Friday, February 17, 2017

More on Baltimore: IPE's Activist Scholar; GSCIS Dialogue; Call for papers: Anthro journal

 IPE presents:

Medea Benjamin
Speaks on
Activist-Scholarship


How to Stop The Next War Now: Effective
Responses to Violence and Terrorism
ISA members are encouraged to join us in a session to honor Medea Benjamin,
recipient of the 2017 IPE Outstanding Activist Scholar award. Medea is being
honored for her scholarship, activism, and leadership with the women-led peace
group CODEPINK as well as the human rights group Global Exchange. She is
the author of eight books, including Drone Warfare: Killing by Remote Control,
Greening of the Revolution: Cuba’s Experiment with Organic Agriculture, and
most recently Kingdom of the Unjust: Behind the U.S.-Saudi Connection.


Friday February 24th 1:45-3:30pm
Hilton 2 (Hilton - Baltimore)

Panelists
J. Ann Tickner
Andrej Grubačić
Robin Broad
Hasmet M. Uluorta
The authors are respectively:
Distinguished Scholar in Residence, American University
Professor, California Institute of Integral Studies
Professor, American University
Assistant Professor, Trent University
For further information please contact Hasmet at huluorta@trentu.ca
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The Second ISA - GSC Dialogue 2017: A Reminder
During the 2016 annual convention in Atlanta, the Global South Caucus, in conjunction with ISA Headquarters, hosted the inaugural Global South Dialogue. The dialogue was a forum that provided space for ISA members located in or with origins from the Global South to discuss their views of the ISA; their roles in the ISA; and the factors that have influenced the ability and willingness of Global South scholars to participate in the ISA.
The Dialogue proved to be a fruitful interchange that brought to light concerns about:
 Perceived ideological, epistemological and methodological biases in ISA research and publications that may run counter to research agendas and approaches pursued by scholars in the Global South;
 Travel, visa and other logistical matters relating to the location of ISA annual conference and meetings;
 The barriers to involvement that the exclusive use of the English language in the ISA causes;
 The risks to academic freedom that location in some areas of the Global South may pose and which may hinder involvement in the ISA;
 The limited visibility and knowledge about the ISA and its utility in academic circles outside of the Global North.
The participants in this forum also provided valuable suggestions to address the issues raised. These perspectives, concerns and suggestions have been passed on to the leadership of the ISA and some actions have been taken in response. This year’s follow-up session will provide participants with information about these actions taken in response to the 2016 Dialogue and will allow ISA members an opportunity to continue the discussion in our efforts to continually enhance the association. Please come out and join the Dialogue on Wednesday, February 22, from 10:30 AM to 12:15 PM. Location: Paca, Hilton-Baltimore.

AGENDA Time Activity Facilitator
10:30-10:35 Welcome and Introduction Kristina Hinds Aigul Kulnazarova Lembe Tiky 10:35-10:40 Brief on last year’s dialogue Lembe Tiky
10:40-11:05 Travel grants and ISA resources: a. presentations – Boyer/ Tiky, 5 mins each b. discussion (including proposals/suggestions) Mark Boyer Lembe Tiky
11:05-11:30 Research collaboration and publications: a. presentations – Thies/ Kulnazarova, 5 mins each b. discussion (including proposals/suggestions) Cameron Thies Aigul Kulnazarova
11:30-11:55 Representation in ISA governing bodies: a. presentations – Leeds/ Hinds, 5 mins each b. discussion (including proposals/suggestions) Brett Ashley Leeds Kristina Hinds
11:55-12:05 Conclusion and recommendations Lembe Tiky Kristina Hinds (recorder)
12:05-12:15 Miscellaneous (announcement of new books authored by GSC members, etc.) Aigul Kulnazarova
2
Coordinators
Aigul Kulnazarova, Member of EXCOM, Global South Caucus
Tama University, Japan
Kristina Hinds, Member of EXCOM, Global South Caucus
The University of the West Indies, Barbados
Lembe Tiky, Director of Academic Development, ISA
University of Connecticut, USA
Special Guests
Brett Ashley Leeds, Incoming President, ISA
Rice University, USA
Cameron Thies, Editor-In-Chief, Foreign Policy Analysis Journal
Arizona State University, USA
Mark Boyer, Executive Director, ISA
University of Connecticut, USA

