NEWS & EVENTS
The Middle East Center at Penn sponsors and supports programs and initiatives across the disciplines and professional schools, and runs a dynamic outreach program in the Delaware Valley. Faculty and students at Penn are also active and prominent in the field of Middle East studies, making significant and highly regarded contributions to scholarly output in their areas of interest. We will continue to update news of the Center's activities and highlight the achievements of our faculty and students here.
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Aug
8
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The purpose of this conference (Aug. 8-9, 2012) is to bring together an international group of scholars and practitioners from diverse disciplines (economics, sociology, public administration, political economy, business, anthropology, law, political science, information technology, journalism, education, etc.) to collectively explore the multiple facets of the problems of democratic governance, particularly as they relate to corruption, and to suggest concrete strategies geared toward solving these problems in Africa, Asia, the Middle East, and other regions of the world.
Participants of the conference will be challenged to move from theoretical frameworks to practical strategies for improving democratic institutions, governance processes, and curbing corruption. Issues that participants could address include, but are not limited to:
Problems of democratic governance and their potential solutions
The role of civil society organizations in democracy and governance
Problems of transparency and accountability in the local and national governments and in international relations
Ethics and decision making
Origins and definitions of corruption in the historical and cultural contexts of countries Corruption in public bureaucracies
Corruption in business practices of international corporations operating and local business and the intersections of these with corruption in governance
Evaluation of anti-corruption strategies recommended and implemented by the governments and bi-lateral and multi-lateral development agencies
The roles of international NGOs and local development organizations in democratic governance and fighting corruption
The roles of information and communication technologies in tracking the implementation of anti-corruption strategies
Challenges in coordinating anti-corruption strategies
The role of educational institutions in advancing democratic governance and fighting corruption.
The ultimate goal of this conference is to provide a platform to discuss multiple dimensions of democratic governance and corruption and help devise strategies to improve governance practices and anti-corruption strategies for the countries in the developing world. The organizers of the conference recognize that the above list is by no means exhaustive and therefore welcome other innovative paper proposals, including those on governance and corruption issues in other nations, particularly if the authors explicitly discuss the implications for developing countries.
9am
University of Pennsylvania - Houston Hall
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Aug
6
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University of Pennsylvania: African Studies Center, Middle East Center, South Asia Center, & Center for East Asian Studies
*Admitted applicants*
Summer Teacher Institute 2012
University of Pennsylvania:
African Studies Center, Middle East Center, South Asia Center, & Center for East Asian Studies
"Teaching Peace & Revolution around the World as a Pedagogical Tool"
August 6th – 10th, 2012"Free"
Carriage House 3907 Spruce St. University of Pennsylvania Applications Due: July 1st 2012 (click here to get application form)
Summer Institute 2012 focuses on the political, economic, technological, and social impact of the world's revolutions. This professional development week consists of panels, renowned speakers, performances and educational activities. Focusing on themes of youth, human rights, religion, social media, film, and science & technology; educators are encouraged to strengthen existing lessons and incorporate new discoveries and into their curriculum. Act 48 and New Jersey Professional Development Credits available.
*Selected participants are eligible for campus housing, breakfast and lunch.
Contact: Labaron Palmer: labaronp@sas.upenn.edu
* Act 48 and New Jersey Professional Development Credits available
9pm
Carriage House 3907 Spruce St. University of Pennsylvania
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Jun
8
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The Drexel University Mediterranean Ensemble
Members of the Turkish Fusion group, Barakka (Baris Kaya, Roger Mrgdichian, Joseph Tayoun, Bill Tayoun) Renown Turkish Dancer: Bulent Dogun
**Free Admission**
7pm
Drexel University's Mandell Theater 33rd and Chestnut, Philadelphia, PA
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May
10
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Education Professionals in Philadelphia
- Click here for uploaded webinar session
This panel will discuss why global education is an essential tool in preparing today’s youth for successful participation in our 21st century economy and they will offer practical strategies and tips to strengthen your existing work ready programs.
Speakers:
Josette Bonafino: Executive Director of the Multicultural Youth eXchange, a Philadelphia nonprofit that uses the arts to help young people explore cultural diversity and social issues that are relevant to all people.
Wayne Jacoby: co-founder and executive director of Global Education Motivators, a non-governmental organization that supports the work and mission of the United Nations through on on-site and distance learning programs.
Medard Gabel: founder and CEO of BigPictureSmallWorld, an organization that delivers experiential global education programs on critical issues such climate change, global energy and conflict resolution.
Anastasia Shown: Assistant Director of the African Studies Center at the University of Pennsylvania, which works to promote and advance the study of Africa in schools, colleges and the local community.
Christiaan Morssink: President of The United Nations Association of Greater Philadelphia, an organization that advocates human rights and the UN mission for peace.
12pm
At your desk, (This is a virtual presentation)
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May
9
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Tuomo Melasuo, University of Tempere, Finland
Tuomo Melasuo’s talk will be divided in three parts. First, he will give an concentrated overview on the history between Nordic Countries and Mediterranean and Arab world. These relations have certainly been narrow but qualitatively important. Second, he will approach the political relations after the enlargement of the EU in the North of Europe. Thirdly he tries to analyze what kind of impact the Arab Spring has had in the Nordic Countries and how their different components have reacted. Especially interesting is to look upon the competition between the civil societies and public authorities.
