UNT Peace Conference: The Middle East, A New Era

UNT Peace Conference: The Middle East, A New Era

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The UNT Peace Conference: The Middle East, A New Era will be held at the Gateway Conference Center, University of North Texas in Denton on March 22 and 23, 2013. The conference will build upon the award-winning South Asia Peace Conference at UNT in 2011.

Conference highlights include 16 scholarly sessions, three keynote speakers including a Middle East ambassador, a cultural show, an art exhibit, and poster presentations.

Each keynote session (one lunch and one dinner) requires pre-payment of $20 per meal. All other sessions throughout the conference and the Middle East Cultural Performance on March 23 at 7:30 pm are free.

CONFERENCE HIGHLIGHTS

High-level dignitaries from the Middle East and ambassadors will participate in the conference as keynote and distinguished speakers.

Representatives of two Middle Eastern embassies in Washington D.C., participating in the conference, will discuss capacity building and research activities in the region.

Cultural activities of the Conference will include a major cultural performance event.

Research papers presented in the Conference will be published in a book.

Scholars and researchers from the US and abroad will participate in the Conference.

There is a large Middle Eastern diaspora in the DFW area with a potential to become a source of perennial peace and harmony in the Middle East. The conference will actively involve these communities, its sessions and cultural activities.

Students will develop class projects for extra credits in coordination with professors; they will enjoy free access to conference sessions and presentations.

CONFERENCE SCHEDULE

UNT PEACE CONFERENCE, MARCH 22-23, 2013
THE MIDDLE EAST: A NEW ERA?
University of North Texas, Gateway Conference Center

UNT SPONSORS
Office of the Provost, Office of Research and Economic Development,
Castleberry Peace Institute, Division of UNT-International
The Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute (CAMCSI), International Studies, Division of Student Affairs, UNT Institute for the Advancement of the Arts (IAA), Jewish Studies, Department of Political Science, Department of Art History, Women’s Studies

COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Texas Woman’s University, Dallas Peace Center, Syrian American Council
Fun Asia Radio, Raindrop Turkish House, Muslim Community Center for Human Services

Welcome to the 2013 UNT Peace Conference, The Middle East: A New Era?

Building upon the successful experience of the first award-winning South Asia Peace Conference in 2011, a committed group of faculty and staff is continuing the momentum in organizing this interdisciplinary and thematic conference devoted to building bridges of peace across the world.
This Conference is a collaborative effort of several UNT departments including the Office of the Provost, Castleberry Peace Institute, UNT-International, the Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute (CAMCSI), Office of Research and Economic Development and several academic departments. The Middle East is one of the most strategically located regions in the world with religious, political and economic challenges and opportunities. Rich with natural resources, the region has also become a center of international politics.

This Conference demonstrates UNT’s strong commitment to establishing peace in the region with a substantial number of researchers and visiting scholars on our campus who are working on Middle East issues. UNT also has close to 500 students from 19 countries in the region including Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates and Yemen.

In addition to having strong connections in Algeria, Bahrain, Iran, Lebanon, Palestine, Syria, Turkey and Yemen, UNT faculty members are also involved in research and teaching projects in Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Tunisia and the United Arab Emirates. With a focus on economic, political, social and educational transformations as a result of youth uprisings in the region, the Conference is hosting scholars, researchers and diplomats to discuss critical issues related to peace and harmony. It offers sessions on a variety of topics from intrastate harmony to interstate conflicts and related peace efforts.

By organizing this conference, it is also our intention to promote international research and offer networking opportunities to institutions and scholars working on topics related to the Middle East, North Africa and the Muslim world at large. In addition, the conference also offers an art exhibit on March 22, two book displays, information booths both days and a colorful cultural evening of Middle Eastern dance and music on March 23.

We would like to thank UNT sponsors and community partners for supporting and sponsoring the Conference. It would have been impossible for us to organize a conference of this level without the full support of the UNT administration. We are grateful to our Provost, Dr. Warren Burggren, and Vice Provost for International Affairs, Dr. Richard Nader, for their support and generous funding.

Thanks for participating in the conference.

