Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012

Politics and International Studies Newsletter

Middle East? The conference, organised for 25 February, in the 50 Years of Politics at SOAS Introductions Khalili Lecture Theatre, is set to examine the revolutionary uprisings that have taken place across the Middle East in the past year. These uprisings have thus far produced dynamic societal developments that include new governments, transformed socio- political discussions, military intervention, and constitutional changes. This one-day conference seeks to address these issue areas, as well as others, in the hopes of better A Note of introduction from Alex understanding the hopeful Craven: opportunities and significant challenges that lie ahead for the “Hi everyone - my name is Alex Mark Friday and Saturday 24 & region and its peoples. Craven and I have just joined 25 February in your diaries! SOAS as the academic support The Department of Politics and This student-organized conference officer for the Politics Department. International Studies will celebrate will feature academics, activists, and I studied History at Oxford its fiftieth birthday on 24 February, journalists. Panels will include: University, and after graduating starting at 18.30 in the Brunei spent three years working at Gallery Lecture Theatre. The  Geopolitical Challenges to Wadham College in Oxford, before event will include a panel followed Political Change moving to London last September. Away from work I am a keen film by a party in the Brunei Suite from  Justice, Intervention, and the buff (I volunteer at a cinema 8pm onwards. Students, colleagues, Rule of Law in Transition and alumni are especially welcome. museum in Kennington) and also  Gender and Sexuality in enjoy travelling, reading and pub- Revolutionary Politics quizzing.” After the Spring: Which Way  Transforming Societies? Social The Centre for the International Forward for the Middle East? Change Across the Region Politics of Conflict, Rights and Justice welcomed its first Research To register, email Associate, Nicola Dahrendorf. [email protected] with your Ms Dahrendorf is an expert on full name and affiliation. sexual violence, human rights and Attendance is FREE, with a security sector reform. She was suggested donation £5 at the door formerly the UN Special Advisor on assist with costs associated with the sexual violence in the Democratic conference. Republic of Congo. While at CCRJ, Nicola will be working on issues related to sexual violence, land, and peacekeeping.

New Publications

A number of students in MSc Middle East Politics have organised PhD student Anna Rader’s 2010 a conference, After the Spring: conference paper, “Overcoming the Which Way Forward for the Past: War and Peace in Sudan and

1

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012

South Sudan”, has been published of UK-EU Policing” in the Journal of empirical orthodoxies in transitional in the new volume edited by Jeffrey Common Market Studies 50 (1): pp. justice. Herbst, Terence McNamee and 37-53. Using Bourdieu‟s concept of Professor Stephen Chan’s latest Greg Mills, On the Fault Line: the field, the article offers a book, Southern Africa: Old Treacheries Managing Tensions and Divisions within typology to analyze different aspects and New Deceits (Yale University Societies (Profile Books, 2012). of transnational police cooperation. Press, 2011), was the „best-selling‟ PhD candidate Hannes Baumann MSc student Berkay Gülen‟s The book on Africa in the United States recently published “The ascent of Two U.S. Think Tanks on Turkey: The in January 2012, in terms of library Rafiq Hariri and philanthropic Brookings Institution and The Council on acquisitions. It has been reviewed in practices in Beirut” in a volume Foreign Relations’ Perceptions on Justice Foreign Affairs and The New Republic, edited by F. Mermier and S. Mervin, and Development Party’s Foreign Policy among other journals, and Leaders et partisans au Liban (2002-2010) has been published by University of Texas Professor, (Karthala, 2012). Lambert Academic Publishing. Derek Catsam, writing in Foreign Policy Blogs, named it his book of Hannes Baumann has edited a In December, David Harris‟ new the year. The Southern African features section for the December book, Civil War and Democracy in edition, simply titled Old Treacheries 2011 issue of Studies in Ethnicity and West Africa: Conflict Resolution, and New Deceits (Jonathan Ball, Nationalism 11(3) on “Nationalism Elections and Justice in Sierra Leone and 2011), has attracted much and Ethnicity in the Arab Liberia, was published by IB Tauris. controversy and has been the Revolution”, available at This is David’s first book and to subject of full-page newspaper http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/ celebrate this publication and the features in both South Africa and 10.1111/sena.v11-03/issuetoc new publication of a former SOAS Zimbabwe. President Mugabe‟s Salwa Ismail contributed an article colleague, Julia Gallagher, a launch office requested (and received) a on Syria, titled “The Syrian will be held at SOAS on 2 March. signed copy. However, Professor Uprising: Imagining and Performing Chan won‟t reveal what the the Nation.” Other contributors inscription said. included Madawi al-Rasheed, Stacey Philbrick Yadav, Curtis Ryan, and Sami Hermez. Doctoral candidate Hania Sobhy’s “The De-Facto Privatization of Secondary Education in Egypt: A Study of Private Tutoring in Technical and General Schools” has appeared in Compare: A Journal of Comparative and International Education 42 (1): 47-67. Hania Sobhy’s “Amr Khaled and Young Muslim Elites: Islamism and the Consolidation of Mainstream Muslim Piety in Egypt” appeared in Cairo Contested: Governance, Urban Space and Global Modernity, edited by Research Centres, Clusters, and Diane Singerman (American Doctoral student Michael A. Innes Networks University Press) which is now out has published “After the Storm: in paperback. Cote d‟Ivoire in the Wake of the The Comparative Political In December, Laleh Khalili’s “Too 2010-2011 Conflict” in Jane’s Thought cluster Early to Tell: When Is a Revolution Intelligence Review (February 2012), a Revolution?” was published by pp. 31-36. Rochana Bajpai, Matt Nelson, Georgetown‟s Centre for In February, Phil Clark published a and Charles Tripp successfully bid Contemporary Arab Studies; new co-edited collection, Critical for departmental funds to organize Edmund Walsh School of Foreign Perspectives in Transitional Justice a one-day workshop in the summer Service in an occasional paper titled (Intersentia Publishers, 2012), with of 2012. This will build on the Revolution in the Arab World: The Long Nicola Palmer and Danielle success of the 2011 workshop and View. Granville. The volume of 24 inter- will focus specifically on http://ccas.georgetown.edu/256660 disciplinary chapters - including an methodological issues that arise in .html introduction by Clark and Palmer - relation to the emerging field of comparative political thought. The Felix Berenskoetter has published critiques current theoretical and intention is that the discussions an article titled “Mapping the Field 2