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Call for Papers for Journal

CFP Dialectical Anthropology Special Section Nationalisms and the Middle East 

As an idea, nationalism arrived late to the Middle East, gaining momentum only with the Ottoman Empire’s slow decline in the early twentieth century. Grafted onto the multiethnic and multireligious social fabrics of the Ottoman Empire, with the aim of consolidating the multitude of identities into a single unitary one, nationalism, in the countries of this region has been manifested in multiple forms. Zionism, which was initially external to the region, emerged in response to a long history of anti-Semitism in Europe. Arab nationalism (despite emerging in the early 20th century during the crumbling days of the Ottoman Empire) only solidified after the Second World War during decolonization. Arab nationalism evolved in response to contradictory experiences including territorial identities, pan-Arabism and colonial experience. In Turkey and Iran, nationalisms emerged as a response to their own imperial pasts, in the absence of the experience of colonialism. Notwithstanding these differences, however, in all of these cases, early nationalisms in the Middle East provided the ideological background for modernization. As the driving force of modernization, nationalism was operationalized by governing elites to silence and homogenize diverse experiences of class, gender, ethnic and religious differences in different parts of the Middle East. A nationalist surge, which started in the region at the dawn of the 20st century, is now in the early part of the 21st century.in[century.in] crisis throughout the Middle East. National identities, once imposed by regimes in Arabic speaking countries, have become fragmented along ethnic, religious, linguistic and also class lines. Turkish nationalism, which attempted to create a singular identity out of the heterogeneous populations of the Ottoman Empire, is now unable to project a unified image. It is largely incapable of mediating competing claims between Kurdish, urban secular and religious/conservative segments of the population. The delicate balance between religious and secular Jewish identities that was kept in place by modern Zionism is also under increasing stress, as the religious right has increasingly refused to accept traditional Zionism’s secular outlook. This special issue will reflect on the current state of nationalisms in the Middle East and invites papers that focus on but are not limited to the following topics for specific countries in the Middle East including Balkans: · _The rise of political Islam and declining national identities · _The impact of the neoliberal transformation of the region on national regimes · _Shifting ethnic, class and cultural identities in relation to national narratives · _Gender and national transformations · _The breakdown of national borders and new geopolitical realities The full manuscript should be approximately 7,000 words including notes and bibliography. Please indicate your interest by submitting an abstract with title by email to: 
Guest editor: Feyzi Baban International Development Studies Trent University Peterborough, Canada fbaban@trentu.ca Important Dates: Abstract: March 6, 2017 Full Version: - June 1, 2017

Saturday, February 4, 2017

On to Baltimore! Luncheon etc.

 
Dear Members:
The Baltimore annual conference is almost here and a few special messages are in order:

First, we are pleased to be sponsoring or co-sponsoring 19 panels and for that, we thank Program Chair Imad Mansour working with Andrew Grant Conference Program Chair, President T.V. Paul who sponsored many theme panels, and all the section and caucus chairs who have worked with us. We are so happy that our presence and network are expanding with each year and each conference. Please note that, as per usual, a Newsletter will be sent out soon by Editor Kevin Funk containing an insert to help you identify our particular panels in what is as usual a very large program. Please note also that there will be a second Global South Dialogue on Wednesday, 10.30AM -12.15PM, followed by our Business Meeting.

