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The IAUNRC programs address all aspects of the diverse region and peoples of Azerbaijan, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Tibet, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Xinjiang.


News & Upcoming Events

This page features news and events sponsored by the IAUNRC and/or related to the IAUNRCs region and audience.

Events are ordered by date posted. See the archive page for information on past events.

21 April 2008

Discussion: Foreign Investment in Kazakhstan, by Kassym Maulenov. 12:00pm, Tuesday April 22, Law School Faculty Conference Room (3rd floor). Lunch Provided.

Job Announcement: VISITING PROFESSOR FOR HUNGARIAN LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE  

The Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures at the University of Toronto invites applications for a visiting professorship in Hungarian Language and Literature. Appointment is for one eight-month appointment that can be renewed for a second year. The appointment will commence on September 1, 2008. The professor will teach elementary and intermediate language classes in alternate years, and two more undergraduate classes on language, literature, or other arts such as drama or cinema. The professor will choose subjects and set up the courses (subject to review by the selection committee). He/she has to select the readings and/or provide in-class texts. Pre-requisite: Ph.D. in Hungarian language and literature, or other cognate field; and communicating skill in English. Salary: commensurate with qualifications and experience.

Please send curriculum vitae, letter of application, proof of English language proficiency, three letters of reference and suggested course syllabuses for the two non-language courses to: Professor Donna Tussing Orwin, Acting Chair, Department of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Toronto, 121 St.Joseph Street, Room 431, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1J4, Canada. Application deadline: May 30, 2008.

All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

The University of Toronto is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from visible minority groups members, women, Aboriginal persons, persons with disabilities, members of sexual minority groups, and others who may contribute to the further diversification of ideas.

JOB: Executive Director of Educational Center "Bilim Central Asia", Almaty
Deadline: 31 May 2008

The Educational Center Bilim-Central Asia in Almaty, Kazakhstan, seeks a candidate for the position of the Executive Director. We welcome expressions of interest and resumes from individuals committed to educational reform in Central Asia.

Educational Center "Bilim-Central Asia" (Bilim) is a regional educational NGO for Central Asia, whose mission consists of promoting public awareness about international tendencies in educational development, and supporting effective participation of institutions, scholars, students, professors and teachers from Central Asia in global academic and educational development. Bilim's activities are supported by international and local organizations, such as Open Society Institute, Soros Foundations in Central Asia, UNESCO, US Department of State, USAID, Central European University, American University in Bulgaria, and international academic and business communities.

Bilim consists of three program departments: Central Asian Resource Center (CARC), Educational Advising Center (EAC), Educational Policy Analysis Center (EPAC), and general administrative office.

Bilim seeks an Executive Director to be based in Almaty to provide overall management to the Center, serving as the main point of contact and coordination among the relevant programs, and guiding their development into a coherent, cohesive entity serving educational reform.

Job Description:

The Executive Director will have the following responsibilities:

* Design and direct the development of the Center's local and
regional strategy;
* Actively promote linkages and ensure coordination among the program units;
* Oversee the general management and operational aspects of the NGO, including personnel supervision and training;
* Effectively communicate the Center's program goals and strategies to education partners in Kazakhstan and Central Asia, international organizations, donors, and the Bilim Board of Trustees;
* Play the lead role in fundraising for the Center and in negotiating with and building on the work of other donors in order to achieve the maximum leverage of existing support;
* With input from the program staff, develop a management structure for the Center including clear and transparent procedures for day-to-day operations that will support the staff in their duties;
* Ensure quality and timely implementation of Center's program activities, including planning and reporting responsibilities (financial and programmatic);
* Assist in identification of international experts to support
activities of the Center;
* Arrange and attend meetings of the Board of Trustees and assist staff in preparing reports and presentations to the Board.

For this position Bilim seeks candidates with relevant educational background and experience who are available to live in Almaty for a minimum of 3 years.