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012 should contribute to efforts to Chia-Feng Lieu, Hanan Toukan, exchanges at the other member answer the epistemological Hania Ramadan, and Isabelle institutions. questions that arise when the scope Cheng and to their supervisors. Phil Clark has also received a of political thought itself is Doctoral student Anna Rader has $90,000 grant from the Fetzer broadened. The workshop is also been awarded the Department‟s Institute. The grant is for a 2-year intended to inform the core course scholarship to attend the Institute research project examining issues of of the planned MSc in Comparative for Qualitative and Multi-Method post-atrocity forgiveness and Political Thought that is presently Research training programme in reconciliation in Rwanda and being designed in the department. Syracuse. The programme will be Uganda. The funds will cover In mid-January, the Comparative held over the course of two weeks several fieldwork trips, the Political Thought cluster heard in June. production of a series of radio from the ESRC that the outline programmes for Rwandan, Ugandan MSc student Sara Farhoudi won proposal for a major grant to and international audiences, a the 2011 student travel grant of the establish a Centre for Comparative regional workshop and a booklet of Swedish Leadership Academy, the Political Thought in the department photographs and personal Sture Academy Programme, with had been successful. We have now narratives. He will also be writing her essay “Sweden‟s liberal feminists been invited to submit a major, fully several journal articles and a of today- where are they?” The reasoned and fully costed proposal magazine piece based on the Sture Academy Programme‟s travel to the ESRC for consideration in research. grant goes to 20 students, journalists the summer of 2012. and researcher every year and brings Rahul Rao has recently been them to Washington DC for a study awarded a grant by the British visit in where they meet scholars Institute in Eastern Africa to fund a Centre for the International and professionals involved with research project on queer memory Politics of Conflict, Rights and political policymaking on different and belonging in Uganda. Justice levels. Laleh Khalili has joined the The Centre for the International In December, Phil Clark was part editorial board of a new series Politics of Conflict, Rights and of a research consortium - led by published by Palgrave on History of Justice hosted Professor Bruce the German Institute of Global and Social Movements, and also the Jentleson of Duke University who Area Studies (GIGA) - that was Board of Trustees of The British spoke to an audience of 150 awarded €700,000 by the Leibniz Academy‟s Centre for British students, scholars, and policymakers Association for a three-year project Research on the Levant. about the Responsibility to Protect on “Institutions for Sustainable and the use of force in Libya. In December, Leslie Vinjamuri Peace”. Phil is a member of an 8- joined the Advisory Board of the In January, the Centre for the person steering committee and he Institute for Integrated Transitions, International Politics of Conflict, will oversee the consortium‟s work an NGO based in Barcelona. IFIT Rights and Justice hosted Pablo on justice dimensions of peace- aims to help national transitions de Greiff, Director of Research at building. The overall project will succeed by serving as an expert the International Center for explore the role of formal state resource for locally-led efforts to Transitional Justice. Dr de Greiff institutions in the regulation of establish improved political, presented a paper that aimed to armed conflict around the globe. economic and social conditions that theorize transitional justice to an The consortium‟s activities will can in turn help reduce the audience of graduate students and include a series of workshops, recurrence of authoritarianism or members of the London conferences, online databases, civil war. Transitional Justice Network. This publications and researcher meeting was cosponsored by the exchanges among the core Salwa Ismail‟s Rethinking Islamist Human Rights Consortium. institutions (GIGA, SOAS, Duke Politics has been recommended by University, University of California Marc Lynch as one of five “must-

