Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

Politics and International Studies Newsletter

Many congratulations to Fiona Adamson who has been Appointments, Awards, Honours appointed to the editorial board of American Political Science Review, the flagship journal of APSA.

Doctoral student Veronica Ferreri has been selected for The Department is happy to announce that in March the the one-week workshop for doctoral students and annual QS World University Rankings ranked SOAS as the postdoctoral fellows in Tunisia on reconfiguring the 6th best Politics and International Studies department political in the Middle East. in the UK, and the 35th in the world. The ranking reflects PhD candidate Adélie Chevée was awarded fieldwork a combination of reputation among academics and grants from both the Council for British Research in the employers worldwide, as well as citations for published Levant and the Fonds Sarah Andrieux in France, to research. To compile their rankings, QS evaluated over undertake her doctoral fieldwork in Lebanon and Turkey, 4,000 universities and analysed over 113 million citations where she will be researching on Syrian popular and attributions. There are now four subject areas at intellectuals in exile. SOAS within the top 50 in the world. Meera Sabaratnam has been elected Chair of the Global Georgia Lassoff, a third year BA Politics student, has Development Section of the International Studies been awarded the 2015-16 School Prize as one of the three Association (ISA) for 2018-19. The Global Development best undergraduate finalists at SOAS. Congratulations to Section draws together scholars broadly concerned with Georgia from everyone in the department! development and global justice working across a number Many congratulations to Benjamin Schütze. Marwa of fields, for example, post-colonial studies, development Mamdouh Salem, Salam Karam and Merve Kutuk for studies, critical political economy, critical security studies, having defended their theses successfully. Well done, social and political theory, history, , gender newly minted doctors! studies, and public policy. Meera has also been appointed James Eastwood has been appointed Lecturer in Politics a Visiting Scholar at the School of Political Science and and International Relations at Queen Mary University of International Studies at the University of Queensland in . 2017. Michael Farquhar has accepted a post as Lecturer in Professor Lawrence Saez has been selected to the board Middle East Politics, in the Department of Middle Eastern of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs. Studies at King‘s College London, to begin in August SOAS doctoral scholar Emanuelle Degli Esposti was 2016. recently shortlisted for the Millennium Northedge Prize Tara Povey has been appointed to a fixed-term for her paper titled ―Sectarianizing the Subject: Delineating lectureship in the social sciences with reference to the Discourse, Studying Identity in the Transnational ―Shi‘a Middle East at Exeter University. Rights‘ Movement‖. Gerasimos Tsourapas will join the Department of In May, Phil Clark was named among six experts at the Political Science and International Studies at the University newly formed Law and Peace Practice Group at the of Birmingham, where he has been appointed Lecturer in Institute for Integrated Transitions, to advise governments Politics, starting 1 October 2016. and non-governmental agencies on law and peace issues, particularly during peace negotiations. Much kudos to James Eastwood whose thesis, ―The ethics of Israeli militarism: soldiers‘ testimony and the Rahul Rao has joined the Radical Philosophy editorial formation of the Israeli soldier-subject‖, has been collective. announced as the joint winner of British International Leslie Vinjamuri served on the 2016 Steering Committee Studies Association‘s best doctoral thesis prize for 2016. for the London Conference, the annual flagship conference of Kristin Surak was awarded a research grant of £50,000 by Chatham House. In June, she participated in the London the Leverhulme Trust for the project Ius Pecuniae: The Conference. This took place at the St Pancras Renaissance Crystallisation of the Citizenship and Residence Industry. Drawing Hotel in London and was attended by policy-makers, on qualitative fieldwork, the project examines how journalists, academics and others. Philip Hammond was investor citizenship has become a resilient and increasingly one of the keynote speakers. popular policy option as a competitive transnational Leslie Vinjamuri was appointed to the Editorial Board of organizational field develops around it. It also examines Beyond Parallel a new initiative of the Center for Strategic the implications of the sale of citizenship on citizenship and International Studies (CSIS), a Washington, D.C. more broadly in the domains of strategic action, territory, based think tank. Beyond Parallel is a web-based vehicle for inequality, and third-party actors. providing analytical clarity on long-term planning issues

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016 critical to any change on the Korean peninsula including Matthew Eagleton-Pierce has published a new book, economic development, migration, transitional justice, Neoliberalism: The Key Concepts (Routledge, 2016). The book food security, human rights and health. provides a critical guide to a vocabulary that has become In July, PhD student Sameen Ali was awarded a travel globally dominant over the past forty years. The language stipend to present her work at this year's Development of neoliberalism both constructs and expresses a particular Studies Association meeting (Oxford University). vision of economics, politics, and everyday life. Some find this vision to be appealing, but many others find the In June, PhD student Guy Eyre was selected to attend the contents and implications of neoliberalism to be alarming. Syracuse Qualitative Methods Workshop with support Despite the popularity of these concepts, they often from a departmental scholarship. remain confusing, the product of contested histories, meanings, and practices. In an accessible way, this interdisciplinary resource explores and dissects 44 key terms, such as choice, competition, entrepreneurship, New Publications finance, state and market. Complete with an introductory essay, cross-referencing, and an extensive bibliography, Neoliberalism: The Key Concepts provides a unique and Michael Buehler and Dani Muhtada published insightful introduction to the study of neoliberalism in all ―Democratization and the Diffusion of Shari‖a Law: its forms and disguises. Comparative Insights from Indonesia‖ in Southeast Research 24:2. The article analyzes the spread of shari‘a regulations across Indonesia, the world‘s largest Muslim- majority democracy, since 1998. Explanations put forward in the literature on the diffusion of morality policies in other countries such as geographic proximity, institutions, intergovernmental relations and economic conditions did not explain the patterns in the diffusion of shari‘a regulations in Indonesia well. Instead, shari‘a regulations in Indonesia were most likely to spread across jurisdictions where local Islamist groups situated outside the party system had an established presence. Michael Buehler also published a review of Yoshiniori Nishizaki‘s ―Political Authority and Provincial Identity in Thailand‖ in South East Asia Research 24:1. Mark Laffey and Suthaharan Nadarajah (CISD) published ‖Securing the Diaspora: Policing Global Order‖ in Jana Hönke and Markus-Michael Müller, (eds.) The Global Making of Policing: Postcolonial Perspectives (Routledge). Matthew has also published a chapter titled ―Historicising the Neoliberal Spirit of Capitalism‖, in Springer, S., Birch, Doctoral student Mathilde Zederman has published her K., and MacLeavy., J. (eds.), The Routledge Handbook of article ‖Construction nationale et mémoire collective : Neoliberalism (Routledge, 2016). islamisme et bourguibisme en Tunisie (1956- 2014)‖, Matériaux pour l”histoire de notre temps, No. 117-118, Tara Povey has published ―The impact of Sanctions and 2015/2. Neo-liberalism on Women‘s Organising in Iran‖ in a Special Issue of the journal Social Sciences on Women, Meera Sabaratnam co-authored an introduction to a Gender and Politics: An International Overview edited by forum on ―Teaching Africa and International Studies‖ in Nancy A. Naples. the journal Politics, published by the Political Studies Association. This special issue is the result of a series of Dafydd Fell published the following two journal articles workshops funded by a Higher Education Academy grant ―Do Party Switchers Pay an Electoral Price? The Case of in 2013, involving a collaboration between the University ‖ in Parliamentary Affairs; and ―Small Parties in of Cambridge, Royal Holloway , the Taiwan‘s 2016 National Elections: A Limited University of Cape Town and BISA‘s Africa and Breakthrough?‖ in American Journal of Chinese Studies, 23 (1). International Studies Working Group. Dafydd also published a chapter on Parties and Party Systems in The Routledge Handbook of Contemporary Taiwan Lawrence Saez has published two articles. He co- edited by Gunter Schubert (June 2016). authored an article with Zaad Mahmood, one of his former PhD students, ‖Business and Labor Market Arshin Adib-Moghaddam published two research Flexibility in India: The Importance of Caste‖, for Business articles, ―Poetry, Art and Critique‖ in International Studies and Politics. He also authored ”The Political Budget Cycle Journal 13(2); and ―Islamic secularism and the question of and Subnational Debt Expenditures in Federations: Panel freedom in Iran‖ in Middle East Critique 25(1). Data Evidence from India‖ in Governance 29(1).

