The criticism of methodological nationalism has opened up new ways to conduct research on global and transnational dynamics. Nowadays, the common methodological statement is that societal spaces cannot be regarded as equal to territorial spaces. Prominent methodological proposals are suggested by the global ethnography approach, the cosmopolitan theory, and the transnational approach. While the first combines large-scale ethnography with detailed examinations of everyday life, the second proposes to conduct research simultaneously on different spatial scales, such as global, transnational, national, and local dimensions. And the third, the transnational approach, refers to relational concepts of spatiality. Thus, this conference will link debates on new methodological approaches with the discussion of problematic issues within empirical research on global and transnational transformations.

Submissions of Proposed Papers Submissions of short (250-500 words) abstracts are invited (for eventual presentation of papers that are no more than 3000 words). Please e-mail your abstract and a short biographical outline to the conference organizer, Devrimsel D. Nergiz (methodologyconference@uni-bielefeld.de) by 30 December 2009.

Accepted paper givers will be informed by 15 January 2010. Fully written papers must be submitted by 1 April 2010. We are able to pay for accommodation (but not travel expanses) for those participants whose paper is accepted.

Expected Outcomes
The conference aims to publish the selected papers in a volume at Palgrave Macmillan.

Read more here:
http://www.saharanresearch.org

From the Oregonian
John Damis, 68
06/16/1940 – 06/10/2009

Middle East scholar and professor, world traveler, athlete, beloved husband and father, John Damis passed away on June 10, 2009, after a long battle with pancreatic cancer.

Growing up in a loving Greek family in Northeast Portland, John graduated from Grant High School, where he was valedictorian, class president and an outstanding athlete, earning eight varsity letters in three sports.

He was named outstanding running back in the 1958 Shrine All-Star game and was inducted into the Portland Interscholastic League Hall of Fame in 2007.

Entering Harvard College in 1958, John excelled academically and athletically.

He was named to the All-Ivy League freshman football team and played three years of varsity football, as well as rugby and basketball.

He graduated magna cum laude in history in 1962. He then earned a Master of Arts in Middle East studies at Harvard, followed by an M.A., Master of Arts in law and diplomacy, and Ph.D. in international relations from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy (administered jointly by Harvard and Tufts University).

He received a Fulbright fellowship for study in Morocco in 1964; this was the first of three Fulbright awards to Morocco and the beginning of a love affair with that country and many deep and lasting friendships.

John began his career in the political science department of Portland State University in 1972, teaching politics of the Middle East and North Africa, along with international politics and American foreign policy.

From 1975 to 1977, he served as a U.S. State Department policy analyst for the Middle East. Among his duties were preparation of daily briefings for Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Considered one of the world’s foremost experts on North African politics, particularly the long-running dispute over the Western Sahara, John was the author of four books and monographs and over 100 scholarly articles.

He was invited to consult with the United Nations on the referendum process in the Sahara and spent several summers directing a UN team in El Aiyoun, Morocco.

He was a visiting professor at Harvard, Stanford, the University of Washington and Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco and served as chair of Portland State’s political science department. In 1994, he received the Bradford Price Millar Award for faculty excellence.

John became director of Portland State’s Middle East Studies Center in 2004.

As center director, he traveled widely in the Middle East and organized PSU alumni gatherings in Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai; he added faculty positions and dramatically increased fund-raising.

In 2000, John was decorated by King Mohammed VI of Morocco with the Medal of Honor (Alawite Wissam) and appointed Commander of the Alawite Order, the Kingdom’s highest honor.

John served on the board of directors of the American Institute for Magreb Studies and the Tangier American Legation Museum Society and was an advisory editor for a number of scholarly journals, including “The Middle East Journal,” “The Magreb Review,” and “Mediterranean Politics.”

He was a great lover of travel, opera, sports, and Moroccan cuisine, but his greatest pleasure was spending time with his family.

He is survived by his wife, Maria Wulff; children, Gregory and Alexa Damis-Wulff; brother, James Damis; sister, Virginia Demos; and nine beloved nieces and nephews.