at San Diego, Peace Research read” books on the Arab uprisings: Institute Oslo, Uppsala University, http://thebrowser.com/interviews/ marc-lynch-on-origins-arab-uprising Appointments, Awards, Honours the Australian National University, and the Graduate Institute of

International and Development In a particularly fruitful three Studies in Geneva). Starting in months since the last newsletter, December 2012, several consortium Presentations and Conferences several of our doctoral students members will spend time have successfully passed their conducting research and engaging doctoral vivas. Many warm with colleagues at SOAS, and there On 7 December, Phil Clark (along congratulations to newly minted will be opportunities for SOAS with Chandra Sriram from SOAS “doctors” Toby Mathiessen, researchers to participate in similar Law and David Porter from 3

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012

Coventry Cathedral) gave a keynote Borderland” workshop at the at address at the Concordis University of Pavia, Italy, 15-17 http://backdoorbroadcasting.net/2 International conference on peace December 2011 as well as a paper 011/12/city-state-resistance-spaces- and justice, hosted by Clifford focused on the paradoxes of EU of-protest-in-the-middle-east-and- Chance in Canary Wharf: non-arrival measures and EU mediterranean/ http://concordis- efforts at democracy promotion in In December, Laleh Khalili international.org/component/conte North Africa at a workshop on presented her “Counterinsurgency nt/article/1-latest-news/327-peace- “The EU and the Arab Spring” held Fictions” at the Department of or-justice-continued.html at LSE 20th January, 2012. Politics and International Relations On 11 December, Phil Clark gave Doctoral candidate Alexej Ulbricht at Reading University, and at the a lecture on justice in Rwanda at the presented his paper “Trash and Comparative Literature Department Centre for Global Security and subversion: the political aesthetic of of Queen Mary University of Governance, University of Deichkind” at the 8th Annual London. She presented “The Uses Aberdeen. Historical Materialism Conference of Happiness in at SOAS. Counterinsurgencies” at the In February, Phil Clark discussed Institute for Historical Research in his book on community justice for On 12 January 2012, Charles Tripp London, and at the Department of genocide in Rwanda at seminars at spoke on “The People reclaim the Politics and International Studies at Washington and Lee University in State and the Nation” as part of a Warwick University in January and Virginia and the Elliot School of roundtable at the École des Hautes February, respectively. International Affairs at George Études en Sciences Sociales, Paris Washington University. He also on the Egyptian uprising of 2011. In January, Laleh Khalili was organised a panel discussion in invited to give the Erskine May On 25 January 2012, Charles Tripp Washington DC on the politics of Lecture at the Bedford School. Her spoke on “Art and Uprisings in the memory in Iraq, Russia and lecture was titled “What explains the Middle East” as a member of a Rwanda, which doubled as a book variations on the trajectory of Arab panel on the “The Middle East: launch for his new co-edited uprisings?” Myth and Malcontent” as part of collection, Critical Perspectives in the One World Week event at the In November Felix Berenskoetter Transitional Justice. University of Warwick. participated in a panel discussion Corinna Mullin presented a paper http://www.oneworldweek.net/Pag organised by the UCLU European on “Contemporary Islamist es/Forum/MiddleEast.php Society on the EU‟s response to Discourses on Democracy and events in Libya. Also Together with Human Rights” at the International Karen Smith (LSE) and Eva Gross Conference Islam and Democracy (VUB), Felix organised and on 26 January 2012. The conference convened a workshop at the LSE was held at the Ministry of Foreign (on 20 January) which discussed Affairs of the Czech Republic and relations between Europe and was organised by The Prague states/societies in the Middle East Security Studies Institute. and North Africa (MENA) in the context of the Arab Spring. Corinna Mullin participated in a workshop on the “The EU and the Felix Berenskoetter is attending a Arab Spring” at the London School workshop on “Friendship in of Economics on 20 January 2012. International Relations” at Harvard She presented a paper entitled University (on 24 February) where “Causes and Consequences of he is presenting a paper on the link Authoritarianism in the Middle between friendship and power. East: Understanding the Core In December, Leslie Vinjamuri Grievances of the „Arab Spring.‟” participated in the first stage of the In December Salwa Ismail „Justice in Context‟ project at the presented “The Political Economy International Center for of Public Piety in Egypt” at the Transitional Justice in New York. Faith and Politics Group at the Chr This project brings together high Michelsen Institute, Bergen, In December, Laleh Khalili level UN officials, scholars, Norway. participated in a workshop titled government officials, and human rights advocates to assess the impact Polly Pallister-Wilkins presented a “City/State/Resistance: Spaces of of transitional justice projects across paper on the contradictions of the protest in the Middle East and Latin America and Africa and to Melilla and Ceuta border fences at Mediterranean” at the Royal explore the potential of transitional the “Fences, Networks, People: Holloway University of London. justice in the Middle East. During Exploring the EU/Africa The workshop podcast can be seen 4