Qualifications include:

* Advanced degree in social sciences, humanities and/or education.
Preference will be given to candidates with graduate training;
* Two or more years experience in managing international staff and/or education programs;
* Experience with fundraising and/or grant proposal writing;
* General office management experience and skills;
* Interest in developing capacities of staff in the region, using a
supportive approach and mentoring skills;
* Effective communication with people from diverse cultures and backgrounds;
* Cooperative planning and problem solving skills;
* Interpersonal skills and maturity;
* Experience in working with donor organizations and development agencies;
* Ability to travel frequently, mostly within Central Asia;
* Ability to design and deliver convincing presentations of
organizational priorities;
* Excellent written and oral communication in English;
* Basic level Russian language and/or one of the languages of Central Asia.

Salary is commensurate with experience. Bilim accepts applications from all qualified candidates, with preference given to candidates who have experience working on and can demonstrate an interest in educational reform initiatives in Central Asian region.

Interested candidates are asked to supply a cover letter, resume, salary expectations or recent salary history, and writing sample (e.g., grant proposal, recent report on education issues) to reception@bilim.kz no later than 31 May 2008.

15 April 2008

10 April 2008

07 April 2008

02 April 2008

19 March 2008

The Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center (IAUNRC) at Indiana University is recruiting three Graduate Assistants (GAs) for the 2008-2009 academic year.

In addition to a tuition waiver (12 credits per semester and 6 credits for summer), GAs receive a stipend of approximately $11,000 paid in ten installments during the academic year. GAs are expected to work 20 hours per week.

To be eligible for the GA position applicants must be enrolled full-time in the College of Arts and Sciences or in a formal joint-degree program between the COAS and another school during the 2008-2009 academic year.

The ideal candidates will be flexible, hard-working, with strong organizational skills and office-based work experience. A competence with information technology is required, including familiarity with databases. Although each of the three center GAs holds primary responsibility for one of the areas below, we are searching for individuals who can assist in all three:

Outreach. One assistant will hold primary responsibility forthe Center’s outreach efforts towards elementary/high schools, the general public, and the IU community. Excellent interpersonal skills are required; experience working with students of all ages is a plus.

Web Design. One assistant will hold primary responsibility for maintaining the IAUNRC website at http://www.indiana.edu/~iaunrc, and will also be responsible for maintaining the MS Access database of the Center’s substantial collection of cultural artifacts and multimedia resources. Thus, at least one of our GAs must have significant expertise with information technology; preferably knowledge of HTML, Dreamweaver, Fireworks, Photoshop, MySQL, and Access .

Newsletter. One assistant will hold primary responsibilityfor preparing two issues of the Center’s biannual newsletter. This includes brainstorming topics, performing interviews, writing and/or coordinating the writing of articles, creating page layouts, and liaising with the Center’s publishing house. A desire to work with a diverse range of people and excellent writing skills are essential. The assistant responsible for the newsletter should have a relevant experience and familiarity with Adobe InDesign and Photoshop .

Please note that IAUNRC’s ability to fund the positions is contingent on receipt of necessary funding from the US Department of Education.

Application materials are available at the Inner Asian & Uralic National Resource Center in Goodbody Hall, 324, or may be downloaded here: [MS Word]         [PDF]

Please direct any questions to Kasia Rydel-Johnston, IAUNRC Assistant Director: krydeljo@indiana.edu / 812-855-7319.

Completed application materials must be received by 5:00 pm Friday, April 4, 2008.

The American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS) is pleased to announce the establishment of its dedicated library websites in English and Mongolian. The websites contain information about the ACMS library, catalogs and databases focused on Inner Asia, reference guides to Inner Asian collections, and collection descriptions for 12 libraries and resource centers in Ulaanbaatar. The websites have several features, including search fields for the ACMS online catalog, WorldCat, Google Scholar, and a Custom Google Search Engine focused on Inner Asian Studies, satellite images and street level views of local libraries, and virtual collections of full and partial view books and journals available on the internet.