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

Doctoral student Atta Barkindo published an article titled movements with a critical political economy of the ――Understanding Boko Haram‘s factional Structure in ―University Factory‖. Jane’s Terrorism and Insurgency Monitor (24 May, 2016). Atta Gerasimos Tsourapas published ―Nasser‘s Educators & also co-authored a book chapter titled. ――Muslims in Agitators Across al-Watan al-‗Arabi: Tracing the Foreign Northern Nigeria: Between Challenge and Opportunity‖‖ Policy Importance of Egyptian Regional Migration, 1952- in Muslim Minority-State Relations, Violence, Integration and 1967‖ in the British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies 43(3). Policy edited by Robert Mason (Palgrave McMillan). He also published two articles, ――Boko Haram – IS Connections: Local and Regional Implications, 2016‖ and Research Centres, Clusters, & Networks ――Nigeria‘s Counter Terrorism Approach, 2016‖ in Counter Terrorist Trends and Analysis, a Journal of the International Centre for Political Violence and Terrorism Research, 8(6) and 7(11) respectively. He also co-authored an article ――De- Centre for Comparative Political Thought Radicalising Prisoners in Nigeria: Developing a basic prison based de-radicalisation programme‖ in JD Journal of De-radicalisation 7. On 1 July the CCPT held its annual workshop on the In June, Felix Berenskoetter published an article titled theme ‗Travelling Theorists/Theories‘ in collaboration ―Approaches to Concept Analysis‖ in Millennium: Journal of with the London Comparative Political Thought Research International Studies (online first). The article is part of a Group. Nine papers were presented for discussion at three research project on the political and scholarly use, and successive panels: 1) Whence? The spaces of travel - Where multiple meanings, of concepts and the implication for from and to does theory travel? Does theory travel from theorising world politics. always already constituted places or does it actually In May, Bhavna Dave published a working paper, constitute them as it travels? 2) How? The conditions of travel - ―Russia‘s Asia Pivot: Engaging the Russian Far East, How do ideas acquire the epistemic legitimacy and China and Southest Asia‖ for the S. Rajaratnam School of symbolic aura of theory in different contexts? What is the International Studies (RSIS), Nanyang Technological role of choice, and of compulsion, in travel? 3) What? University, Singapore. She also published a commentary Reception and its contexts - What elements of a theory gain for the same outlet, titled ―Russia‘s Summit with ASEAN: traction in different contexts? Have Marxist theories Pivot to the East?‖ travelled better in the global South than liberal theories? Rochana Bajpai’s book, Debating Difference: Group rights The workshop featured papers by Prof Sanjay Seth and Liberal democracy in India (Oxford University Press, (Goldsmiths), Dr Agnes Czajka (Open University), Dr 2011) was published in paperback (fourth impression). Teresa Pullano and Prof Ralph Weber (University of Basel), Dr Fan Guangxin (Hong Kong Baptist University), Dr Matt Baxter (Harvard University), Musab Younis (), Dr Sinkwan Cheng (UCL), Udit Bhatia (University of Oxford), and Dr Carlos Forment (New School for Social Research). Dr Rochana Bajpai provided opening remarks and Prof Engin Isin (Open University) chaired the concluding discussion in the first of what is intended as a series of workshops on this theme.

Kerem Nisancioglu has published with co-author Maia Pal (Oxford Brookes) ―Counter-Conduct in the University Factory: Locating the Occupy Sussex Campaign‖ in Global Society. This paper analyses the 2013 University of Sussex occupation, by combining a Foucauldian reading of social

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

upheavals, she also focused on fulfilling the social responsibilities of the AUC; encouraging debate within the On 9 June, the Department hosted a seminar by university community; fostering collaboration between Professor Kanchan Chandra (NYU) on her new book on academic institutions; and cultivating research in Egypt Democratic Dynasties. By studying dynastic politics in and the region. India, the book develops a new theoretical perspective on dynasticism in democracies, showing that it can reinforce She also interviewed Professor Anthony Arend about his some aspects of democracy while violating others. The new book Human Dignity: The Future of Global Institutions. event was chaired by Dr Rochana Bajpai. Anthony Clark Arend is Professor and Senior Associate Dean for Graduate and Faculty Affairs in the Walsh School of Foreign Service. Centre on Conflicts, Rights and Justice Leslie also interviewed Professors Tanja Börzel and Thomas Risse of the Otto-Suhr-Institute for Political

Science, Freie Universität Berlin on ―Governance Without CCRJ co-directors, Leslie Vinjamuri & Stephen Hierarchy? Effective and Legitimate in Areas of Limited Hopgood would like to thank Adrien Chevaillier, Diana Statehood‖. Naoum and Maya Schkolne for their truly exceptional work as volunteers this academic year. CCRJ Public Lectures

April 22. ―Human Dignity and Terrorism‖ with Professor Anthony Arend, Georgetown University. Dr. Ayça Çubukçu, London School of Economics, served as a discussant on this panel. This talk was co-hosted with the SOAS Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy as part of the International Relations Speaker Series. Dr Leslie Vinjamuri chaired this panel. May 13. ―Governance Without Hierarchy? Effective and Legitimate in Areas of Limited Statehood‖ with Professor Tanja Borzel and Professor Thomas Risse, Free University of Berlin. Dr Leslie Vinjamuri chaired this discussion.

