The International Implications of the Syrian Civil War: A Panel Discussion
Four experts on the Middle East analyze the social and political effects of the war on Syria and its neighbors, and examine consequences for the region and the involvement of the major powers and other countries influencing the conflict. Video
Translating Human Rights Symposium
How does the interdisciplinary study of human rights translate bodies as and into evidence? How are recent technological advances transforming what counts as evidence? Going beyond a view of translation framed in terms of accuracy or equivalence, this symposium explores the relationship of bodies, evidence, and translation within the context of critical debates in human rights studies. Video
South Sudan Roundtable
Susan D. Page, U.S. ambassador to South Sudan, joined a panel of U-M faculty to discuss America’s relations with the East African nation and the challenges facing the new country, which gained independence in July 2011 after more than 50 years of civil war with Sudan. Panelists include: Amal Hassan Fadlalla, Associate Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies, Women's Studies, and Anthropology; Anne Pitcher, Professor of Afroamerican and African Studies and Political Science; and John Ciorciari, Assistant Professor of Public Policy. Video
New Media Symposium
New Media/Social Change symposium questions the impact “new media” (social, network, digital) have had on cultural and political formations and practices and how this impact relates to area studies. Leading scholars from across the U.S. and Europe, along with prominent U-M faculty, address the following:
- How have new media changed the way world regions function and are imagined?
- How have new media reshaped the study of international questions and locations?
- How may news media and other reporters of news be put at risk by changing technologies and practices? Video
Middle East Round Table
The February 2011 round table "Struggle Against Authoritarian Rule in the Middle East" analyzed the underlying tensions in the Middle East that have led to widespread unrest and political instability. U-M scholars participated in a candid, informal discussion about how protests in Egypt, Tunisia, and other countries have led to a shakeup of the existing governments. Speakers include Joshua Cole, Juan Cole, Nadine Naber, Philip Potter, Mark Tessler, and Susan Waltz. Video.
Area Studies Symposium
Relevant/Obsolete?, a symposium hosted by the University of Michigan International Institute and its centers in October 2010, addressed the future of area studies in the U.S. academy. Five leading scholars from across the nation discussed the changing relationships between area studies and the disciplines, the future of area studies centers, and the role of area studies in future research, policy, and public education agendas. Speakers include Gilbert Merkx, Patricia Steinhoff, Kevin O' Brien, Sugata Bose, and Michael Kennedy. Video