The websites are available at the following URLs:

Library (English): http://www.mongoliacenter.org/library
Library (Mongolian): http://www.mongoliacenter.org/mnlibrary

These websites are unique in providing for the first time consolidated reference information about Mongolia and Inner Asia resources held both at international and local libraries.

The American Center for Mongolian Studies is a US registered 501(c)3 not-for-profit, academic organization promoting scholarship in Mongolia. It maintains a library resource center at the National University of Mongolia in Ulaanbaatar and administrative office at Western Washington University in Bellingham. More information about the ACMS is available at http://www.mongoliacenter.org.

In Fall 2008, October 17-18, "Islam in the Age of Global Challenges:
Alternative Perspectives of the Gülen Movement" conference will be held in Georgetown University campus. Proposal submission is open until April 1st:
http://www.gulenconference.us/index.php?option=com
_content&task=view&id=5&Itemid=6

For more information about the conference:
http://www.gulenconference.us

Amnesty International Seeks Country Specialists to Promote Human Rights in Central Asia and the Caucasus

Amnesty International USA is seeking Country Specialists who are willing to donate their time and knowledge to the Human Rights Movement. AIUSA's network of Country Specialists monitor the political situation in a country, collaborate with research teams at the International Secretariat in London, work closely with the members of AIUSA in developing and planning strategies to promote human rights actions in relevant countries, and serve as spokespersons on the relevant country for the organization.

Ideal candidates have a combination of country expertise, relevant academic background, language abilities and Amnesty International or other human rights activist experience. The time required for Country Specialist positions averages 10 hours per week, and members are asked for a minimum two year commitment. Country Specialists work out of their homes or offices in the US and the position is unpaid. AI related expenses are compensated.

Currently, Amnesty International is looking for volunteers with expertise on Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, who can help us raise concerns about violations of the rights to freedom of religion, expression, association, and assembly.
Relevant language abilities are a plus.

To apply, please send a cover letter and resume to:

Amnesty International USA
Attn: Cogroup Program
600 Pennsylvania Ave., SE, 5th floor
Washington, DC 20003
Phone: (202) 544-0200, x.261
Fax: (202) 546-7141
E-mail: cgintern@aiusa.org

Please note that this volunteer position is unpaid. Feel free to contact Amnesty International if you have any questions at the above email address or telephone number.

17 March 2008

JOB- Senior Program Officer, Turkmenistan/Central Eurasia, Open Society Inst.

Senior Program Officer for Turkmenistan and Central Eurasia Open Society Institute - New York March 2008

The Open Society Institute works to build vibrant and tolerant democracies whose governments are accountable to their citizens. To achieve its mission, OSI seeks to shape public policies that assure greater fairness in political, legal, and economic systems and safeguard fundamental rights. On a local level, OSI implements a range of initiatives to advance justice, education, public health, and independent media. At the same time, OSI builds alliances across borders and continents on issues such as corruption and freedom of information. OSI places a high priority on protecting and improving the lives of marginalized people and communities.

Investor and philanthropist George Soros in 1993 created OSI as a private operating and grantmaking foundation to support his foundations in Central and Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union.
Those foundations were established, starting in 1984, to help countries make the transition from communism. OSI has expanded the activities of the Soros foundations network to encompass the United States and more than 60 countries in Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America. Each Soros foundation relies on the expertise of boards composed of eminent citizens who determine individual agendas based on local priorities.

OSIs Central Eurasia Project (CEP) seeks a full-time Senior Program Officer for Turkmenistan and Central Eurasia to be based in New York, starting immediately. Working under the supervision of OSIs Director of the CEP and Middle East Initiatives, the Senior Program Officer will have the following responsibilities:

Responsibilities:
- Monitor grants through extended site visits, review of narrative
and financial reports and other communication with grantees;
- Work with applicants to develop and finalize grant proposals;
- Liaise with area specialists to identify opportunities for new
projects or prospective grantees;
- Represent OSI in meetings with relevant officials in Washington
D.C., Brussels, and elsewhere;
- Liaise with associated Foundations and non-governmental
organizations in developing complementary strategies and approaches;
- Perform site visits of prospective and current grantees;
- Recommend Central Eurasia grantmaking strategies, priorities, and
guidelines;
- Crafting and implementing international advocacy on Turkmenistan
and other Central Eurasia Project activities
- Collaborating with international advocacy coalitions to promote
information-sharing and joint policy goals.
- Managing a grants program, including soliciting and evaluating
grant proposals in the context of broader policy efforts, and
overseeing due diligence on grants implementation, and supervising 1-2
staff members.
- Communicating with grantees and maintaining and growing a network
of grantees in Caucasus and Central Asia and on the regional and
international level.
- Soliciting policy-related research and coordinating OSI
publications on relevant regional topics.
- Outreach to journalists to promote informed media coverage.
- Extensive collaboration and internal communication with other
divisions of the Open Society Institute, other donors, and advocacy
partners.
- Regular travel to Washington, D.C. and to Europe and Caucasus and
Central Asia.

Requirements:
- Masters Degree or higher
- Excellent organizational, communication, and analytical skills;
- Capacity to work independently and in a team;
- Extensive regional knowledge;
- Strong verbal and writing skills in English;
- Fluency in Russian strongly desirable; knowledge of Turkmen, Uzbek
or other Turkic languages a plus;
- Advocacy experience and strong familiarity with international human
rights norms a plus;
- 10 years experience working in human rights, journalism and with
civil society;
- Knowledge of governance issues within the energy sector a plus;
- Personal discretion in handling issues of human security and
security of information.

Compensation: Commensurate with experience, qualifications. Excellent benefit package.
Start: Immediately

To Apply: E-mail resume, cover letter and references, by April 4, 2008, to

humanresources@sorosny.org - Refer to job code in subject line SPO/TURK/CEA

OR

Open Society Institute
Human Resources - Code SPO/TURK/CEA
400 West 59th Street
New York, New York 10019

No phone calls, please. The Open Society Institute is an Equal Opportunity Employer.

CFA- Samarkand Summer School, August 18-September 12, 2008

Summer School in Samarkand, Uzbekistan

(3rd edition)

August 18- September 12, 2008

Deadline for registration: April 21, 2008

The 2008 Samarkand Summer School is jointly organised by the Italian Association for the Study of Central Asia and the Caucasus (ASIAC,
http://www.asiac.net) and the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages (SamSIFL, http://sifl.50megs.com/Indexen.html) in the context of a collaboration project between the University of Turin
(http://www.unito.it) and the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages. As in the previous editions, the Samarkand Summer School offers language courses of the languages spoken in the region, a seminar program on Central Asia's societies and cultures, and a complementary program of excursions and visits to cultural sites and events, as well as the possibility of a homestay in a guest family.
The Samarkand Summer School can rely on consolidated links with local and international scholars and research institutes. All participants to the Summer School's activities will be given a certificate of attendance.

The classes will take place in the central compound building of the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages. The duration of the school is four weeks.

The 2008 edition comprises:

1. Language training in Uzbek, Russian, Tajik. Daily classes are structured in group sessions for up to five students according to language level. Lessons are held by qualified teaching staff of the Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages. Each language course has the duration of 80 hours and includes grammar lessons, exercises and conversation.

2. Seminar program on "Central Asian Society in Historical Perspective" will be held three afternoons per week. All the seminars will be held in English. Topics covered by the seminar series will include:

- State- and nation-building in Central Asia
- Ethnicity and identity issues
- Russian culture in urban context
- Cultural traditions and religion
- Sociolinguistic situation in Uzbekistan
- Archival research work in Uzbekistan
- Anthropological and historical research in urban centres
- The Samarkand countryside and rural studies
- Community development projects

Participants to the Summer School will have the opportunity to present and discuss their own researches or projects during additional seminar sessions (facultative).

Participants:

The School is open to up to 15 Ph.D. and Master students.