5pm
Fisher-Bennett Hall, Room 222
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May
6
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Participants in this interdisciplinary workshop will explore the impact of genre on the reception of legal traditions, and thus, on the shaping of discrete legal cultures. The collaboration of established and emerging scholars of legal traditions of Late Antiquity, and of medieval Jewish, Christian and Islamic cultures, may facilitate a synoptic perspective that cannot be achieved when conducting research in isolation, and may even make apparent certain regional commonalities that cross the boundaries of faith and culture.
For more information contact:
Dr. Talya Fishman - tfishman@sas.upenn.edu
9am
Berkowitz Living Room. Ground Floor of Hillel at 39th and Locust Walk
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May
4
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Ardeshir Shojaian, Laurie Blum,
8pm
Lawrence Hall, Rosemont College - 1400 Montgomery Avenue, Rosemont, PA 19010
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Apr
13
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Dr. Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, Rhode Island College
6pm
International House Philadelphia
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Apr
13
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Dr. Carolyn Fluehr-Lobban, Rhode Island College
12pm
Houston Hall, 3417 Spruce Street - Golkin Room
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Apr
12
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Dr. Mehmet Darakcioglu (Associate Director, Middle East Center), University of Pennsylvania
Mehmet Darakcioglu, PhD, Associate Director of the Penn Middle East Center, will discuss the story of Islam and secularism in Turkey and the Turkish nation today.
Part of a Camden County College lecture series on the diversity of the religious and cultural traditions of Islam at this time of political and social change.
7pm
Camden County College, Blackwood Campus - Civic Hall
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Apr
11
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Andrew Watchel, Professor at Northwestern University
Andrew Wachtel is the President of the American University of Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, and Bertha and Max Dressler Professor in the Humanities, Northwestern University. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a memeber of the Council on Foreign Relations. Wachtel's most recent published books are The Balkans in World History (Oxford UP, 2008), Russian Literature (with Ilya Vinitsky, Polity Press, 2008), and Remaining Relevant after Communism: the Role of the Writer in Eastern Europe (U of Chicago Press, 2006). Wachtel is currently working on a project related to processes of national consolidation in Kyrgyzstan.
5pm
Stitler Hall B21
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Apr
10
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The Honorable Dr. Robert P. Finn, Princeton University
In light of recent events in the region, Dr. Robert Finn former United States Ambassador to Afghanistan will discuss the what the future possibly holds for the U.S. in Afghanistan
5pm
Stitler Hall, Room B21
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Apr
10
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Join the Middle East Center in a gathering of Modern Middle East Majors & Minors taking place Tuesday April 10, 2012 - from 12 to 1pm in the Brachfeld Room, on the second floor of Houston Hall.
Professor of History and Middle East Center Director Dr. Firoozeh Kashani-Sabet will be in attendance, along with Associate Director Dr. Mehmet Darakcioglu. There will be food served and you will have a chance to talk about variety of topics regarding coursework, graduation, graduate school, and more.
3pm
Brachfeld Room, Houston Hall
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Apr
5
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Hanna Khoury, Kinan Abou-afach, Hafez El Ali Kotain, Kinan Idnawi
7pm
Community College of Philadelphia (Auditorium BG-10). Philadelphia, PA
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Apr
5
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Anne Norton, Professor of Political Science, Unversity of Pennsylvania
Anne Norton, Professor of Political Science, University of Pennsylvania, will discuss the long history and diverse cultures and communities of Islam in the U.S. today.
Part of a Camden County College lecture series on the diversity of the religious and cultural traditions of Islam at this time of political and social change.
7pm
Camden County College, Blackwood Campus - Civic Hall
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Apr
2
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Middle East Center, University of Pennsylvania
The Middle East Center at the University of Pennsylvania is pleased to announce this year’s essay contest for undergraduates, for a first place prize of $500 awarded by the Center. The competition is open to all current Penn undergraduates. Essays may deal with any topic within the context of the modern Middle East, broadly defined geographically. Papers address- ing any aspect of Middle Eastern history since the late eighteenth century will be considered for the prize. All entries should be the student’s original work and previously not published elsewhere.
Please submit entries to labaronp@sas.upenn.edu with the subject “Undergraduate Essay Contest” no later than April 2nd, 2012. Essays should range from 4000 to 8000 words, not including notes, charts, appen- dices, and bibliography. Please use MLA citation when submitting papers.
12pm
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Apr
1
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Film & Discussion with Dr. Pardis Minuchehr, George Washington University
The city of Tehran, as it was and as it is becoming, is seen through a contrast of archival film footage and modern films. Dr. Pardis Minuchehr, Professor of Middle East Studies, George Washington University, leads a discussion.
Please forward this to any parties that might be interested! Free with PennCard [after Museum admission for area Universities]!
2pm
Rainey Auditorium, Penn Museum
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