions, is deeply concerned by the current situation for students and staff at Iranian universities. (...) SUHF is strongly committed to democratic and human rights including the right to free expression and non-violent protests. Current violations of these rights for university students and staff in Iran are deeply concerning." Read the full statement on SUHF's website here.

After Work Panel Discussion on Climate Change in the Middle East

On 29 September, CMES scholars participated in the first Pufendorf & Friends After Work with a panel discussion on climate change in the Middle East at the Pufendorf Institute. The panel was chaired by Karin Aggestam and CMES researchers Dalia Abdelhady,  Lina Eklund and Hossein Hashemi participated. The biggest challenges in terms of climate change in the Middle East were discussed, as well as possible solutions.

CMES Book Launch: Routledge Handbook on Middle Eastern Diasporas

On 7 October CMES hosted the book launch of the Routledge Handbook on Middle Eastern Diasporas with the editors - Dalia Abdelhady (CMES) and Ramy Aly (American University in Cairo) - and several contributing authors - Öncel Naldemirci (Umeå University), Ángela Suárez Collado (University of Salamanca) and Pınar Dinç (CMES). The book sheds light on diverse approaches to investigating diaspora groups in different national contexts.

Open Call for Applications: Writing Retreats at CMES in 2023

CMES supports writing retreats on Middle East research with the aim to finalise an article, book chapter, edited volume or book for publication in peer-reviewed outlets. CMES offers office space and modern research facilities in a stimulating work environment. Two writing retreats will be granted during the spring of 2023. Applications are open to individual researchers who hold doctoral degrees and are employed by Lund University. Application Deadline: 30 November 2022

Nordic Conference for Middle Eastern Studies 

Several CMES scholars and LU researchers participated in the 12th Nordic Conference for Middle Eastern Studies, held in Reykjavik, Iceland, on September 22-24 with the theme "The Middle East in Myth and Reality":

• Joel W. Abdelmoez, “Contemporary Feminist Activism in Egypt, Tunisia, and Saudi Arabia: Transnationalism, Performances and Repertoires of Contention”
• Nada Al-Hudaid, “The Pragmatic of Dreams: Sharing and Interpreting Dreams among Pious Shia Female Artists in Kuwait”
• Rola El-Husseini Dean, “Norm Diffusion and Gender Equality Policies in the Arab World”
• Svante Lundgren, “The Rise and Fall of Assyrian Nationalism”
• Sarah Anne Rennick, “Missing National Narratives and Learning-by-Doing: Youth Political Socialization in Transitional Tunisia”
• Oliver Scharbrodt, “Beyond Quietism and Activism: Clergy-State Relations in Contemporary Twelver Shiism”. Oliver was elected to the board of NSMES.
• Yafa Shanneik, “The Myth and Reality of Women’s Rights in the Middle East: Syrian Refugees in Jordan as a Case Study”

The Politics of Humanitarian Aid Work and Aina Cederblom

CMES scholar Maria Småberg has been interviewed in the Swedish Educational Broadcasting Company's (Utbildningsradion) podcast "Bildningsbyrån - tänka mot strömmen". The episode is about the Swedish philanthropist and humanitarian aid worker Aina Cederblom. Maria's interview (ffw to 13:17 and 23:33) addresses the general politics and driving forces of humanitarian aid work to provide context to the life and work of Aina Cederblom.

Leadership Needed for Protests to Usher In Change in Iran

What is most surprising about the demonstrations in Iran, is how young the protesting girls are. So says Rola El-Husseini, researcher in political sociology and expert on women's movements in the Middle East. "Iran is rocked by major protests about every ten years. But in recent years they have occurred more frequently", says Rola El-Husseini, "and for the first time, young women and girls have initiated them". Read more here.

EU Democracy Promotion in North Africa

CMES researcher Sarah Anne Rennick will be participating in the kick-off for the EMBRACE project which looks at blockages to EU democratization policies in its broader neighborhood, including North Africa and the Levant, and making recommendations to the EU in terms of democracy promotion. Sarah will act as regional lead for North Africa. EMBRACE aims to provide the EU with in-depth knowledge and an innovative policy toolkit for a stable and secure neighbourhood.

Is Lebanon a Failed State?

CMES scholar Rola El-Husseini held a lecture on the current political situation in Lebanon on 26 October. The lecture was organized by the Association of Foreign Affairs (UPF) in Lund. Rola gave an overview of the country's post-war history with an emphasis on the period since the 2019 revolution. She also addressed what the likely presidential vacuum at the end of October 2022 will mean for the future of Lebanon and its population. For more information visit UPF's Facebook page.

Qatar and the World Cup – Questions and Answers

CMES Phd researcher Joel Abdelmoez has written a Q & A on Qatar and the World Cup on the blog Tabsir. In the blog post, Joel  discusses the controversies surrounding Qatar acting as host to the 2022 FIFA World Cup. One issue is the fact that Qatar and FIFA have been accused of corruption and irregularities in relation to the election process. Another key critique has to do with worker's rights, health and safety as Qatar prepared for the cup. 

The World Is on Fire – Adapting to a Warmer Planet?

CMES researchers Pinar Dinc and Lina Eklund, as part of the group Wildfires in the Anthropocene, note that the deforestation that follows a large fire challenges societies to find new ways of living and puts pressure on politicians to achieve change. They see a future where we learn more about the causes of forest fires and how we fight them, while finding ways to live with these fires and better adapt our societies to a warmer world. Read more here.

"Linking Hydro-Physical Variables and Landscape Metrics using Advanced Data Mining for Stream-Flow Prediction"

Authors: Vahid Moosavi, Ayoob Karami, Negin Behnia, Ronny Berndtsson and Christian Massari

"Good Tidings for Saudi Women? Techno-Orientalism, Gender, and Saudi Politics in Global Media Discourse"

Author: Joel Abdelmoez

Book review of Constructions of Masculinity in the Middle East and North Africa edited by Mohja Kahf and Nadine Sinno

Author: Joel Abdelmoez

"När den assyriska tragedin blev Seyfo. En undersökning av svensk-assyrisk minnespolitik"

Authors: Svante Lundgren