His sister, Irene Papan, predeceased him. A memorial celebration will be held at 4 p.m. Monday, June 22, 2009, in Hoffman Hall on the Portland State University campus, 1833 S.W. 11th Ave., Portland, OR 97201 (near 12th Avenue).

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests remembrances to the Portland State University Foundation for the John Damis Middle East Scholarship Fund, PSU, P.O. Box 751, Portland, OR 97201.

The series is connected to ABORNE, the African Borderlands Research Network, and the homonymous networking programme financed by the European Science Foundation (ESF). All interested scholars, regardless of whether or not they are network members and/or are Europe-based, are invited to submit proposals. We are looking for monographs and edited volumes that make contributions to our factual and theoretical understanding of African borderlands, based on empirical research and related to the existing literature in the field. We especially welcome
comparative work and studies that use specific borderlands to address more general issues of borderlands research.

Please do not submit full manuscripts, but send proposals organized along the attached outline. The editors will try to decide on the proposal within four weeks; if the decision is positive, we will ask for submission of the full manuscript, which will be sent to two external reviewers. However, we encourage potential authors to contact us at an early stage of writing, even if the manuscript is not yet ready for review.

For more information, please contact the series editors:
Gregor Dobler, Basel (gregor.dobler@unibas.ch)
William F.S. Miles, Boston (b.miles@neu.edu)
Paul Nugent, Edinburgh (paul.nugent@ed.ac.uk)

Dates :
January 29-30, 2010

The Center for African Studies at The Ohio State University will sponsor a conference on the territorial origins of African civil conflict and conflict-alleviating institutions that integrate localities into national political and economic development processes. The conference will take place at the Pietermaritzburg campus of the University of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, January 29-30, 2010. The University of Kwazulu-Natal will cosponsor the conference.

The conference will examine the extent of sub-national regional inequality in present-day Sub-Saharan Africa, assess the extent to which sub-national regional disparities play a role in armed conflicts, review the extent to which African systems of governance currently address and redress territorial differences and grievances, and review and analyze peace accords in Africa in which decentralization, civic engagement, and citizen empowerment play a role.

The focus of the conference on sub-national regional disparities distinguishes it from approaches to conflict that focus primarily on class, ethnic, or religious disparities in the study of civil war. Many of the recent civil wars are struggles over in-situ natural resources while others arise from regional grievances regarding central government decisions, often involving claims on central government resources. Many regional conflicts have their origin in colonial policies where some regions were favored over others. While civil wars are clearly matters of national security, they are also matters of international security. In the Great Lakes region, the Horn, and areas of West and Southern Africa, economically lagging border regions have served as staging grounds for rebel forces, threatening security in neighboring countries and contributing to conflicts among countries. A number of conflict-ridden and post-conflict African countries have established reconstruction plans aimed at redressing economic deficiencies in regions where civil war has already occurred. However, reconstruction plans generally do not address regional inequities in other regions where “the next civil war” might occur. Institutions for addressing subnational, interregional inequality may be a viable way to reverse political and economic marginalization, reduce social unrest and armed conflict, and expand political, economic, and social freedoms. A goal of the conference is to identify strengths and weaknesses of existing institutional solutions for interregional inequality and to identify directions for the future.

The Center for African Studies, The Ohio State University and The University of Kwazulu-Natal, South Africa welcome the participation of academics, policymakers, civil society leaders, and foreign aid professionals. Those interested in presenting a paper at the conference should submit an abstract by September 25th, 2009 to the Center for African Studies (OSU) and to the School of Politics (UKZN). E-mailed electronic files are preferred but abstracts may also be faxed or mailed. A detailed description of conference themes will be posted on the Center’s website, http://cas.osu.edu .

