Courses and seminars
Index / Activities / Courses and seminars / Sunni and Shia: Political Readings of a Religious Dichotomy
Sunni and Shia: Political Readings of a Religious Dichotomy
From October 16, 2013 until October 23, 2013
On Tuesday, October 22, Casa Árabe is organizing this seminar at its headquarters in Cordoba, where international experts will attempt to reach a better understanding of the causes and consequences of the widening gap between these two branches of Islam, as well as discrediting reductionist arguments.
The differences between these two branches has never had such an impact on the public political sphere and global awareness as it has at the current time. Are these differences the result of an exacerbation of a religious schism, or instead is this the result of current geopolitical conditions? Starting off on the basis of a historical review, we will reflect upon the most recent challenges, in light of the increasing confrontations in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Egypt and the competition between Riyadh and Tehran.
This seminar, organized with the cooperation of UNESCO’s Professorship for Conflict Resolution at the University of Cordoba, will also serve as an exercise in dialogue, a fundamental tool whether for co-existence, reconciliation, convergence or just knowing how to deal with disagreement. The speeches will published in the journal Awraq, published by Casa Árabe in the year of 2014.
On the preceding day, Monday, October 21, a conference will be held with the title “The Renaissance of Sectarianism in the Middle East,” to be given by Geneive Abdo at 7:30 in the Mudejar Hall of the University of Cordoba Rectorate Building (at Avenida Medina Azahara, 5). Free entry until the event’s capacity is full.
09:00 Opening statements
09:30 I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
a. Old and new sectarianisms. Hierarchy and authority in Sunni and Shiite systems. Geneive Abdo (Stimson Center)
b. The geopolitics of disagreement: Barah Mikail (FRIDE)
11: 30 II. POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND RELIGION
a. Iran, Iraq and the expansion of militant sectarianism. Hayder al-Khoei (Chatham House)
b. Case studies: Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and non-State role-players. Ahmad Moussalli (AUB)
15:00 III. CONTEMPORARY PRACTICES
a. The media’s role in sectarian division. Khaled Hroub (Northwestern University in Qatar/Cambridge Arab Media Project)
b. The fight for economic hegemony and strategic investments. Thierry Coville (IRIS)
17:00 IV. BALANCE OF POWER AND MEDIATION
a. The regional balance of power: Saudi Arabia vs. Iran. Fatiha Dazi-Héni (Institut Politique de Lille)
b. Dialogue and mediation. Oliver McTernan (Forward Thinking)
c. Conclusions
Entry restricted.
This seminar, organized with the cooperation of UNESCO’s Professorship for Conflict Resolution at the University of Cordoba, will also serve as an exercise in dialogue, a fundamental tool whether for co-existence, reconciliation, convergence or just knowing how to deal with disagreement. The speeches will published in the journal Awraq, published by Casa Árabe in the year of 2014.
On the preceding day, Monday, October 21, a conference will be held with the title “The Renaissance of Sectarianism in the Middle East,” to be given by Geneive Abdo at 7:30 in the Mudejar Hall of the University of Cordoba Rectorate Building (at Avenida Medina Azahara, 5). Free entry until the event’s capacity is full.
PROVISIONAL SCHEDULE
09:00 Opening statements
09:30 I. BACKGROUND INFORMATION AND THE CURRENT STATE OF AFFAIRS
a. Old and new sectarianisms. Hierarchy and authority in Sunni and Shiite systems. Geneive Abdo (Stimson Center)
b. The geopolitics of disagreement: Barah Mikail (FRIDE)
11: 30 II. POLITICAL ACTIVISM AND RELIGION
a. Iran, Iraq and the expansion of militant sectarianism. Hayder al-Khoei (Chatham House)
b. Case studies: Bahrain, Lebanon, Syria and non-State role-players. Ahmad Moussalli (AUB)
15:00 III. CONTEMPORARY PRACTICES
a. The media’s role in sectarian division. Khaled Hroub (Northwestern University in Qatar/Cambridge Arab Media Project)
b. The fight for economic hegemony and strategic investments. Thierry Coville (IRIS)
17:00 IV. BALANCE OF POWER AND MEDIATION
a. The regional balance of power: Saudi Arabia vs. Iran. Fatiha Dazi-Héni (Institut Politique de Lille)
b. Dialogue and mediation. Oliver McTernan (Forward Thinking)
c. Conclusions
Entry restricted.