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012 this trip she also interviewed experts between Russia and Central Asia” at Khalil who gave a talk on „Messages at Human Rights Watch as part of the Tajik State University of Law, from Tahrir‟, based on her recent her research on theglobal strategies Business and Politics in Khujand, book Messages from Tahrir (Cairo: of international human rights Tajikistan 24-29 November 2011. AUC Press, 2011). NGOs. She presented her research on Tajik migrant networks in Almaty and In February, Leslie Vinjamuri Astana at the symposium which was participated in a working group at organized by the Institute of Social the European Council on Foreign Political Research of the Russian Relations that considered the past Academy of Sciences and the and future role of the UN Security Ministry of Education of Tajikistan. Council in referring cases to the International Criminal Court. Bhavna Dave organised a roundtable “Kazakhstan between Dr Dafydd Fell was invited to Stability and Transformation: speak at Taiwan Election Seminar Elections, Politics and Protests” held at the Wilson Center in under the auspices of the Centre of On 18 January, Professor Dvora Washington DC on 13 December Contemporary Central Asia and the Yanow of University of Amsterdam 2011. Here is the event‟s videolink: Caucasus at SOAS on 2 February presented “Conundrums in migrant http://www.wilsoncenter.org/event 2012. policies: State-constructed /taiwan-elections-2012. He then categories and the politics of returned to London to join a panel difference” in the departmental at SOAS the next day titled seminar. “Looking Ahead to Taiwan‟s Upcoming Politics Department Presidential and Legislative Seminars The departmental seminar presenter Elections.” Dr Leigh Jenco (National University on 1 February was Dr Philippe Bourbeau (Facultes Universitaires While in Taiwan to act as an of Singapore), “Theorizing the Notre-Dame de la Paix, Belgium), election observer, Dafydd Fell was culturally unprecedented: Cultural who talked about “The invited as a Visiting Researcher at difference as historical discontinuity securitization process: power and the College of International Studies, after May Fourth” context.” Tamkang University, Taiwan. He Monday 20 February, 4-6 in Room gave a talk titled “The Development T101 On 8 February, Professor of Taiwan studies in Europe” at Abdulkader Sinno of Indiana Tamkang University on 4 January *** University and Intissar Kharegi 2012. In addition he gave a lecture Ms Rachel Brulé, (Stanford), “When presented “Islamist Moderation: titled “Why is the study of Reform Works: A study of property Explaining Changes in the Positions Taiwanese politics so popular rights reform's impact on women's of the Tunisian al-Nahdha abroad?” At the Graduate Institute empowerment in rural India” Movement.” of Political Science, National Sun

Yat Sen University on 28 Wednesday 29 February, 4-6 in room 4418 December, at the Graduate Institute of International Politics, National *** Current Research Chunghsing University on 5 Dr Robbie Shilliam (Queen Mary), January, and at the College of Social “Slavery, abolition and Sciences, National Chengchi This term, Dr Lawrence Saez is a University on 3 January. On his way constructivism” visiting professor at SciencesPo. He back from Taiwan Dr Fell stopped Wednesday 7 March, 4-6 in room is teaching a special seminar on the off in Washington DC to give a talk 4418 political economy of Asia (with at a workshop on Taiwan‟s *** special emphasis on India) at the Presidential and Legislative Paris School of International Affairs Elections on 17 January. This was Dr Dave Rampton and Dr (PSIA). During his sabbatical leave jointly organized by the Center for Suthaharan Nadarajah (both at SciencesPo, Dr Saez will be Strategic and International Studies SOAS), “Liberal peace and writing two books. One book is on and Brookings Institute. The biopolitical war in Sri Lanka” the political economy of energy videolink to the event is: Wednesday 14 March, 4-6 in room security. It focuses on energy http://csis.org/multimedia/video- 4418 security measurement and taiwans-january-2012-presidential- modelling. The book is slated for and-legislative-elections-panel-one publication with MIT Press. The Bhavna Dave participated at a On 25 November 2011 the other book will be on doing political Symposium on “Migration Bridges Department hosted Dr Karima analysis using Gretl, a software package widely used in times series 5