Organizing Committee:
Dr. Qaisar Abbas, Assistant Dean and Conference Chair
Dr. Richard Golden, Director, Jewish Studies
Professor Tania Khalaf, Assistant Professor, Department of Radio, TV and Film
Dr. David Mason, Director, Castleberry Peace Institute
Dr. Emile Sahliyeh, Director, International Studies
Dr. Nada Shabout, Director, Contemporary Arab and Muslim Cultural Studies Institute (CAMCSI)
Dr. Sandra Spencer, Director of Women’s Studies
Dr. Nancy Stockdale, Associate Professor, Department of History
Dr. Saleha Suleman, Assistant Vice Provost for International Affair

March 22, Gateway Center Ballroom B
Joe W. “Chip” Pitts III, Professor of Law, Human Rights Attorney, Former Chairman of Amnesty International
Human Rights in the Middle East in the Aftermath of the Arab Spring
Meir Shlomo, Consul General of Israel, Houston
The Middle East Road Map

KEYNOTE LUNCH WITH DISTINGUISHED SPEAKER

March 23, Gateway Center Ballroom B
Dr. Jonathan Brown, Georgetown University
The Middle East in Transition: What’s Next?

TIMELINE
Thursday, March 21

Arrival of conference participants.

Friday, March 22

Opening reception of the Middle East Art Exhibit at noon.
Eight sessions will be offered throughout the day as panel discussions, individual research presentations and research panels by scholars, political activists and diplomats on the themes of nuclear politics, the youth uprising and its aftermath, North Africa, human rights, and documentaries in the region.
Books display and information booths on the Middle East at the Gateway Center.
Ongoing Craft and Book Show in Willis Library.
Distinguished speakers Joe W. “Chip” Pitts III and Ambassador Meir Shlomo will speak on contemporary peace issues of the region at the dinner.

Saturday, March 23

Eminent scholar, Dr. Jonathan Brown of Georgetown University will be the keynote speaker at lunch.
Eight scholarly sessions will be offered on peace, conflicts, women’s rights, youth movements and creative arts, social justice, education, poverty and other themes.
The conference will end in a colorful cultural night to be presented by UNT-International and student associations.

CONFERENCE PROGRAM
Friday, March 22

TIME	EVENT	LOCATION
7:30-9 a.m.	REGISTRATION	Gateway Lobby
Throughout Conference	Display of Books on the Middle East In collaboration with UNT Bookstore	Gateway Room 48
Throughout Conference	Middle Eastern Craft and Book Exhibit In Collaboration with Willis Library and UNT-International	Willis Library