Submissions should be directed to:

Laura Joseph, Assistant Director
Center for African Studies
318 Oxley Hall
The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio 43210 USA
Email: cas@osu.edu
Fax: (614) 292-4273; Phone: (614) 292-8169

And to:

Prof. Ufo Okeke Uzodike
Head, School of Politics
University of KwaZulu-Natal
Private Bag X01
Scottsville 3209
Pietermaritzburg, South Africa
Email : Uzodike@ukzn.ac.za
Te l +27 (33) 260 – 5285 (office)
+27 (31) 260 – 7124 (sec)
+27 (33) 260 – 5004 (sec)

Working Conference Timeline
Proposed dates for seminar: 29-30 January 2010 (Friday & Saturday)
Deadline for receipt of abstracts: September 25
Notification of successful abstracts: September 30th

Planning Committee Membership
Prof. John Moolakkattu (UKZN)
Ufo Okeke-Uzodike (UKZN)
Dave Kraybill (OSU)
Kelechi Kalu (OSU)
Laura Joseph (OSU)

We are currently seeking volunteers for reconnaissance survey work in October 2009. See below for more details.

The role of volunteers in the Western Sahara Project

Volunteers play a vital role in the work of the Western Sahara Project, and make a major contribution to the funding of the Project. Volunteering for a Western Sahara Project field season is a way of experiencing a unique desert environment and culture in a part of the world which is largely closed to outsiders. Volunteering is also an opportunity to learn about the fascinating and little-known archaeology of this remote region and of the Sahara at large. Many of our volunteers have found a trip to Western Sahara to be a life-changing, and enhancing, experience, and a number have participated in multiple seasons of fieldwork.

Volunteers can participate in both reconnaissance surveys and excavations, although more commonly participate in the former. No experience of archaeology or desert travel is required in order to volunteer for reconnaissance survey work. Excavation work can incorporate both experienced and inexperienced volunteers. See below for more details, for requirements for specific seasons of fieldwork (currently October 2009), and for general information about future field seasons.

The cost of participating in a field season of reconnaissance survey work is comparable with the cost of many adventure holiday packages, or the cost of participating in a conservation project such as those run by many charitable organisations. For further information on specific seasons, see below or contact Nick Brooks.

October 2009 Field Season

Our next field season will run from 10 October – 1 November 2009 (precise dates to be confirmed subject to flights). It may be possible for people who cannot take 3 weeks off to join the team for the final two weeks of the field season only, subject to negotiation with the organisers. Dates are subject to confirmation (due to flight availability) but are unlikely to change by more than a day or two.

Location, travel and logistics

Fieldwork will take place in the Northern Sector of the Polisaio-controlled zone (the “Free Zone”) of Western Sahara in the vicinity of the main settlement of Tifariti. Travel to the field will be from London via Algeria. The team will transit through Algiers, taking an internal flight to the southwestern Algerian town of Tindouf. Here the team will be met by representatives of the Polisario (Sahrawi) government. The team will spend one night in the Sahrawi refugee camps in the vicinity of Tindouf, before travelling overland to the Northern Sector of Western Sahara. The journey from Tindouf to Tifariti takes about 8 hours. We will stop for lunch, and possibly camp overnight in the desert, on the way to Tifariiti. Once at Tifariti the team will be based in guest accommodation. However, much of the season will be spent away from Tifariti and its immediate environs, necessitating camping in the open. Tents are not required (although you may wish to bring a small one), but a good (warm) sleeping bag and thermarest or similar are essential. Further advice on what to bring will be be circulated to participants prior to departure.

Nature of the work

The October 2009 field season will have two major objectives:

(1) The identification and sampling of sites that can tell us about past environmental change, and in particular about the nature and timing of transitions between humid and arid conditions. Such sites may include dry lake beds, caves and rockshelters, and areas containing geochemical crusts formed by the evaporation of surface or groundwater. The identification of sites of environmental interest will be achieved through a combination of satellite image analysis and local knowledge.

(2) The identification and recording of new archaeological sites, with a focus on funerary sites and burial monuments. Volunteers will be engaged principally in the recording of funerary monuments. Full instruction will be given in this aspect of the work, and volunteers will use specially designed recording sheets to record specific information about individual monuments. The information collected will contribute to the Project database, and will enable us to map the geographic distributions of different types on monument, and establish similarities and differences between monuments, both within Western Sahara and between Western Sahara and the wider Saharan region. Coupled with results from excavations, this information can help us to assess when areas were occupied, and by which population groups, as well as providing insights into funerary practices and prehistoric cosmologies.