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012 econometrics. The book is In November, David Harris published by the Institute for expected to appear in the conducted a webinar on Sierra Defence Studies and Analysis quantitative methods series by Sage. Leone for around 20 people across (IDSA) as a part of the proceedings the world for the Institute of of the 13th Asian Security

Philanthropy. Conference hosted by the Indian Defence Minister in New Delhi. On 10 December 2011, Charles Outreach Tripp gave a talk on the occupation Arshin Adib-Moghaddam of public space in the Arab appeared on Al-Jazeera‟s hour long

uprisings at the Occupy London flagship programme Empire In December, Phil Clark’s expert encampment at St Paul‟s Cathedral, speaking on the probability of report on rebel groups in the as part of the event „Occupy military conflict with Iran and the Democratic Republic of Congo was London through the lens with Syria prospects of peace a central piece of defence evidence – English Winter, Arab Spring‟ in (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v which led to the acquittal of Callixte solidarity with the Syrian uprising. =EKz7-jZHv_E) and he wrote an Mbarushimana at the International opinion piece on the same subject In January 2012, Arshin Adib- Criminal Court: http://www.icc- for The Guardian Moghaddam delivered a talk upon cpi.int/iccdocs/doc/doc1286409.pd (http://www.guardian.co.uk/comm invitation of Lord Lothian (Michael f entisfree/2011/nov/22/iran- Ancram) and the Global Strategy sanctions-economy-government). Over the turn of the year Forum at Whitehall and joint a 2011/2012, Anna-Maria panel discussion with Sir Malcolm Doctoral student Bala Liman Airaksinen (BA Politics & Rifkind, Sir Jeremy Greenstock and wrote two blogposts on Nigeria, Economics) and Sara Heinrich Jonathan Fryer published at (BA Chinese & Politics) have been (http://www.globalstrategyforum.or http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/ideas/2011/1 part of the general coordination g/eventshow.aspx?id=5&ref=107). 0/nigeria-ensuring-un-rule-of-law/ team that brought to life the youth and training programme UWC Short http://blogs.lse.ac.uk/ideas/2012/0 Course “Together for 1/1528/ Development!” in Swaziland, the Dafydd Fell wrote the following first of its kind on the African two pieces on Taiwan‟s 2012 continent. Over the course of two elections for the University of weeks, they coordinated an Nottingham School of Politics international team and 51 young Ballots and Bullets blog: participants (aged 16-21) from more http://nottspolitics.org/2011/11/2 than 30 countries. The programme 1/forecasting-the-legislative- consisted of lectures and workshops Dafydd Fell was in Taiwan from 18 elections/ and critically discussing different aspects December 2011 to 16 January 2012 http://nottspolitics.org/2012/01/0 of local and international to observe its January 2012 5/dafydd-fells-campaign- development and offered elections. In the final week prior to impressions/ opportunities for the young change the election he joined an makers to gain first-hand experience international election observation Bhavna Dave was interviewed by in local NGOs. All participants left group visiting party headquarters, Radio France International, Voice the Short Course with a detailed think-tank and campaign events. He of America plan for their own projects which spoke at a post-election seminar on (http://www.voanews.com/russian they will implement with the 15 January at the Institute for /news/VK-OSCE-On-Kazakhstan- mentoring support of team National Policy Research in Taipei. Elections-2012-01-16- members in their local communities. 137421908.html) and Radio Free More information and testimonies Europe can be found on the website (http://www.azattyq.org/content/k (http://www.empower- azakhstan_yertisbaev_in_chatham_ training.de/SwaziShortCourse/Welc Media Appearances house/24450857.html) to comment ome.html) and the blog on parliamentary elections in (http://togetherfordevelopment.blo Kazakhstan. gspot.com/). In January 2012, Arshin Adib- Moghaddam published an article In December, PhD Candidate on the Arab revolts, Islam and post- Shirin Shafaie participated in a modernity in the progressive roundtable with Patrick Hayes German magazine INAMO. (Spiked Magazine) hosted by Phil Another article on Iranian- Rees on the breakdown of diplomatic communication channels American relations and the security architecture in West Asia was between Iran and the UK and 6