9-10:30 a.m.	SESSION 1: Research Panel REGIME TRANSITIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA Chair: Dr. David Mason, University of North Texas Papers: Dr. Idean Salehyan, University of North Texas Political Contestation and Violence in Tunisia, Egypt, and Libya after the Revolutions Dr. Manochehr Dorraj, Texas Christian University Arab Spring and Its Aftermath: Where Do We Go From Here?	Gateway Room 42
9:00 am - 10:30 am	Session 2: Research Panel Women's Rights and Social Wrongs: Creating Egalitarian Societies Chair: Dr. Sandra Spencer, University of North Texas Papers: Dr. Rima Abunasser, Texas Christian University Women of the Arab Spring: Social and Religious Redefinition Ms. Hagar Abdo Hassan, University of North Texas Women's Equality Issues in The Mahgreb and Egypt Ms. Kristin Alder, University of North Texas We Went to the Square, But Now, Where Do We Go? Examining Women, Peace and Security in the MENA Region	Gateway Room 51
10:45 a.m.-12 p.m.	SESSION 3: Research Panel ISRAEL IN THE CONTEMPORARY MIDDLE EAST Chair: Dr. Richard Golden, University of North Texas Papers: Dr. Ami Pedahzur, University of Texas at Austin Israeli Exceptionalism-The Unique Challenge Dr. David Patterson, University of Texas at Dallas The Wall of Hatred: Hamas, Fatah, and the Muslim Brotherhood	Gateway Room 42
10:45 a.m..-12 p.m.	SESSION 4: Panel Discussion COLLABORATIVE ARTS IN COUNTRIES OF CONFLICT Chair: Dr. Nada Shabout, University of North Texas Participants: Prof. Morehshin Allahyari, Curator and Artist Your Night, My Day Project Prof. Eden Ünlüata, Curator and Artist Your Night, My Day Project	Gateway Room 51
12-1:30 p.m.	Opening Reception, Middle East Art Exhibit Your Night My Day Curated by Prof. Morehshin Allahyari and Prof. Eden Ünlüata The exhibit is an ongoing digital project based on intercultural and collaborative artwork by artists in Iran and the U.S that began in fall 2010. Heavy Hors d'oeuvres will be provided Sponsored by CAMSCI, The Institute for the Advancement of the Arts, and the UNT Peace Conference.	UNT on the Square, Downtown Denton (see map at back of program)
2-3:30 p.m.	SESSION 5: Panel Discussion and Film Screening FILM AS INSTIGATOR OR MEDIATOR OF PEACE Chair, Prof. Tania Khalaf, University of North Texas Participants: Prof. Melinda Levin, University of North Texas Muslim Women’s Roles in Northern Israel Prof. Tania Khalaf, University of North Texas Gaza Shield: Promoting Peace through Video Games Dr. Nancy Stockdale, University of North Texas Orientalist Fantasies: Hollywood and the Generic Middle Easterner	Gateway Room 42
2-3:30 p.m.	SESSION 6: Research Panel COMBATING TERRORISM: TURKISH RESEARCH PERSPECTIVES Chair: Dr. Samih Teymur, Turkish National Police Papers: Dr. Serdar Yildiz and Dr. Ferhat Göktepe, Turkish National Police The Role of Social Projects in Preventing Radicalization and Terrorism Mr. Selahattin Akçay, Turkish National Police Discussant	Gateway Room 51
4-5:30 p.m.	SESSION 7: Panel Discussion Youth Uprising and Political Transformation in Egypt Chair: Ms. Sawsan Gharib, Dallas community leader Participants: Mr. Ahmed Maher, leader of youth movement in Egypt Egypt In the Aftermath of Revolution Mr. Wael Kandil, journalist associated with the youth uprising in Egypt Altahrir in the Eyes of World Media	Gateway Room 42
4-5:30 p.m.	SESSION 8: Research Presentation Human Rights and Social Justice for Palestinians Chair: Dr. H. Ibrahim Salih, Texas Wesleyan University Paper: Dr. Barbara Harlow, University of Texas at Austin Ghassan Kanafani and the Questions of Palestine: From the Right of Return to Universal Jurisdiction	Gateway Room 51
6-9:30 p.m.	Keynote Dinner with Distinguished Speakers PROSPECTS FOR PEACE AND HARMONY IN THE MIDDLE EAST Distinguished Speakers JOE W. “CHIP” PITTS III, PROFESSOR OF LAW, HUMAN RIGHTS ATTORNEY, FORMER CHAIRMAN OF AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Human Rights in the Middle East in the Aftermath of the Arab Uprising AMBASSADOR MEIR SHLOMO, CONSUL GENERAL OF ISRAEL, HOUSTON The Middle East Road Map	Gateway Ballroom B

Saturday, March 23

TIME	EVENT		LOCATION
Throughout Conference	Display of Books on the Middle East In collaboration with UNT Bookstore	Gateway Room 48
Throughout Conference	Middle Eastern Craft and Book Exhibit In Collaboration with Willis Library and UNT-International		Willis Library
9-10:30 AM	SESSION 9: Research Panel PALESTINIAN-ISRAELI PEACE PROSPECTS Chair: Dr. Emile Sahliyeh, University of North Texas Papers: Ambassador Raymond Smith, , University of North Texas U.S. Interests in the Middle East: The Enduring and the Transitory Dr. Charles Dr. Smith, University of Arizona Palestinians and Israelis: Obstacles to Peace		Gateway Room 42
9-10:30 a.m.	SESSION 10: Research Panel Creative Resistance as Part of the Arab Uprising Chair: Dr. Masood Raja, University of North Texas Papers: Dr. Miriam Cooke, Duke University Cultural Dissidence and the Arab Uprisings Ms. Basima Shaheen, University of North Texas The Arab Spring and the Flowering of Palestinian Revolutionary Lyrics Mr. Walid Keilani, Arabic Poet Songs of Freedom: Poetic Resistance to Status Quo		Gateway Room 51
10:45 a.m.-12 p.m.	SESSION 11: : Research Presentation FROM DICTATORSHIP TO DEMOCRACY Chair: Dr. James Meernik, University of North Texas Papers: Dr. H. Ibrahim Salih and Dr. Sara Towe Horsfall, Texas Wesleyan University Democracy: An Islamic Reawakening Mohammed Alaa Ghanem, Syrian American Council Syria Ground Up: Rebuilding Syria from the Grassroots		Gateway Room 42
10:45 a.m.-12 p.m.	SESSION 12: Research Panel SOVEREIGNTY VS. HEGEMONY: MUSLIM STATES AS TARGET OF DRONES Chair: Mr. Aftab Siddiqui, Dallas Peace Center Participants: Col. Ann Wright, Global Exchange Drone Attacks and Growing Public Opinion in Muslim Countries Dr. Sarah Waheed, Georgetown University Saviors and Victims: Drones, the Other, Women, and the Propaganda War Dr. Sahar Aziz, Texas Wesleyan University Legalizing an Illegal War: Drones or No Drones?		Gateway Room 51