From left: Adrien Chevaillier, Leslie Vinjamuri, Maya Schkolne, Steve Hopgood, and Diana Naoum

CCRJ SOAS Radio Interviews

Dr Leslie Vinjamuri interviewed Professor Stephen D. Krasner of Stanford University on ―Good Enough June 1. ―Good Enough Governance: The Best Option for Governance‖. Stephen Krasner is the Graham H. Stuart Failed and Badly Governed States‖ with Professor Professor of International Relations at Stanford, and a Stephen Krasner, Stanford University. Jeremy Shapiro, Senior Fellow at the Freeman Spogli Institute, and the Research Director at the European Council on Foreign Hoover Institution. The renowned author of ―Sovereignty: Relations served as the discussant. Organized Hypocrisy‖ addresses the concept of ―Good Enough Governance‖ in matters of war and nation building. Leslie also interviewed Professor Lisa Anderson about academic freedom and scientific research in the aftermath of the 2011 uprisings against Hosni Mubarak. During her tenure as President of the American University of Cairo, Professor Anderson was compelled to navigate the key political upheavals in Egypt's history while leading a prominent educational institution, serving during the terms of four different Egyptian presidents. As she dealt with the Stephen Krasner

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

June 10. ―The Right to be Wrong: Academic Freedom, Social Science and Public Policy in the Arab world‖ with Dr Lisa Anderson, , & President of the American University of Cairo (2011-2015) President and Director of the London School of Economics, Craig Calhoun served as the discussant. The talk unpacked novel ideas for confronting the challenges that face academic freedom, a topic that has clear relevance for universities across the board. Dr Leslie Vinjamuri moderated this discussion. The event was co-hosted with the SOAS Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy.

Centre for

Dafydd Fell and Chang Bi-yu worked together with a number of colleagues in designing a new promotional video about the Centre of Taiwan Studies. The video also features a number of current and former Politics Department students discussing their experiences of studying Taiwan‘s politics at SOAS. Chang Bi-yu organised a SOAS Taiwan Studies alumni reunion in in April. Dafydd Fell recorded a congratulatory video to celebrate From Left: Craig Calhoun, Maya Schkolne, Diana Naoum, Lisa the wedding of MA Taiwan Studies graduate Theodore Anderson Charm and SOAS classmate Alison Chang. They first met at the Centre of Taiwan Studies screening of the June 27. ―Accountability for Atrocities in Syria and documentary Lee Teng-hui: The First Chinese Democracy Beyond‖ with Ambassador Stephen Rapp, former in 2013. In September Theodore will start a PhD in Ambassador-at-Large heading the Office of Global Political Science at University of Texas, Austin. Criminal Justice in the U.S. State Department. Dr Leslie Vinjamuri, SOAS, was discussant on this panel. Dr Dafydd Fell and Chang Bi-yu organized the following Rachel Kerr, Kings College London, chaired this panel. Centre of Taiwan Studies seminars since the last This event co-hosted by the SOAS Centre for newsletter: International Studies and Diplomacy as part of the International Relations Speaker Series, as well as Kings 9 Mar, 2016: The Conditions and Makings of Global College London War Crimes Research Group and the Culture and Genericity of Tsai Yueh-hsun in Taiwanese London Transitional Justice Network. Screen Industries in the Twenty-first Century, Speaker: Ms Lai Yi-Hsuan June 28. ―Isolationism, Interventionism, and Internationalism: The US Foreign Policy Debate‖ with 10 Mar, 2016: Partisanship, Polling and Strategic Voting in Professor Bruce Jentleson, Duke University and co- East Asia: Evidence From an Experimental Web Survey, founder of ―Bridging the Gap‖, with discussant Peter Speaker: Dr Timothy S. Rich Trubowitz of the London School of Economics. Dr 11 Mar, 2016: Electoral Paths and Support for Same-Sex Leslie Vinjamuri moderated this discussion. This talk Marriage Legislation: Evidence from Taiwan, Speaker: Dr covered the foreign policy challenges and Timothy S. Rich the domestic politics of the US elections, while also 17 Mar, 2016: Ringing garbage in contemporary Taiwan: touching on the potential for understanding global From cockroaches to Beethoven and Beyond, Speaker: parallels and the rise in discontent around the world. This Prof Nancy Guy event was co-hosted with the SOAS Centre for 18 Mar, 2016: Peking Opera and Politics in Taiwan International Studies and Diplomacy. Revisited, Speaker: Prof Nancy Guy 23 Apr, 2016: Tsai Ing-wen‘s 2016 Campaign Strategies, Speaker: Dr Ketty W. Chen 13 Apr, 2016: Unholy Union: How Evangelicals Have Prevented Marriage Equality in Taiwan, Speaker: Mr J Michael Cole

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

20 Apr, 2016: Understanding Voting Behaviour in for a seminar on Population Movement by Design and Taiwan‘s Indigenous District Elections, Speaker: Dr Pao Territorial Conflict. Cheng-Hao 21 Apr, 16: Migration, Gender and the Political Economy London Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Sciences of Care: The Case of Migrant Domestic Workers and the Limits of Civic Nationalism in Taiwan, Speaker: Mr Yannis-Adam Allouache The London Asia-Pacific Centre for Social Science 28 Apr, 2016: Masked Dolls - An Audience with the (Co-Chairs: Tat Yan Kong, SOAS and Ramon Pacheco Taiwanese Author Shih Chiung-Yu, Speaker Ms Shih Pardo, KCL) was awarded GBP 11,000 for its Japan- Chiung-Yu related speaker series in 2016-17 by the Japan Foundation 03 May, 2016: Changing Demography, Graduate (the same amount will be award for each of the following Employment and Social Mobility in Taiwan, Speaker: two years subject to satisfactory evaluation). Professor Sheng-Ju Chan The Centre held a workshop titled Comparative Economic 9 Jun, 2016: The Struggle for LGBT Rights in Taiwan, A and Political Systems in the Asia-Pacific at the Royal Society for Discussion with Victoria Hsu, Speaker: Ms Victoria Hsu the Arts on 11 May 2016. The event attracted speakers 13 Jun, 2016: Motherhood Practices of Women Social from Oxford, Cambridge, SOAS, KCL, Nottingham and Activists in Taiwan, Speaker: Dr Yang Chia-Ling the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. From the Department, Tat Yan Kong, Lawrence Saez, Dafydd 15 Jun, 2016: Taiwan in International Economic Fell and Michael Buehler participated on the panels. A Relations, Speaker: Peter Chow report of the event can be found here. 20 Jun, 2016: Parliamentary Brawls in Taiwanese Politics,

Speaker: Dr Nathan Batto 20 Jun, 2016: Politics in Taiwan: Voting for Democracy Revisited, Speaker: Prof Shelley Rigger Muslim South Asia Research Forum 21 Jun, 2016: Reserved for Whom? The Electoral Impact of Gender Quotas in Taiwan, Speaker: Prof Huang Chang- Ling The Muslim South Asia Research Forum 22 Jun, 2016: Remembering Dictators: The Politics of (MUSA) followed up its second graduate conference (held Bronze Statues in South Korea and Taiwan, Speaker: Prof in October 2015 in collaboration with the Royal Asiatic Huang Chang-Ling Society) with a seminar series. The first event in the series, ―Cultures of Fear: Community Journalism amidst Chronic 29 Jun, 2016: From Student Activist to City Mayor: A Urban Unrest‖, was held on 28 April. Dr Laurent Gayer Dialogue with Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan, Speaker: (CNRS/CERI-Sciences Po, Paris) spoke about Lyari, a Taoyuan Mayor Cheng Wen-tsan neighbourhood in Karachi, through the lens of a local newspaper, ―Janbaz‖, revealing the complex web of relationships between the area‘s residents, politicians, media, criminals, and police officials. The second event, held on 24 May, was ―The Dabistan and Orientalist views of Sufism‖. Professor Carl W. Ernst (UNC-Chapel Hill) discussed the impact of a flawed translation of the Dabistan-e-Mazahib in 1847 on western interpretations of Sufism. Podcasts of all MUSA‘s events are available on the website. In June, MUSA launched the call for papers for an upcoming workshop, ―Negotiating Technologies‖, to be held in collaboration with the CEIAS (Centre for South Asian Studies, CNRS-EHESS), Paris and the Centre of South Asian Studies, University of Cambridge. The CFP is open till 15 July 2016.