What is it like?

Conditions in the field are very basic, although the food and hospitality are always spoken of very highly by our volunteers. Cold showers are available at Tifariti. The spectacular landscape, astonishing archaeological record, and warmth of the Sahrawi people more than make up for any physical deprivation. For those of you who like to get away from it all, it is worth pointing out that the Free Zone has no paved roads, and almost no permanent settlements (those that exist are little more than hamlets). Traditional nomadic lifestyles are still practiced in the area, and the archaeological record remains virtually unknown to the international research community. Photos of the area and of the field study sites are available here. If you would like to speak to any volunteers from previous seasons (some have participated in multiple seasons and are coming back for more in October) let us know and we can put you in touch. See below for contact details.

Costs

The cost of participation in the October 2009 3-week reconnaissance survey is £2395 [roughly $4,000]. Costs include flights from London, and all accommodation, food and transport while in the field. All costs go towards the running of the Project, which does not make a profit. Costs for the 2009 field season have been calculated so as to ensure that the season can be entirely funded by the contributions of volunteers. Additional funds will be sought from other sources to pay for subsequent laboratory analysis of archaeological and environmental materials as required.

Next steps

If you want to join us in October or would like more information, please contact Nick Brooks (nick.brooks@uea.ac.uk).

Future Field Seasons

The Project runs at least one field season every year. Reconnaissance survey work tends to take place in the autumn (October or November), and excavation work in the spring (March-April), although this situation may change in the future.

Where a season combines both excavation and reconnaissance/environemntal work, it is possible to volunteer for either excavation or reconnaissance. While excavation and reconnaissance teams are likely to be in close contact while in the field, for logistical and practical reasons it is not possible to swap from one team to the other once in the field. Excavation work is more physically demanding than reconnaissance work, but represents an excellent opportunity to gain experience of archaeological excavation in a region in which almost no excavations have been conducted, and would suit people embarking on an archaeological career and wishing to expand their digging experience. Reconnaissance work provides an opportunity to gain general archaeological experience, and experience of arid environments and palaeoenvironmental research. Both digging and reconnaissance work offer an opportunity to experience a unique and little-known part of the world seldom visited by outsiders. As indicated above, anyone can volunteer for reconnaissance work. Some excavations seasons may be able to accommodate volunteers with no previous experience.

Field seasons in 2010

At present the most likely scenario for 2010 is either a season of excavations in the spring followed by a season of reconnaissance and environmental work in the autumn, or a combined season of excavations, reconnaissance and environmental work in the autumn.

Excavations in 2010 will focus on the Project’s main study area some 15 km north of Tifariti. The excavation team will stay in guest accommodation at Tifariti and travel daily to the field site. There may be an opportunity to spend some nights in the open at the field site. The excavation team will have one free day per week, during which they can explore the surrounding area, including the locally well-known rock art site of Rekeiz Lemgassem. The work will consist of the excavation of a number of burial monuments. The main objective of these excavations is to acquire materials for dating and geochemical analysis, in order to establish when the monuments were built and to infer information about the diets, mobility and origins of prehistoric populations. These data will be related to environmental data in order to examine how prehistoric people in this area responded to climatic and environmental change, specifically the drying of the Sahara some 5000 years ago. All excavated monuments will be systematically recorded in order to provide a record of the excavations and infer information about funerary practices and prehistoric lifestyles. The excavations will be directed by experienced field archaeologists with extensive excavation experience in Western Sahara and elsewhere.

