[Bilimsel Haber] NETWORK- Anthropology of the Middle East and Central Eurasia (Russia, the Caucasus, Central Asia, China) at EASA 2010

[Gonul Pultar]

NETWORK- Anthropology of the Middle East and Central Eurasia at EASA 2010

Posted by: Pedram Khosronejad <pk18 at st-andrews.ac.uk>



Anthropology of the Middle East and Central Eurasia (Russia, the Caucasus,
Central Asia, China)

In spite of the difficulties of the terrain, it seems that students of
the social sciences, especially anthropologists and ethnographers, are
increasingly developing research projects and carrying out fieldwork
on different aspects of modern and contemporary societies in the
Middle East and Central Eurasia.

While in these two areas of the world varying populations live with
correspondingly varying religious beliefs, everyday assumptions and
orientations, and political concerns, many groups also have common
traditions, inherit from common pasts, and exhibit similar behaviors.
Today, people of contemporary Middle Eastern and Eurasian societies,
whether in dominant or minority groups, can arguably be seen as
constitutive of a larger society, composed of distinct ethnicities.

In this part of the world, the three main Abrahamic and monotheistic
faiths - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam - have been, for about 1,300
years, historically and cosmologically intertwined, as well as in
constant communication with more local faiths and streams of
tradition. It is also the case that different regions in these two
parts of the world have long-standing and significant historical
connections. However, from 1979, particularly with onset of the
Iranian Revolution (in February) and the Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan (in December), the West's shift in foreign policies
towards these regions has had visible impact. The recent long wars in
Iraq and Afghanistan and increasing political, religious, and ethnic
clashes in the different regions of the Middle East and Central
Eurasia, signal that more geopolitical changes in these regions are
forthcoming.

Under such present conditions of conflict and transformation,
anthropologists have plenty of work to do, and may yet contribute to a
better understanding of complex problems and their resolution.

Given these considerations, we regard it necessary and good to create
and sustain a network of like-minded and interested anthropologists
working on a diversity of aspects of modern and contemporary societies
in the Middle East and Central Eurasia, including those who work on
minority groups, or on religious themes. We invite you to come and
participate in our first network meeting, which will be held during
the 11th EASA Biennial Conference in Maynooth, Ireland, 24th to 27th
of August 2010 (www.easaonline.org).

Those interested in adhering to the list before this date may contact:

Dr. Pedram Khosronejad
Department of Social Anthropology
71 North Street
University of St. Andrews
St. Andrews, Fife, Scotland KY16 9AL
Tel: +44 (1334) 461968
Fax: +44 (1334) 462985
Email: pedram.khosronejad at st-andrews.ac.uk






Distrib. by: Central-Eurasia-L - Announcement List for Central Eurasian 
Studies