MUSA is a research network launched in May 2013 and London Migration Research Group (LMRG) run by SOAS students, Dr Najia Mukhtar (PhD Politics), Johann Chacko (PhD Politics), Francesca Fuoli (PhD

History) and Sameen Mohsin Ali (PhD The London Migration Research Group (LMRG), co- Politics). MUSA receives generous funding for its convened by Gerasimos Tsourapas and Fiona activities from the Politics Department, as well as from Adamson, hosted Neophytos G. Loizides (University of other faculties and centres at SOAS. To find out more Kent) on 8 March 2016 for a talk on ―Reversing Forced about MUSA, please visit: https://www.soas.ac.uk/south- Migrations: Protracted Displacements and Return Home‖ asia-institute/musa/ and Oded Haklai (Queen‘s University) on 19 April 2016 6

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

Presentations and Conferences

Department of Politics and International Studies Centenary Lectures

The Department of Politics and International Studies has held two Centenary Lectures in honour of the 100th birthday of SOAS:

On 18 April, Professor Alfred Stepan from Columbia University talked about ―Democracies with Large Muslim Populations: Reflections on Indonesia, India, Senegal and Tunisia‖. In his talk, Professor Stepan argued that in Indonesia, India, Senegal and Tunisia, the most progressive policies, such as finding ways to increase girls‘ education (e.g. in Indonesia), or reducing female genital mutilation (e.g. in Senegal) have involved close cooperation between religious and secular political leaders. None of the four countries follow John Rawls‘ injunction that religion must be ―kept off‖ the political On 12 May, the Department of Politics and agenda. Professor Stepan argued that this may help us International Studies hosted Professor James C. rethink what is needed, and what is not Scott from Yale University. In his talk, titled ―Beyond the needed, concerning secularism and democracy in the Pale: The Earliest Agrarian States and their modern world. Professor Stepan‘s talk was co-sponsored Barbarians‖ Professor Scott showed that the earliest by The Centre for International Studies and agrarian states were small and fragile. More people lived Diplomacy (CISD) as part of its International Relations outside them than within. They were subject to internal Speaker Series. Professor Stepan‘s Centenary Lecture can fracture, abandonment, and raiding—both sporadic and be watched here. systematic. They also represented valuable trade depots that enhanced the exchange value of products from non- state ecologies. The result was, for a time at least, what one might call a ―golden age of barbarians.‖ Professor Scott‘s Centenary Lecture can be watched here.

James C. Scott together with SOAS students and faculty after dinner

In April, Michael Buehler presented ―Election Cycles and the Adoption of Shari’a Law in Muslim-Majority Democracies: Evidence from Indonesia‖ at the Association for Asian Studies (AAS) annual conference in 7

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

Seattle. Michael then drove 2000 miles from Seattle to Mark Laffey, Suthaharan Nadarajah (CISD) and Los Angeles, singing for supper along the Pacific Coast. Vinothini Kanapathipillai (PhD student) organised a He delivered talks at Stanford University and at UCLA workshop on ―The Politics of Corporations‖, held at titled ―Religion or Politics? Elections and the Adoption of SOAS on May 7, 2016. Participants included Anna Shari’a Law in Muslim-Majority Democracies—The Case Leander (Copenhagen Business School), Hugo Radice of Indonesia‖ (Leeds), Jaana Hönke (Groningen), Michael Bloomfield (Oxford), Lara Montesinos Coleman and David Karp (Sussex), Paddy Ireland (Bristol), Matti Ylönen (Yale), Maha Atal (Cambridge), David Whyte (Liverpool) and Rebecca Fisher (CorpWatch), as well as members of the Law and Politics departments at SOAS. This is the first in what it is hoped will be a series of meetings on this and related topics. In May, doctoral student Mathilde Zederman participated in the workshop ―Tunisia: a conservative Seals at San Simeon Beach, San Luis Obispo , California revolution?‖ at the European University Institute of Florence (Italy). In June, Mathilde presented Professor Lilliana Avendano, who joined the ―L‖activisme politique en exil des islamistes nahdawis Department in October 2015 for a postdoctoral fellowship (1980s-aujourd‖hui)‖ (activism in exile of Tunisian on energy security, was invited to give a Plenary Speech islamists (1980s-today)) at the conference ‖Tunisia: the titled ―FDI theory: Conventional and Unconventional geography of revolt, transformation and intervention‖ in Multinationals in Emerging Markets‖ on 21 March at the Marseille. 6th International Conference on Economics, Trade and Mathilde also presented ―The Role and Impact of Development. She also presented the paper ―The Political, Tunisian Diasporic Mobilization in France on Tunisian Economic and Social Roots of Energy Insecurity in Politics‖ at the workshop ‖New International Relations of México‖. Eurasia and the Middle East‖, organised at the Central On 11 March, Lilliana presented the paper ―Reforma European University in Budapest (13-14 June 2016), and Energética Mexicana y Privatización ¿Crecimiento para presented ―The Tunisian system of encadrement and quién?‖ at the XV Jornadas de Economía Crítica in repression in France: role and impact on the Tunisian Madrid. In May, she presented the paper ―The Shifting diasporic communities in France‖ as part of the BISA Geopolitics and Geoeconomics of Oil and Mexico´s conference taking place in Edinburgh (17 June 2016). Energy Reform‖ at the 2nd International Conference in Meera Sabaratnam presented a paper at Applied Macro and Empirical Finance, held at the an interdisciplinary workshop at the University of University of Macedonia, Thessalonica. Birmingham in May on ―Double Consciousness and Good Doctoral student Lewis Turner attended an international Governance in Mozambique‖, on different ways to think conference on gender and migration, hosted by Gediz about public administration. University in Izmir, Turkey. He presented a paper titled Kerem Nisancioglu, Meera Sabaratnam, and Musab ―The Uncertain Position of Adult Male Refugees in the Younis presented papers on a panel titled ―Historicising Humanitarian Response to the Syria Crisis in Jordan‖. Whiteness in the Global Longue Duree― at the Annual Professor Stephen Chan has returned to SOAS after his Conference of the British International Studies period as 2016 George Soros Chair in Public Policy at the Association in Edinburgh in June. Kerem, Meera and Central European University in Budapest. His 12 lectures Mark Laffey also participated in a roundtable at the on Diplomacy and Foreign Policy were filmed in summary conference titled ―#RhodesMustFall And Other Projects form. Scenes from Professor Stephen Chan’s lecture on For Decolonisation‖. the European refugee crisis in Budapest in May this year Matthew Eagleton-Pierce presented two papers at the can be viewed here. International Studies Association Annual Convention in In February, Matt Nelson's paper ―Informal Networks of Atlanta, GA in March 2016: ―The Concept of the Market Politics in Pakistan‖ was presented at an Oxford in the Legitimation of Neoliberalism‖ and ―The Rise of University conference titled Pakistan: Political Economy of a the Critical Technicians in International Trade Policy‖. Transforming Society. In June, Matt presented two papers In April, Emanuelle Degli Esposti attended a abroad--one titled ―The Constitutional Politics of conference titled ―Multiculturalism in a Changing World‖ Religious Freedom: From Ireland and India to the Islamic at the European University Institute (EUI) in Florence, Republic of Pakistan‖ at the University of Heidelberg Italy, where she presented a paper on multiculturalism and (Germany) (Cluster of Excellence: Asia and Europe in a sectarian politics. On 21 May, Emanuelle presented a Global Context) and one titled ―Islamic Law in an Islamic further research paper at an international conference on Republic: What Role for Parliament?‖ at the University of ―Shi‖a Minorities in the Contemporary World‖ held at the Gujrat (Pakistan). University of Chester.

