Foucault and Middle East Studies

A conference organized by James Gelvin, UCLA Featuring: Timothy Mitchell, New York University, Afsaneh Najmabadi, Harvard University, Khaled Fahmy, New York University, and Janet Afary, UCLA

Foucault and Middle East Studies

Over the past twenty years, the work of Michel Foucault has had a profound impact on the field of Middle East studies.  Among other things,
Middle East scholarship has applied methodologies pioneered by Foucault in the critique of Orientalism and in the study of sexuality,
marginalities, and governmentality.  "Foucault and Middle East Studies" will explore the impact of Foucault's work, bringing together scholars
who have employed approaches pioneered by Foucault in their work, have offered critiques of Foucault and his influence, or both.

Schedule

8:45 - 9:10 am: Coffee

9:10 - 9:30 am: Welcome and Introduction:  Susan Slyomovics, James L. Gelvin

9:30 - 11:00 am: Keynote: Timothy Mitchell, Columbia University: The Virtues of Recalcitrance: Democracy from Foucault to Latour

11:15 - 12:45 pm: Panel I: Foucault, Governmentality, and Middle East Studies
James L. Gelvin, UCLA: Foucault and the Historiography of Nationalism in the Arab Middle East
Khaled Fahmy, NYU: "Population, governmentality and social medicine: some questions from 19th- century Egypt."

12:45 - 2:30 pm: Lunch Break

2:30 - 4:00 pm: Panel II: Foucault, Sexuality, and Middle East Studies
Afsaneh Najmabadeh, Harvard University: "Genus of Sex"
Janet Afary, UCLA: "Foucault, the Frankfurt School, and Sexuality in Modern Iran"

4:00 - 4:15 pm: Break

4:15 - 5:00 pm: Discussion: Michael Meranze, UCLA, audience, and participants

 


Cost : Free and Open to the Public

AmyBruinooge, Center for Near Eastern Studies
(310) 825-1181
abruin@international.ucla.edu
Click here for event website.

Sponsor(s): Center for Near Eastern Studies