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012 possibility of an oil embargo on At the end of December, Salwa 12/01/19/rwanda-army- Islam Channel‟s The World This Ismail was interviewed by BBC idUSL6E8CJ3SH20120119 Week. News channel on the situation in In January, Phil Clark appeared on Syria. In early February, Ismail was Shirin Shafaie also organised an Austrian national radio to discuss interviewed on BBC World Service Iranian movie screening (The Night the ICC cases against senior Radio for a programme on the Bus) with the Centre for Iranian government suspects in Kenya: continued protests in Egypt. Studies and Dr Elaheh Rostami- http://fm4.orf.at/stories/1693642 Povey at SOAS on 12 December In December, Phil Clark debated In February, Phil Clark was 2011, and gave a talk on Iran‟s Jan Egeland, former UN under- interviewed by AFP about the Treatment of Iraqi POWs. secretary for humanitarian affairs, elections for the African Union http://www.soas.ac.uk/iranianstudi on the BBC World Service on the chairmanship: es/events/films/12dec2011- subject of offering amnesties to http://www.tv5.org/cms/chaine- monthly-film-screening-the-night- state perpetrators in Yemen, francophone/info/p-1911-UA- bus-.html Uganda and elsewhere: sommet-Gabon- http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/con In late December Shirin Shafaie Ping.htm?&rub=2&from=back&x sole/p00mn5l0 (38:08) was Interviewed by InPEC on the ml=../doc/newsmlmmd.30598110f IAEA November 2011 report and In December, Phil Clark discussed 33a09b276c5502dfb8c4cc8.3a1.xml the reasons behind the failure of conflict issues in DR Congo and In February, Phil Clark appeared diplomacy between Iran and the Cote d‟Ivoire on Monocle with Dave Harris on SOAS West, “Iran, Israel and the US: magazine‟s The Globalist radio Radio‟s “Regional Spotlights” show Who‟s Threatening Who?” programme: to discuss African elections in 2012: http://inpec.in/2011/12/22/iran- http://www.monocle.com/monocl http://soasradio.org/regional- israel-and-the-us-whos-threatening- e24/?openepisode=10600043 (6am spotlights who/ She was also interviewed by programme, starting at 34:32) Russia Today in late December in a Rahul Rao has written about recent In December, Phil Clark was piece titled “Iran spots US Navy initiatives by the British and US quoted by the Institute for War and near drill, „ready for confrontation‟“ governments to advance LGBT Peace Reporting on new ICC arrest http://www.youtube.com/watch?v rights in other parts of the world: warrants in Sudan: =GaK7z0fnUp4 http://kafila.org/2012/01/01/on- http://iwpr.net/report-news/icc- gay-conditionality-imperial-power- In January, Shirin Shafaie was seeks-new-sudan-arrest-warrant and-queer-liberation-rahul-rao/ interviewed by Al-Jazeera regarding In December, Phil Clark was the possibility of an Iranian oil Corinna Mullin appeared on BBC interviewed on Radio France sanction (by Majles) against Europe. World News on 23 November International about the new ICC She was also interviewed by Russia 2011. She was interviewed by news chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda: Today regarding “Iranophobia: presenter George Alagiah regarding http://www.english.rfi.fr/africa/20 „Why negotiate when West can cash the reaction of Bahraini civil society 111214-fatou-bensouda-new-head- in on tension?‟“ to the launch of the Bahrain icc http://www.youtube.com/watch?v Independent Commission Inquiry =PWQIjF6u1c0 In January, Phil Clark appeared on (BICI) into government repression France 24 TV news to talk about of pro-democracy protests. Shirin Shafaie was interviewed by the French report into the shooting Russia Today in February on “US Corinna Mullin participated down of the Rwandan president‟s intelligence: Iran could launch terror alongside British journalist and plane in 1994: attacks on America” author Tim Butcher in a panel http://www.sendspace.com/file/59 (http://rt.com/news/us-attack- discussion on world news BBC fj2z (2:40) iran-allegations-271/) and on World Service Sunday morning Obama blocking Iranian assets In January, Phil Clark appeared on panel on 27 November 2011, 7- (http://rt.com/news/us-block-iran- Monocle magazine‟s The Globalist 9am. assets-619/) radio programme to discuss issues Corinna Mullin co-authored two of education reform, conflict In January, Shirin Shafaie articles published on resolution and development in participated in a debate with Sir openDemocracy: “The Bahrain Africa: Richard Dalton and Mark „Spring‟: the revolution that wasn‟t http://www.monocle.com/monocl Fitzpatrick on Islam Channel‟s The televised” (6 December 2011), e24/?openepisode=10600055 (6am World This Week hosted by Phil available at: programme, starting at 6:34). Rees. The debate concerned Iran‟s http://www.opendemocracy.net/co nuclear capabilities In January, Phil Clark was rinna-mullin-azadeh- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v interviewed by Reuters about the shahshahani/bahrain- =yeNZiu_QlaI arrest of four Rwandan generals: %E2%80%98spring%E2%80%99- http://www.reuters.com/article/20 revolution-that-wasn%E2%80%99t- 7