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

Manjeet Ramgotra participated in a roundtable revolution at the European University Institute, Florence. discussion on ―What is Political Science and What Does it In June, Charles chaired successive sessions and made a Mean for Equality and Diversity?‖ at the PSA Women presentation at the panel discussion ―Policy and and Politics Summit on Women in the Profession, 10 June operational conclusions‖ at the one-day workshop 2016 at Edinburgh University. Manjeet presented her Protracted Crises, organised by the British Academy. In research on ―Post-colonial Republicanism and the Revival June, he also made a presentation at the panel discussion of a Paradigm‖ at the ―Freedom is Power International on ―ISIS and the end of times‖ at the Centre for Academic Colloquium‖ 29 June – 1 July Cape Town. Shi‘i Studies, Al-Khoei Foundation. Charles also Unfortunately her travels to Cape Town were disrupted by participated in the panel discussion ―Policy Forum: the bombs at Istanbul Airport and she was unable to roundtable discussion on The Challenges of Institutional attend in person but participated and presented her work Development, Past and Present Issues‖, at the PIMIC- by Skype. ITN Forum on the Consequences of Power and Institutions in Medieval Islam and Christendom, Mary Ward House. In July, In March Dafydd Fell gave a paper titled ―Portrayals of Charles Tripp took part in the 2nd annual John Harvard Democratic Politics in Modern Taiwanese Film‖ at the Seminar organised by CRASSH, University of Cambridge European Association of Taiwan Studies in Prague. In on Topographies of Citizenship: democracy in the Middle East held May, he spoke at the French institute of international at King‘s College. relations on a panel titled ―Taiwan After the Elections: What Domestic and International Challenges Lie Ahead?‖ A symposium on Kerem Nisancioglu’s book (co- authored with Alexander Anievas) How the West Came to Rule was held to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Marxist Reading Group at the University of Nottingham. Fiona Adamson organised the international workshop, ―Diaspora Politics and Transitional Justice: Sri Lanka in Comparative Perspective‖ at SOAS on 23 May 2016, in conjunction with PhD students Matthew Godwin and Catherine Craven, who both also presented at the workshop. The workshop featured papers from leading scholars, such as the Department‘s own Phil Clark. Fiona Adamson presented a paper on ‖The New Geography of Turkey‘s Kurdish Conflict: Multi-Scalar Politics, Assemblages and Globalized Civil War‖ at the workshop ―The New International Relations of Eurasia and the Middle East‖ at Central European University On May 11, Dafydd Fell joined the Inaugural Conference (CEU) in Budapest, Hungary 13-14 June. PhD student for the London Asia Pacific Centre for Social Science. He Mathilde Zederman also presented ―On the Role and gave a presentation about the way the theme of social Impact of Tunisian Diasporic Mobilization in France on movements was addressed in political advertising in Tunisian Politics‖ at the workshop. Jack Snyder Taiwan‘s 2016 elections. Also in May, he gave a lecture (Columbia University), who was a Research Professor in titled ―Fight the Power versus Don‖t Worry: The Use of the Department (2013-16) was also in attendance. Rap in Taiwanese Political Communication‖ at Ghent Fiona Adamson presented the paper ―Islamic University as part of Taiwan‘s National Central Library‘s Humanitarianism: A Field Theory Approach to Lecture Series. Transnational Action‖ at the British International Studies On April 1 four current or recent SOAS students Association (BISA) conference in Edinburgh, June 15-17. presented at the 2016 European Association of Taiwan She was also a discussant on a panel with Senior Teaching Studies MA panel in Prague. They were Chang Yu-ting Fellow Gerasimos Tsourapas and PhD student (MSc Asian Politics 2014-15), Max Lembke-soh Mathilde Zederman. (Undergraduate taking Taiwan‘s Political and Economic Fiona was also a panelist at the ―Rethinking the Global Development), Lee Jia-min (MA Chinese Studies taking Refugee Protection System‖ Conference at the Center for Taiwan‘s Politics and Cross-Strait Relations) and Alberto Migration Studies (CMS), New York, NY, July 5-6. Poza Poyatos (MA Sinology 2014-15). In May, Kristin Surak gave the keynote speech opening In April, Charles Tripp gave the keynote lecture on the new Global Tea Initiative at the University of ―Sedimented Violence: continuities and ruptures in California, Davis. She also presented research comparing political struggle‖ at the Council for British Research in labor migration to Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan at the the Levant conference ‗The Past in the Present of the UCLA Terasaki Center Global Japan Forum in the same Middle East‘. In May, he made two panel presentations, month, as well as gave a talk on ―The Institutionalization one examining ―Secularizing religion, democratizing of the Tea Ceremony‖ at the University of Washington in secularism‖, and one examining the arts in Who speaks Seattle. In April she was invited to give the talk ―Jus for/of Tunisia?‖ at the conference Tunisia: a conservative Pecuniae and the Rise of Citizenship by Investment‖ at