Second, we are pleased to announce that Dr. Diana Tussie of FLACSO will be our Distinguished Scholar Honoree this year. Voting ended on January 20. Dr. Tussie received 11 of your votes while our runners-up--selected from a field of 8--Drs J. Braveboy-Wagner and Eudine Barriteau received 8 and 7 votes respectively. ((Please note that for obvious reasons, Dr. Braveboy-Wagner recused herself from anything to do with the DS Honoree process.) All three bios were sent out with our original ballot (http://gscis.blogspot.com/2017/01/distinguished-schoalr-nominees-please.html; yes, the spelling of scholar was inadvertently mixed up).  We will honor Dr. Tussie, and incidentally express our appreciation to the runners-up, at our luncheon to he held on Friday.  The luncheon is off site so here are the details.:


Date: Friday, February 24, 2017
Time: 11:30am-1:00pm
Place: Pratt Street Ale House, 3rd Floor, 206 W. Pratt, Baltimore, MD

 There will be both vegetarian and non-vegetarian entrees.
The luncheon is open to (only) bona fide members of the caucus on a first come, first served basis. The usual subsidy of $10 is requested.
The luncheon will also feature a brief book launch: the book Diplomatic Strategies of Nations in the Global South, edited by JBW, is a caucus project that came to fruition in 2016 and we would like to thank the contributors, the majority of whom are members of the caucus. Please indicate if you will attend the luncheon by writing to Imad Mansour <imad.mansour@mail.mcgill.ca>
Once you have received your registration for the luncheon, Treasurer Matthew Bishop will contact you.
See you in Baltimore.

Other Matters:

Cuba Workshop! We are looking forward to holding this collaborative event with our friends in Havana. Please hurry up and send in your proposal. The deadline is February 15. Keep checking http://gscis.blogspot.com/2016/12/call-for-papers-havana-workshop.html for details.


 Voting, voting! Bona fide members should note that ballots for positions ranging from Chair and Vice Chair to Communications Director will shortly be sent to you by the Nominating Committee. Please vote.

Best,
jbw on behalf of Chair and the entire EXCOM and Advisory Committees

Next blog: http://gscis.blogspot.com/2017/02/more-on-baltimore-ipes-activist-scholar.html____________


GSCIS Supports ISA Statement on President Trump's "Travel Ban"
 

ISA Statement Regarding Executive Order on Travel Ban


On Friday, January 27, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order which bans entry of all refugees to the United States for 120 days, and which suspends entry for refugees, immigrants, dual nationals, and US permanent residents from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for 90 days, or longer.

As a scholarly organization, ISA has a professional obligation to promote and protect the values of academic freedom. As such, the ISA strongly condemns any action by any government which prevents the free movement of scholars engaged in research on international affairs, or any other scholarly discipline. Indeed, the charter of the Academic Freedom Committee of the ISA includes the following language: "The Committee will document such violations as: government revocation of academic degrees; demotion or dismissal; denial of a petition to emigrate, travel abroad or return to one's country of origin; and arrest, arbitrary detention, disappearance, and extrajudicial killing."
This order, which has already been challenged in Federal Courts, is an infringement upon the academic freedom of scholars from those countries who wish to travel to the United States to conduct research, collaborate with colleagues, and engage in conferences and conventions. It will cause serious disruption in the lives of scholars and students who, prior to the issuing of the order, had already undergone the complex and time-consuming process for obtaining the necessary papers for travel. It may also violate the constitutional rights of scholars and students who are in lawful permanent resident status. Finally, it constitutes a serious disruption of the business of our upcoming 2017 Annual Convention, in Baltimore.
For ISA members attending the ISA Convention in Baltimore, and for concerned members of the general public, we encourage you to attend the two roundtables (room assignment pending) dedicated to the topic of academic freedom:
1.        WB39: Academic Freedom, Terrorism and Counter-Terrorism (Wednesday, 10:30AM)
2.        SC39: Academic Freedom and Professional Associations (Saturday, 1:45PM)
Scholars negatively affected by this executive order are strongly encouraged to contact the committee through its dedicated email address (academic- freedom@isanet.org).

Sincerely,
T.V. Paul, ISA President 
Ashley Leeds, ISA President-Elect 
Paul Diehl, ISA Past-President 
Mark A. Boyer, ISA Executive Director 
Anthony Lang, Chair, ISA Academic Freedom Committee


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