Events
The Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies supports events that increase awareness of the history and cultures of the Middle East and Muslim civilizations, and values diverse perspectives that promote dialogue and understanding. Events listed here originate from a variety of campus units and community organizations. The listing of an event does not constitute endorsement of or agreement with the views presented therein.
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July 2022
The Transformational History of Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center in Durham (through December 10th)
The Duke Libraries and Center for Muslim Life invite you to experience an exhibit on the "Transformational History of Ar-Razzaq" at the Islamic Center in Durham which will be on display until December 10th at Perkins Library. For more information on the exhibit, visit here: https://library.duke.edu/exhibits/2022/ArRazzaq July 29 - December 10
Find out more »October 2022
Panel Discussion: “The Present is Female: #MahsaAmini, Women’s Leadership, and Iran’s Feminist Revolution”
Join us virtually for a panel discussion with Dr. Fatemeh Shams (UPenn) and Dr. Esha Momeni (UCLA), moderated by Dr. Claudia Yaghoobi (UNC) about the current protests in Iran and the political and social history leading to this moment.Sponsored by the NC Consortium for Middle Eastern Studies, UNC Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies, UNC Persian Studies, and Duke University Middle East Studies Center Online at: https://go.unc.edu/Iran22
Find out more »Weekly Lecture Series: “What is the Arab Identity”
Join the Arab Student Association for the third of a series of weekly lectures delving into a new and exciting element of the MENA region Tuesday October 4| 7:00-8:00pm – “Origins of Arab Identity” Wednesday, October 12 | 7:00-8:00pm – “Political Arab Identity” Tuesday, October 18 | 7:00-8:00pm – “LGBTQ+ Arab Life” Wednesday, October 26 | 7:00-8:00pm – “9/11 and State Sanctioned Violence Against Arabs”Sponsored by the UNC Arab Student Association, Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies, History Department and Campus Y. …
Find out more »Conference: “New Faces XXII”
The Triangle Institute for Security Studies 23rd annual New Faces conference will showcase the work of six exceptional rising scholars in the field of security studies, giving them an opportunity to present their ongoing research. Presentations run from 8:40am - 5:20pm and lunch is provided for in person attendees. Presentation #5 will be "The Gulf Between Their Wars: Illusory American and Arab Visions of Post–Cold War Middle Eastern Order, 1989-1991," Daniel Chardell (2:50pm-4:00pm). Register to attend in-person here or online streaming…
Find out more »Concert: “Music of Persia in Celebration of Mehregan”
A concert featuring Saeed Farajpoori as composer & kamancheh, Amir Koushkani on tar, Hamin Honari on percussion and Raha Yousefi singing. General admission is $25 but free for Duke and UNC students. To reserve tickets, email Musicofpersia2022@gmail.comSponsored by the Graduate Student Assocaition of Iranians at Duke, the Persian Cultural Society at UNC, Chapel Hill & Persian Student Association at Duke, and the Iranian Cultural Society of NC. Sonja Hayes Stone CenterUNC - Chapel Hill
Find out more »Discussion: MSA Live with Hamza Abdullah
MSA Live is an evening of discussion with Hamza Abdullah. Formerly an NFL player for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Mr. Abdullah has had a unique relationship with his faith as he navigated the world of professional athleticism. Today he continues to advocate for the mental health and safety of players in the NFL. Doors open at 5:30pm and program starts at 6:30pm. This event is open to the public - Buy tickets $15 Sponsored by the UNC Muslim Students Association …
Find out more »Gathering: “CMEIS Social Cafe”
Come meet and socialize with the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies (CMEIS) current students, faculty, staff and community members over delicious Middle Eastern sweets, tea and coffee.RSVP on HeelLifeSponsored by the UNC Center for Middle East & Islamic Studies 4003 (4rth floor) FedEx Global CenterUNC-Chapel Hill
Find out more »Lecture: Sephardic Studies Lecture with poet Ronny Smock
Ronny Some was born in Baghdad in 1951 and came to Israel as a young child. He has published 13 volumes of poetry (The last called “so much god “) and two books for children with Shirly Smock. He has been translated into 44 languages. Selections of his poems have appeared in Arabic translation, French, Catalan, Albanian, Italian, Macedonian, Yiddish, Croatian, Nepali, Dutch, Danish, Portuguese, Spanish, German, Turkish, Russian and English. More info here Visitor parking options include the Morehead…
Find out more »Five Elections in Three Years: Inside the battle over Israeli Democracy
On November 1, 2022, Israelis will go to the polls for the fifth time since 2019. What are the reasons for this upcoming election? Who are the parties and personalities running for a seat in the Knesset? What makes this election different (if at all) from the previous four elections? And what could be its consequences for Israel, the Palestinians and neighboring countries? Join us for a virtual discussion with Israeli journalist Amir Tibon, the US Editor for Ha’aretz. From…
Find out more »November 2022
Syrian Seminar Series: “Aesthetics and Politics in Ba’athist Syria.”
Miriam Cooke is Braxton Craven Professor of Arab Cultures at Duke University. She has been a visiting professor in Tunisia, Romania, Indonesia, Qatar and Alliance of Civilizations Institute in Istanbul. She serves on several international advisory boards, including academic journals and institutions. Since coming to Duke University she has taught Arabic language and a wide variety of courses on Arabic literature, war and gender, the Palestine-Israel conflict, postcolonial theory. She has directed several study abroad courses in Morocco, Tunisia, Cairo…
Find out more »Syrian Seminar Series: “Business Networks in Syria: the Political Economy of Authoritarian Resilience.”
Bassam Haddad is director of the Middle East and Islamic Studies Program and an associate professor in the Scharf School of Policy and Government at George Mason University. He is the author of Business Networks in Syria: The Political Economy of Authoritarian Resilience (Stanford University Press, 2011) and coeditor of A Critical Political Economy of the Middle East (Stanford University Press, 2021). Haddad is cofounder/editor of Jabaliya ezine and executive director of the Arab Studies Institute. He serves as founding…
Find out more »The Other Side of Silence: a Memoir of Exile, Iran and the Global Women’s Movement
As part of the Paydarfar Family Lecture Series, join Dr. Claudia Yaghoobi, director of the UNC Center for Middle East & Islamic Studies, for a conversation with Dr. Afkhami about the book, her life experiences, and more than 4 decades as an advocate for women’s rights. Dr. Mahnaz Afkhami is an Iranian women's rights activist who served in the Cabinet of Iran from 1976-1978. She is founder and president of Women's Learning Partnership, executive director of the Foundation for Iranian Studies and former Minister of Women's…
Find out more »Syrian Seminar Series: “Sectionalization of the Syrian Uprising: Why, Who, and How?”
Basileus Zeno is an archaeologist and a PhD candidate in Political Science at the University of Massachusetts/Amherst. He holds a BA (2006) in Archaeology and Museum Studies and an M.A. (2011) in Classical and Islamic Archaeology from Damascus University (Syria). Until summer 2012, Basileus was doing his Ph.D. in classical archaeology at Damascus University, but he could not complete his research because of the outbreak of the war. In 2013, he started his M.A. in Political Science at Ohio University,…
Find out more »December 2022
Final Exhibit Day of The Transformational History of Ar-Razzaq Islamic Center in Durham (closing December 10th)
The Duke Libraries and Center for Muslim Life invite you to experience an exhibit on the "Transformational History of Ar-Razzaq" at the Islamic Center in Durham which will be on display until December 10th at Perkins Library. For more information on the exhibit, visit here: https://library.duke.edu/exhibits/2022/ArRazzaq July 29 - December 10
Find out more »