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

Princeton University. In March, she presented the results of her research on ―Guestwork Regimes: A Global Comparison‖ at NYU, Abu Dhabi. In March, doctoral student Veronica Ferreri presented a paper titled ―Trajectories of Lebanon‘s ―Policy of Syrian Displacement. Official documents, violence and Syrians‘ imaginaries of the Syrian State‖ at the SeSaMO conference, University of Catania. Professor Arshin Adib-Moghaddam gave the inaugural lecture of the Political Science Lecture Series ―European Crisis in Global Perspective: Local Changes and Global Developments‖ at the University of Hamburg which also From left: Adela Taleb, Sanaa Alimia, Laleh Khalili, Reza featured Professors Fawaz Gerges (LSE) and Fathollahinejad, Hanan Toukan, Valerie Gissin (Oxford University). Adib-Moghaddam’s public lecture, ―Islam and the West: the clash that never was‖ was delivered in the main lecture auditorium of Hamburg and it can be viewed here. In March, Felix Berenskoetter presented a paper on ―Concept History and the Implications for Theorising‖. He also acted as discussant on panel exploring the ―Promises and Pitfalls of Eclecticism in IR‖ and chaired a panel on ―Times of War and Peace‖ at the International Studies Association conference in Atlanta. In April, he was invited to participate in a workshop on ―Time and the Politics of (In)Security‖ at the University of Glasgow, where he presented a paper on ―Peace in Time‖. SOAS diaspora & friends in Berlin, clockwise: Ali In June, Felix presented two papers at the Central and Fathollahinejad, Hanan Toukan, Sophia Hoffmann, Valerie Eastern European International Studies Association Gissin, Dina Makram-Ebeid, Hania Sobhy Ramadan, Fouad (CEEISA) conference in Ljubljana, titled ―(The Discourse Gehad Merai, Laleh Khalili, Sarah Holtz, Sanaa Alimia, Adela Taleb of) Friendship in German-Israeli Relations‖ and ―Anxiety, Time and Agency‖. In May, Rochana Bajpai presented ―Minority Laleh also participated in two workshops, on New representation in a majoritarian democracy‖ at a workshop Directions in Arabian Peninsula Studies at Yale, and on on Political Thought in South Asia held at the Oxford Infrastructures in the Middle East at , at Department of International Development. both of which she workshopped a paper, ―Quartermasters of Capital‖ she hopes to publish soon. In June, Rochana was an invited speaker at a workshop round-table on Indian state elections 2015-16, at the In March, Phil Clark gave presentations at the University Institute of Commonwealth Studies, School of Advanced of Cape Town, the Institute of Justice and Reconciliation Study, University of London. She also participated in the (Cape Town) and the University of South Australia on his EECURI network final conference at the LSE, and served nearly completed book manuscript on the politics of the as India session chair at a conference on Dominion International Criminal Court in central Africa. Constitutionalism at the City University Law School. In April, Phil Clark chaired the launch of Jean Paul Laleh Khalili gave a series of invited lectures: ―Logistics Kimonyo‘s book, Rwanda’s Popular Genocide: A Perfect of Counterinsurgency‖ at Georgetown University; Storm at the Kigali Genocide Memorial, with a write-up ―Coercion and Capital in the Making of Arabian Transport in The New Times. Infrastructure‖ at the American University of Beirut; the In May, Phil gave a lecture to the Royal College of keynote lecture for the annual conference of Italian Middle Defence Studies on conflict and security in the African East Studies Association (SESAMO), Catania, Sicily, titled Great Lakes region. Also in May, he chaired the Centre ―War, Trade and Migration in the making of Maritime for Conflict, Rights and Justice launch of Zachary Transport in Arabian Peninsula‖; and ―Capital, Coercion Kaufman‘s book, United States Law and Policy on Transitional and Migration in the Making of Maritime Infrastructure in Justice (Oxford University Press). Phil also gave a the Middle East‖ Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin. In presentation on Rwandan diaspora engagement with Berlin she was fortunate enough to meet up with the transitional justice at a workshop hosted by Fiona SOAS diaspora in that city: Adamson and the Politics Department research cluster on Migration, Mobility and Membership. In June, Phil Clark gave a presentation on the panel, ―Transitional Justice as a Legal Field, Site and Imaginary‖,

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016 at the Transnational Law Summer Institute at King‘s College London. The exciting programme of Departmental research In April 2016, Dr Enze Han gave a talk on a talk on seminars has been recorded and the podcasts are available foreign policy choices for Myanmar and Thailand in the here. context of Sino-US geo-strategic competition at University of British Columbia, Canada. He also gave the same talk at the Jinan University in Guangzhou, China in June. In April, Dr Han gave another talk on state formation in the borderland area between China, Myanmar and Thailand at Current Research University of California, Berkeley. In June, Enze participated in a round table talk about the future of Thai studies at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Rahul Rao travelled to Uganda in May/June 2016 on the Thailand. occasion of Martyrs‘ Day to continue his fieldwork on the Leslie Vinjamuri presented ―Justice, Negotiation and memorialisation of the Uganda Martyrs who were Mass Atrocity Response‖ at the Annual Meeting of the executed by Kabaka (king) Mwanga in 1886. Many of the International Studies Association in Atlanta, Georgia. earliest missionary accounts of the executions emphasise While in Atlanta at the ISA, she also participated on a that the martyrs were put to death on account of their Roundtable on US Foreign Policy and Transitional Justice. refusal to satisfy the king‘s ―unnatural‖ sexual passions. Leslie then travelled to Barcelona for a two-day meeting The diverse and contradictory ways in which the story is of the Advisory Board and Board of Directors of the remembered are therefore of relevance to contemporary Institute for Integrated Transitions. Participants from the queer politics in Uganda. Rahul’s fieldwork Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the was covered by the local LGBT news outlet Kuchu Times. United States met to discuss critical issues in transitions in He also conducted a focus group discussion with queer Colombia, Tunisia, and beyond. Ugandans about their views of the story and its relevance Leslie Vinjamuri spoke about mass atrocities and to their activism, which you can view here. accountability in Syria at a Conference hosted by Kings Michael Innes’s Taliban Sources Project has found a College London and sponsored by KCL, Columbia home after some controversy over housing it at the British University and Academic Exchange. Leslie spoke about Library having to do with the absurdities of strategic context of advocacy for justice in Syria and counterterrorism legislation. The project just signed a outlined the different initiatives that civil society actors memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a joint and Western governments have supported to account for project of the Norwegian Defence Research mass atrocities in Syria. Establishment and Department of Culture and Oriental In March, Gerasimos Tsourapas co-convened an Studies, at . That project is the Jihadi International Studies Association [ISA] workshop on Document Repository (JDR), which carries the digital and ―Unpacking the Sending State: Regimes, Institutions & digitised primary sources collected by Thomas Non-State Actors in Diaspora and Emigration Politics‖ in Hegghammer, Brynjar Lia, Anne Stenersen et al over the Atlanta. The workshop was funded by a 2016 ISA Venture last 15-20 years, and makes them available online to Grant. In May, Gerasimos participated in the 7th Annual academic researchers. The MOU means the database will Project on Middle East Political Science [POMEPS] become part of the JDR holdings as an adjunct Conference in Washington, DC. He presented a paper on collection, since the Taliban may or may not fit under a ―Labour Migration and Autocratic Cooperation: Egypt, ―jihadi‖ rubric (depending on one‘s interpretation of the Oil, and Regime Durability in the Arab World.‖ In June, subject). he organised a panel on ―Diaspora Politics & International Leslie Vinjamuri interviewed staff in the Office of the Relations: Emerging Research Agendas‖ for the British Prosecutor at the International Criminal Court in The International Studies Association [BISA] Annual Hague, and at The Hague Institute for Global Justice. Conference in Edinburgh. He presented a paper on She also attended a meeting of the ―Friends of the ICC‖ at ―Egyptians Abroad as Political Leverage? Coercion, the French Embassy in The Hague. Foreign Policy, and Labour Migration in the post-2011 In April, Rochana Bajpai travelled to India for research Arab World.‖ The first Business Meeting of the new BISA on parliamentary members. She followed women MPs in Working Group on the ―Politics of Migration, Refugees, constituencies in Uttar Pradesh, as well as celebrations of and Diaspora‖ was also held in Edinburgh. The Working Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar‘s 125th birth anniversary in Delhi, Group is co-convened by Sarah Garding (Oxford), Maria and conducted interviews with party leaders. Koinova (Warwick) and Gerasimos Tsourapas.