12-2:30p.m.	LUNCH & KEYNOTE SPEAKER THE MIDDLE EAST IN TRANSITION: WHAT’S NEXT? DR. JONATHAN A.C. BROWN GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY		Gateway Ballroom B

3-4:30 p.m.	SESSION 13: Research Panel INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL JUSTICE IN MIDDLE EASTERN AND AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEMS Chair: Dr. Miriam Ezzani, University of North Texas Papers: Dr. Melanie Brooks, Iowa State University A Muslim Teacher’s Experience in Public and Islamic Schools: A Search for Acceptance and Understanding Dr. Marc Cutright, University of North Texas Trends in Higher Education in the Middle East: Mixed Signals Dr. Faegheh Shirazi, University of Texas at Austin Educating Iranian Women		Gateway Room 42
3-4:30 p.m.	SESSION 14: Research Panel Turkey in the Thick and Thin of the Middle East Chair: Dr. Doğan Koç, Gülen Institute at the University of Houston Papers: Dr. Martha Ann Kirk, University of the Incarnate Word, San Antonio Turkish NGOs and Peace Building in Northern Iraq Dr. Doğan Koç, Gülen Institute at the University of Houston Strategies of Turkish Government in Dealing with PKK (Kurdistan Worker’s Party) Insurgency Dr. Bilal Haciogullari Turkey and Redesigning the Fertile Crescent		Gateway Room 51
4:45-6:30 p.m.	SESSION 15: Research Panel In the Eye of the Storm: Iran and the Arab Uprising Chair: Dr. Mahmoud Sadri, Texas Woman’s University Papers: Dr. Nader Hashemi and Dr. Mahmoud Sadri How Green is Spring? Comparing the Iranian and the Arab Pro-Democracy Movements Dr. Mohsen Mobasher, University of Houston-Downtown Globalization and Socio-Cultural Change in Qatar: A Visual and Narrative Analysis Mr. Mahdi Ahmadi, University of North Texas U.S. Led Sanctions on Iran and its Negative Impact on the Middle East Peace Mr. Ali Madanipour, Texas Woman’s University Discussant		Gateway Room 42
4:45-6:30 p.m.	SESSION 16: Panel Discussion Urbanization, Town Planning and the Struggling Poor Chair, Dr. Nancy Stockdale, University of North Texas Participants: Dr. Nuha Khoury, University of California, Santa Barbara Art, Children and Poverty in the Arab World Dr. Nada Shabout, University of North Texas A New Baghdad: Arab Capital Culture 2013		Gateway Room 51
6:30-7:30 p.m.	Middle Eastern Crafts and Books Exhibit In Collaboration with Willis Library and UNT-International Light Dinner for Conference Presenters & Chairs Provided		Willis Library
7:30-9:30 p.m.	Celebrating Peace: Middle Eastern Music and Dance In collaboration with UNT student associations, UNT-International and community organizations in Dallas and Fort Worth, the UNT Peace Conference presents Celebrating Peace: Middle Eastern Music and Dance. The cultural program will include various performances including the Turkish whirling dervish, Iranian setar and santour, peace songs, Persian music, Byzantine music, Saudi Arabian dance, the UNT international band, Palestinian debkeh folklore dance, Iraqi chobi dance, a traditional attire show, images of Israel and the Middle East and other performances.		UNT Lyceum

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UNT Peace Conference: The Middle East, A New Era