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012 televised; and “Bahrain: a response Intervening in Somalia: risky massive changes, many within the to the President‟s Office” (11 business with no end sight. The arts community are speaking out. December 2011), available at: piece critiques recent international The festival will give the http://www.opendemocracy.net/co interventions in Somalia in the participants the opportunity to rinna-mullin-azadeh- context of AMISOM and regional engage with events there and shahshahani/bahrain-response-to- military action. hopefully get a deeper president%E2%80%99s-office http://africanarguments.org/2012/ understanding of the country and 01/17/intervening-in-somalia-risky- the region. Building on Reel MSc Student Lana Asfour‟s piece business-with-no-end-in-sight-by- Festivals 2011, this project aims to on Lebanon appeared at marco-jowell/ present another side of Syrian http://www.newstatesman.com/blo culture, through Syrian film, music, gs/the-staggers/2012/01/syria- theatre and literature. lebanon-lebanese. Lana can also reveal that she anonymously wrote a As with all Reel Festivals, a wide piece titled “Syrians under Siege” Notices variety of events will be held in a for the New York Review of wide variety of venues, and bringing

Books in April last year, some of the best films, music, http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/n Politics MPhil Conference discussions and talks to you direct yrblog/2011/apr/29/syrians-under- Add 13 June to your diaries. Politics from Syria. The festival will also siege/ MPhil students are organising their provide a forum for participants from Syria itself. For more Tom Young‟s blog post on annual conference, to be held all day information, please visit “Liberal Wars” was published in on 13 June in a room to be www.reelfestivals.org December at announced later. http://www.europeanideas.eu/page s/politics/humanitarian- intervention/liberal-war.php ECPR Events Laleh Khalili’s blog post on the SOAS is a member of the European recent US Strategic Review Consortium for Political Research Document, titled “COIN vs. CT” (ECPR), which holds annual In December, Shirin Shafaie gave was appeared in January in Summer and Winter Schools, and a talk at the Stop the War Coalition http://merip.org/coin-vs-ct which department members anti-war rally with George (including postgraduate research Galloway, Tony Benn, Lindsey Laleh Khalili has been quoted in students) have access to at German, Abbas Edalat MEED on developments in Egypt: discounted rates. More information http://www.youtube.com/watch?v www.meed.com/sectors/economy/ available here: =p__V9rJPHnw She also gave a government/a-military-stalemate-in- http://www.ecprnet.eu/methods_s speech to the anti-war protesters on egypt/3117246.article. chools/summerschools/ 28 January 2012 at a rally organised On the eve of the anniversary of the by Stop the War Coalition in front Egyptian uprising Laleh Khalili of the US Embassy in London appeared on a one-hour long Reel Syria http://www.youtube.com/watch?v SkyNews special alongside Simon =iFAFjgA-OoM Henderson of Washington Institute, Tariq Ramadan of Oxford and Undersecretary of State for the Middle East, Alistair Burt. A clip of the event can be seen at Notes from Alumni http://news.sky.com/home/video/ 16155932 The SOAS factor In December, Lawrence Saez published an opinion piece in The Bijan Frederic Farnoudi Kathmandu Post, titled “A Republic If You Can Keep It” http://www.ekantipur.com/the- kathmandu- post/2011/12/01/oped/a-republic- MSc student Dan Gorman invites if-you-can-keep-it/228860.html you to Reel Syria, a 3-day festival of Syrian films, music and theatre, to Doctoral candidate Marco Jowell has recently written a piece for be held in London, 15-17 March. Watching the popular British talent African Arguments entitled At a time when Syria is undergoing show ”X factor” the other day, I 8

Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012 asked myself what my specific talent student experience on Taiwan gives the postgraduate students the at such a show would be. I don‟t related courses. chance to get feedback on their sing, break-dance or play-act. dissertation projects, experience However I am good at adapting to discussing their work with students different mentalities, getting a feel and academics from a range of for people, their languages and countries and institutions. We also cultures. I call it the SOAS factor. encourage the students to join the European Association of Taiwan Bored with the accounting and Studies (EATS) conference which is number-crunching of my business held in a different European studies, I left friends and family country each year. Every year one behind to start anew at SOAS and a or even two of our students gets degree in comparative religions accepted on the MA panel and a („02). Being of mixed heritage, I felt Firstly, we try to create a sense of number of PhD have given multiple like a fish in the water at SOAS. community amongst students papers on the regular panels. This After adding a Masters in working on Taiwan from a range of experience of presenting at International Politics („03), life and programmes and departments international conferences has helped work took me to 10 different across the School. One way we do students refine their research design countries in as many years. Did the this is to link the topics covered in and improve their communications SOAS experience prepare me for the public Centre of Taiwan skills. that? Most definitely yes. After all, Seminars with the various courses. at SOAS you meet people from 10 This means that we get both On occasion we have even helped different countries just walking into postgraduate and undergraduate students with funding to go to the classroom. students coming to seminars and Taiwan for short field visits and then talking about them in class. arranged research supervision with After stints with the UN and as a partner institutions there. It has journalist I applied to the Secondly, we try to make sure there been encouraging to see how a International Committee of the Red is some interaction between PhD number of our graduates that Cross (ICRC) where I have now students working on Taiwan and presented at the Summer School been for 6 years in several field- both the undergraduate and and EATS have gone on to start posts including Jammu & Kashmir, postgraduate students. For instance, PhDs and also published revised South Sudan, Nepal and, for the last we often invite PhD students to versions of their Master two years, Afghanistan. Back at HQ come into class as guest speakers to dissertations. Another unique since 2011, I am in charge of ICRC discuss their research findings. feature of the programme is that we public relations for Europe and Similarly, we encourage the taught enter a team to the annual Overseas North America. class students to discuss their research ideas with PhD students. Taiwanese Sports Day (see winning This is mutually beneficial to both team picture). Lastly, we try to follow this unforgettable year by the research and taught course students. keeping in touch with students after Student experience on Taiwan they graduate. For instance, each related courses at SOAS year we run an alumni session when one of our team is in Taiwan. So we are trying to make sure the students SOAS is the world‟s leading either taking the MA Taiwan Studies institution for taught courses on or the individual Taiwan courses Taiwan. The Centre of Taiwan have a sense of belonging to a Studies manages three courses in coherent programme and the Politics Department, one in community that cuts across Economics and another in the departmental divisions. China Department. There are three further associated courses in the For more information on the Languages and Culture Faculty too. Centre of Taiwan Studies See: As with other courses at SOAS http://www.soas.ac.uk/taiwanstudi students benefit from being taught es/ by scholars who are passionate about their work, have published widely, and are rich in fieldwork experience. However, there are also Thirdly, we run the annual Taiwan some features that are unique to the Studies Summer School, which

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Politics & International Studies Newsletter, no. 5 February 2012

The Department of Politics and International Studies is one of the most cutting edge 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, Certificate, MSc and MPhil/PhD) in the Department. The Department also hosts visiting students who are here as part of a year's work towards degrees in other countries (notably the United States, EU, Korea and Japan).

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.

■Political Theory: political Islam, non-western political thought, multiculturalism.

The current officers of the department are:

Head of Department: Dr Fiona Adamson, [email protected]

Undergraduate Tutors: UG Tutor Corinna Mullin UG Admissions Tutor - Bhavna Dave Year 1 Tutor – Rahul Rao (Term 1) Steve Heder (Terms 2 and 3) Year 2 Tutor – Tom Young Year 3 Tutor – Arshin Adib-Moghaddam UG Exams Officer and Exam Board Chair – Steve Heder Deputy Exams Officer and Exam Board Chair – Tom Young

Postgraduate (MSc) Tutors: PG Tutor - Leslie Vinjamuri PGT Training Coordinator – Phil Clark MSc Convenors African Politics – Phil Clark Asian Politics – Dafydd Fell International Politics – Mark Laffey Middle East Politics – Charles Tripp Politics of China – Yuka Kobayashi (Term 1) and Dafydd Fell (Terms 2/3) State, Society and Development – Yuka Kobayashi (Term 1) and Dafydd Fell (Terms 2/3) PGT Exams Board Chair – Lawrence Saez Deputy Exam Board Chair – Tat Yan Kong

Postgraduate (Research) Tutors: Research Tutor - Matthew Nelson MPhil Research Methods Course Convenor 2011-12 – Felix Berenskoetter

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 us at SOASPolitics!

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