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

Rwandan researchers who are preparing peer-reviewed Outreach journal submissions. The project is designed to bolster the

Rwandan research community and to increase its voice in international academic debates and domestic On the occasion of publication of Benedict Anderson‘s A policymaking. Life Without Boundaries, Laleh Khalili participated on a In May, he gave a briefing on Rwandan politics to the panel at the London Review Bookshop along with TJ French Ministries of Defence and Foreign Affairs in Paris. Clark and Tariq Ali to reflect on Anderson‘s extraordinary In June, Phil hosted a Public Dialogue on Peace and life and work. Reconciliation in Uganda as part of his Fetzer Institute- funded project on the role of middle-level leaders in peace processes. Previous events in this series focused on Colombia and Sri Lanka and the final event later this year will centre on Northern Ireland. The video of the Uganda dialogue can be viewed here. Leslie Vinjamuri spoke at the Frontline Club‘s panel, ―Trump vs. Clinton: Let the Race for the White House begin‖. She also travelled to Barcelona for a two-day meeting of the Advisory Board and Board of Directors of the Institute for Integrated Transitions. Participants from the Middle East, Africa, Europe, Latin America and the United States met to discuss critical issues in transitions in From Left: Tariq Ali, TJ Clark, Laleh Khalili Colombia, Tunisia, and beyond. In April, Kristin Surak travelled to Baku, Azerbaijan to In May, Laleh was invited to give a lecture to an artists‘ offer expert commentary on the role of cities in collective working on a project having to do with international migration at the Alliance of capitalism and logistics at Zurich University of the Arts Civilizations Global Forum. (ZHdK). The transnational collective, Said to Contain, Atta Barkindo co-authored a Nigerian deradicalisation had arranged a shipping container as their venue for guide, titled “Nigeria: De-Radicalisation Programme Guide, May events, inside which Laleh gave her lecture, 2016 for the European Union Technical Assistance to ―Quartermasters of Capital‖. Nigeria‘s Evolving Security Challenges. In June, Atta Barkindo was also selected as a member of the UN Expert Group Meeting (EGM) on the Management of Violent Extremist Prisoners and the Prevention of Radicalization to Violence in Prisons, and participated in the review and validation of UN handbook for prison practitioners and policy-makers, Vienna, Austria, 1-3 June, 2016. Also in June, h was selected to give written evidence to the House of Commons‘ International Development Committee Inquiry. Meera Sabaratnam spoke at a panel celebrating the opening of a new work by British artist Yinka Shonibare Laleh Khalili lecturing on shipping in a shipping container, MBE at the Turner Contemporary Gallery in Margate appropriately enough (filmed and available here). The work, titled ―End of Empire‖, has been co-commissioned by 14-18 NOW and Laleh Khalili’s Time in the Shadows and Hagar Kotef’s Turner Contemporary. Meera spoke about the colonial Movement and the Ordering of Freedom are being taught dimensions of World War One. alongside Michel Agier‘s Managing the Undesirables in Stephen Chan, Matt Nelson and Meera Sabaratnam a course titled ―States of Confinement‖ and taught at Sing contributed to the SOAS Politics Summer School Sing to prisoners, by Brian Goldstone of New York organised by Sarah Tucker titled ―Democracy in University as part of their prison education programme. Dangerous Places‖, aimed at widening participation in PhD candidate Seyed Ali Alavi delivered a speech at Higher Education. Department for International Development on In April, Matt Nelson travelled to Istanbul to participate Humanitarian activities in the Middle East and the in a Brookings Institution initiative titled ―Islamist relationship between Gulf Cooperation Council, Iraq, Iran Movements at a Crossroads: Navigating Competing and Palestine on 28 April. Futures‖ with Islamist leaders from Egypt, Tunisia, Syria, In March and April, Phil Clark continued his work with Lebanon, Yemen, Morocco, Pakistan, Indonesia, and the Aegis Trust in Kigali, funded by DFID, advising 29 Malaysia. Also in April, Matt Nelson’s submission 12

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

(―Political Islam: Beyond the Muslim Brotherhood‖) was In April, Michael Buehler spoke on the Indonesian submitted to the Foreign Affairs Parliamentary Select president‘s visit to the UK on Monocle24. He was also Committee Inquiry on ‗Political Islam‘ (see website). In interviewed on the presidential race in the Philippines by May, Matt Nelson completed a series of 10 podcasts the same radio station. Furthermore, Michael was regarding ―Islam in South Asia‖ and ―Muslim Politics in interviewed in Foreign Policy Magazine on the widening South Asi‖' for the States and Societies Faculty of the 1MDB corruption scandal in Malaysia. FCO's Diplomatic Academy. In May, Michael talked on Monocle24 on the fall-out of the Panama Papers in Indonesia. Michael was also interviewed by the Islam Channel on Nahdlatul Ulama‘s

―Islam Nusantara‖ summit in Indonesia. In May, Barack Media and Blogs Obama lifted the US embargo on lethal arms sales to Vietnam. Michael Buehler discussed on the BBC how Russian defence contractors will profit from it. The same month, Michael talked about Death Squads in the Kristin Surak was interviewed by Sky TV news on the Philippines on Monocle24. implications of US President Obama‘s visit to Hiroshima. In June, Michael was interviewed on ABC news and With Srdjan Vucetic, Meera Sabaratnam co-edited and Agence France-Presse on King Bhumibol‘s 70-year reign contributed to a symposium on Robert Vitalis‘ award- in Thailand and the future of the monarchy. winning book White World Order, Black Power Politics at The Finally, Michael was quoted in OZY Travel Magazine on Disorder of Things blog. the Halal Travel Industry in Asia. Dafydd Fell was interviewed by Taiwan‘s Formosa TV in In March, Phil Clark was quoted in the Sudan Vision on a report about the Taoyuan Mayor‘s visit to SOAS on July the politics of the International Criminal Court in Africa; 29; appeared on Taiwan‘s Macroview TV discussing how was a guest on Monocle24‘s ―Midori House‖ programme he established a special panel for MA students at the discussing the US elections and Russia‘s withdrawal from European Association of Taiwan Studies Conference nine Syria; Newsweek quoted him on tense cross-border relations years ago; and was featured in the Taipei Times discussing between Burundi and Rwanda; The World Weekly quoted the use of film in teaching Taiwanese politics at SOAS. Phil on the question of whether Rwanda is backing Fiona Adamson’s ―Beyond Methodological Nationalism Burundian rebels; Radio Poland interviewed him on in Global Security Studies‖ appeared as a blog in conflict in Burundi. the Oxford University Press and Political Violence at a In April, Phil took part in a 30-minute discussion of Glance blogs in March and April 2016. Kimonyo‘s book on Contact TV in Rwanda and the Laleh Khalili has written ―After Brexit: Reckoning with International Business Times interviewed him about the Britain‘s racism and xenophobia‖ for truthout.org. Laleh latest genocide commemorations in Rwanda. was also interviewed about her presentation at Jaipur In May, Phil wrote an op-ed on grassroots peacebuilding Literature Festival in Tank Magazine, a fashion and style. for Geographical, the official magazine of the Royal Laleh was quoted in an article on the aftermath of the Geographical Society; was a guest on Monocle24‘s ―The Iraqi invasion. She also gave a wide-ranging interview to Globalist‖ programme, doing a news round-up on the Context Magazine on a number of subjects, including Burundian peace talks and the Mau Mau colonial especially her work on counterinsurgency. Finally, Jadaliyya compensation case in the UK High Court; IRIN News has published an excerpt from Laleh’s introduction to an quoted him on the Burundian peace talks; The Herald award winning photobook by SOAS alumnus Tanya newspaper in Zimbabwe quoted Phil on community- Habjouqa. based responses to conflict in Africa. Laleh, Charmaine Chua (University of Minnesota) and In June, Newsweek interviewed Phil Clark about the start Deborah Cowen (University of Toronto) participated in an of the war crimes trial of Simone Gbagbo, former first hour-long podcast on the politics of logistics, produced lady of Cote d‘Ivoire; Phil did Monocle24‘s ―The and organised by Kerem Nisancioglu. Laleh also Globalist‖ news round-up on the Simone Gbagbo trial and appeared in a video produced for Harvard University Kenya‘s threat to close the Dadaab refugee camp; was a History Department on slavery. She spoke about settler- guest on Monocle24‘s ―Midori House‖ programme, colonialism and its interconnections with carceral discussing Germany‘s acknowledgement of the Armenian practices. genocide, UN food drops in Syria and Hillary Clinton‘s In March, Michael Buehler was interviewed on foreign policy speech in San Diego; Sputnik News in Monocle24 on Aung San Suu Kyi‘s role in the new Russia quoted him on ‘s latest government of Myanmar. He also talked on Monocle24 report into child labour in the mobile phone minerals about the inauguration of the first civilian president in trade; Ozy.com interviewed him about escalating pre- Myanmar since 1962. Michael was also quoted in election violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo; Bloomberg News on how the decentralization of power and he appeared on Monocle24‘s ―Midori House‖ has shaped local governance in Indonesia. The interview is programme, discussing Boris Johnson, Brexit, the available here: 13