Finding out about future field seasons

If you want to be added to our mailing list for information about future field seasons, or would like to know more about volunteers opportunities and the nature of our work, please contact:

- Nick Brooks for reconnaissance survey work and general enquiries (nick.brooks [at] uea.ac.uk)

- Joanne Clarke for excavation work (joanne.clarke [at] uea.ac.uk)

Conference: “Libya: Legacy of the Past, Prospects for the Future” –
Middle East Centre, University of Oxford, 25-27 September 2009

On 25-27 September the Middle East Centre at St. Antony’s College, Oxford, will host an international conference entitled “Libya: Legacy of the Past, Prospects for the Future.” The conference will provide a forum to reflect upon Libya’s recent history and current politics. It will bring together leading academics, as well as analysts and diplomats, in order to discuss some central issues that the limited literature on Libya has so far ignored.

For any query please contact the organisers, Claudia Gazzini (claudia.gazzini@sjc.ox.ac.uk) and Emanuela Paoletti (emanuela.paoletti@qeh.ox.ac.uk). To attend, please complete the registration form and return it by Aug. 30 to emanuela.paoletti@qeh.ox.ac.uk. The form and the preliminary programme are available online at: http://www.sant.ox.ac.uk/news/index.html

While conflict situations in Africa have received significant scholarly and media attention in recent decades, less attention has been paid to the long tradition of peacemaking that kept its societies in peaceful equilibrium.

This conference seeks to examine successful handling of potential conflicts that have been resolved in their early stages, as well as the range of ancient, historic and contemporary tools for mediation. WARA/WARC invites proposals on traditional and contemporary methods of avoiding and resolving conflicts in the past and the present.

WARA/WARC is seeking paper proposals from African scholars, researchers, policy-makers, and members of civil society on the theme of peace building and conflict resolution in West Africa. Proposals should consist of :
- A one-page abstract of the proposed conference presentation
- A two-page resume or CV

Applications should be submitted via email to
peace@initiativedepaix.org

The deadline for receipt of applications is September 1, 2009.
Applications received after that date will not be considered. Notification of acceptance will be made in mid-September, and those selected will be expected to submit a final draft of their presentation by December 1.

-Twenty (20) applications will be accepted from African nationals working in West African institutions, and ten (10) from elsewhere.

-For the 20 candidates selected from West African institutions, the conference will cover all travel, as well as all local costs (transportation, lodging, and meals) for the duration of the conference.

-Other participants will be responsible for their travel, but once in Dakar, the conference will cover all local costs (transportation, lodging and meals) for the duration of the conference.

-All conference participants are expected to become members of WARA (dues to be paid on site).

-Observers will be required to pay a registration fee of $125 (or equivalent in CFA) and will be accomodated on a first-come, first-served basis.

-A number of leading African peacemakers are expected to attend and provide their contributions.

Conference academic coordinators:

I. William Zartman
Jacob Blaustein Professor of International Organizations & Conflict Resolution
SAIS, John Hopkins University

Edmond Kwam Kouassi
Maître de conférences
Faculté de droit
Université de Lomé

*Peace Project Coordinator*

For more information, please contact Peace Project Coordinator, Henri-Pierre Koubaka, at hp@initiativedepaix.org

More information can also be found on:

West African Research Association (WARA’s) website:
http://www.bu.edu/africa/wara

Peace Initiative in West Africa Conference website:
http://www.initiativedepaix.org/

Le dossier : Mauritanie, la démocratie au coup par coup

Riccardo Ciavolella, « Entre démocratisation et coups d’État. Hégémonie et subalternité en Mauritanie », pp. 5-23

Olivier Leservoisier, « Démocratisation et renégociations sociales. Les enjeux de la participation politique des groupes d’origine servile haalpulaaren en Mauritanie », pp. 24-43

Marion Fresia, « Les enjeux politiques et identitaires du retour des réfugiés en Mauritanie : vers une difficile “réconciliation nationale” ? », pp. 44-66

Cédric Jourde, « Politique des récits de l’islamisme en Mauritanie : entre “marée montante” et “islamisme kalachnikov” », pp. 67-86

Armelle Choplin et Jérôme Lombard, « La “Mauritanie offshore”. Extraversion économique, État et sphères dirigeantes », pp. 87-104