The Center for Contemporary Arab Studies; the School of Foreign Service in Qatar with the support of its Center for International and Regional Studies; and the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding are proud to co-sponsor a joint conference:

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2013

3:30 - 7:45 P.M.

&

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2013

8:30 A.M. - 4:30 P.M

________________________

Georgetown University

Center for Contemporary Arab Studies, Boardroom, ICC241

This conference will feature expert observers of the region from the Georgetown University main campus and from the School of Foreign Service in Qatar, as well as invited scholars from other institutions. The papers presented will address a variety of themes pertaining to the development of secular & religious trends in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), focusing on different countries and sub-regions, and highlighting the impact of these trends on education; gender relations; family, clan and tribal bonds; print and electronic media; occupational and professional careers; religious beliefs and behavior; as well as political attitudes, political party affiliations, and electoral behavior. They will examine numerous and diverse causal roots, ranging from demography to globalization, and their major consequences, both violent and non-violent, for the political and social evolution of all these states.

Agenda for Thursday, October 24, 2013

3:30-4:00 PM -- REGISTRATION

4:00-4:15 PM -- WELCOMING REMARKS

Carol Lancaster, Dean, School of Foreign Service, Georgetown University

4:15 - 5:45 PM

PANEL 1: CONCEPTUAL AND THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES

John Voll (Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University)

Re-imagining Our Communities, Regions, and Theories

Jonathan Brown (Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, Georgetown University)

Islamism and Liberalism as Surrogates

Mark Farha (School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Georgetown University)

Arab Secularism: Death by Suicide or Assassination?

CHAIR: Robert Wirsing (School of Foreign Service in Qatar, Georgetown University)

6:00 - 7:00 PM -- RECEPTION

Day Two: http://ccas-cirs-cmcuconference2.eventbrite.com/