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 18 July 2016

Australian federal election and the Zimbabwe donors in London. He is happy to report that the treatments have conference in London. been quite successful and he is in great spirits. He is In April, Yuka Kobayashi was interviewed on Sky TV on particularly grateful for the support that he has received the signing of the Paris Agreement under the UN from his colleagues. He wrote a feature article about this Framework Convention on Climate Change. In May, she situation, titled ―Coping With Illness‖, for the Times Higher was interviewed on Monocole radio regarding Obama‘s Education magazine. visit to Hiroshima. Rahul Rao wrote a blog titled ―On Statues‖, exploring the politics of #rhodesmustfall and controversies around other statues to think about what statues mean in the Notices contemporary moment. Leslie Vinjamuri appeared as a ―friend of the anchor‖ during the 90 minute CNN coverage of President The Department will be introducing a redesigned and Obama‘s visit to Hiroshima. This was the first visit of a renamed yearlong undergraduate Taiwan politics course sitting U.S. President to Hiroshima since the atomic bomb from 2016-17. The new course name will be Taiwan‘s was dropped. She was also interviewed in Atlanta, on Politics and International Relations and will feature more CNN, about ―Global Views of the US Presidential in-depth coverage of Taiwan‘s domestic and international Election Campaign‖ and appeared on CNNi to discuss the politics. US primary elections. Research Associate Steve Heder will be teaching a In May, Bhavna Dave was interviewed by Al Jazeera on comparative politics course on South East Asia at Tajikistan‘s referendum, and by Singapore‘s Strait Times on Cambodia‘s Pannasastra Univeristy in its upcoming prospects of cooperation between Russia and Singapore academic year. He will be presenting the course in Khmer. on the eve of Russia-ASEAN summit in Sochi. She also wrote a commentary for Kazakhstan‘s media site Exclusive.kz on the accession of India and Pakistan to the In April, the SOAS Board of Trustees approved a package Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) during the of institutional governance reforms in response to the SCO summit in Tashkent in June 2016. Democratise SOAS campaign (led by Department colleagues, Matt Nelson and Meera Sabaratnam, with Arshin Adib-Moghaddam published several opinion the support of UCU, UNISON and the Students' Union - pieces in the global media including for Times Higher especially Sabbatical Officers and former and current Education. Interviews with Arshin were published by department students David Suber, Georgie Robertson, Mehr News Agency, Fars News Agency and the Iranian Hannah Slydel and Tom King). The reforms include Labour News Agency. His frontpage interview with the creation of a new SOAS Senate and a reconfiguration Tehran Times can be found here. of the SOAS Academic Board. They also modify the ways in which department heads are selected and institutional meetings are conducted (e.g. creating more space for voting and the minuting of dissenting views). Overall, the Personal Notes reforms aim to promote greater transparency, accountability, and collegiality in SOAS decision-making, including a closer relationship between Academic Board, Executive Board, and the SOAS Board of Trustees. Professor Lawrence Saez was diagnosed with cancer in February 2016. He has been receiving antibody and chemotherapy treatments at the MacMillan Cancer Centre

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The Department of Politics and International Studies is one of the most cutting edge politics departments in the United Kingdom, and uniquely positioned for the study of the politics of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. There are at present nearly 500 students studying for degrees (BA, Are you a graduating Politics student or one of our Certificate, MSc and MPhil/PhD) in the Department. The alumni? Let us know what you will be doing or have Department also hosts visiting students who are here as part of done after graduation. Email Laleh Khalili at their work towards degrees in other countries (notably the United States, EU, Korea and Japan). [email protected]! Apart from providing students with a firm grounding in the discipline, the department has particular strengths in the following areas: ■ Regional Politics: Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, and Africa ■ International Relations: IR theory, security, human rights, transnational justice, international migration, IPE ■ Comparative Politics: comparative political sociology, comparative political economy, comparative political thought ■Political Theory: political Islam, non-western political thought, multiculturalism

The current officers of the department are:

Head of Department Dr Mark Laffey

Undergraduate Admissions Tutor Dr Meera Sabaratnam Undergraduate Programme Convenors Dr Michael Buehler (BA Politics) Dr Meera Sabaratnam (BA International Relations) Dr Michael Buehler & Dr Meera Sabaratnam (BA Politics and International Relations) Undergraduate Tutors Dr Carlo Bonura (Student Welfare Tutor) Dr Reem Abou-El-Fadl (First Year Tutor) Dr Tom Young (Second Year Tutor) Dr Matthew Eagleton-Pierce (Third Year Tutor)

Postgraduate Tutor Dr Dafydd Fell Postgraduate Admissions Tutors/Programme Convenors Dr Alastair Fraser (African Politics) Dr Enze Han (Asian Politics) Dr Kerem Nisancioglu (International Politics) Prof Charles Tripp (Middle East Politics) Dr Yuka Kobayashi (Politics of China) Dr Tat Yan Kong (State, Society and Development) Prof Stephen Hopgood (Conflict, Rights and Justice) Dr Matt Nelson (Comparative Political Thought) Dr Phil Clark (MRes in Politics with a Language;

Research Tutor Dr Felix Berenskoetter Research Admissions Tutor Dr Bhavna Davé

This newsletter is produced three times per academic year by Laleh Khalili. Send any announcements or notices to [email protected]

Department of Politics is on twitter; please follow @soaspolitics On Facebook, you can find and befriend us at SOASPolitics

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