Accommodation options in Samarkand:
- Homestay in families where the language of communication will be the
one chosen by the student
- Bed and Breakfast

Registration fees:

1,200 Euro with family accommodation
1,400 Euro with single room accommodation in Bed and Breakfast

This includes registration fees, travel costs from Tashkent to Samarkand (depending on students' arrival schedule, we will organize the transfer from Tashkent to Samarkand), accommodation and breakfast.
Travel fares to and from Uzbekistan are not included.

Advisory Board:

Prof. Marco Buttino, University of Turin, Italy, President of ASIAC Prof. Shahriyor Safarov, Rector of the Samarkand State Institute of
Foreign Languages (SamSIFL)

Summer School Director:

Tommaso Trevisani, Gerda Henkel Fellow at Stiftung Wissenschaft und
Politik (SWP), Berlin

Local Coordinator:

Piera Viale, Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages (SamSIFL)

Teaching Staff:

Bayram Balci, French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC), Tashkent Marco Buttino, Universit di Torino Matteo Fumagalli, Central European University, Budapest Azim Malikov, Samarkand State University Christilla Marteau d'Auty, Paris X Nanterre University Niccolò Pianciola, Universit di Trento Bernardo Rondelli, Universit di Milano-Bicocca Paolo Sartori, Martin-Luther-Universität, Halle-Wittenberg Daniel Stevens, Westminster International University, Tashkent Arnaud Ruffier, French Institute for Central Asian Studies (IFEAC), Tashkent Tommaso Trevisani, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Berlin Piera Viale, Samarkand State Institute of Foreign Languages (SamSIFL)

More local and international experts will be included according to the specific requirements of the individual projects presented by the applicants.

To obtain further details and to apply please write to:

samarkandsummerschool@gmail.com

Please include the following information to your application:

- your CV (max. 2 pages)
- the topic you are researching or are interested in (50-250 words)
- the language you would like to study (Uzbek, Russian or Tajik) and
your current level of proficiency -preferred type of accommodation
(family or Bed and Breakfast)

Applications sent after 21st of April 2008 will not be considered.

GRANT- US Embassy Policy Specialist Program (EPS), IREX

IREX FELLOWSHIP – 2008-2009 US Embassy Policy Specialist (EPS) Program

IREX is pleased to announce the 2008-2009 competition of the US Embassy Policy Specialist (EPS) Program.

The US Embassy Policy Specialist Program will allow fellows to travel to Eurasia and serve the embassy as policy specialists on a chosen topic and also pursue their own research project independently.
Fellowships are available to successful applicants who demonstrate how their experience, skills, and knowledge will benefit US embassy personnel, as well as the academic merit and feasibility of their proposed research. Fellows will serve the embassy and conduct their own research for up to eight weeks. Fellowship length and dates will be decided upon in consultation with the specific embassy. Examples of embassy service can include conducting field research, writing policy papers, consulting embassy staff, and assisting with grant panels.

Fellows will be sponsored by IREX. Depending on the needs of the individual embassy, fellows may spend all or part of the time on-site at the embassy or work from a remote location in country. The EPS Program provides fellowships for up to eight weeks to US postdoctoral scholars and other graduate degree holders for independent or collaborative research projects in Europe and Eurasia.

Eligible Embassies & Fields are:

Azerbaijan (Baku): Anthropology/ Sociology, Economics, Religion

Georgia (Tbilisi): Government

Kazakhstan (Astana): Inter-Ethnic Relations, Economics, Oil & Gas Sector, Religion

Moldova (Chisinau): Conflict Resolution

Russia (Vladivostok): Economics

Tajikistan (Dushanbe): Alternative Energy, Impacts of Labor Migration, Urban Planning

Turkmenistan (Ashgabat): Agronomy, Environment

Ukraine (Kyiv): Economics/ Social Spending, Political Affairs/ Overview of Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Ukraine - Belarus Nexus

EPS Program information and application materials are now available on the IREX website at http://www.irex.org/programs/eps/index.asp

The application deadline is April 4, 2008.

Please contact eps@irex.org or call (202) 628-8188 with any questions.

You may find a list of all IREX International Fellowship opportunities on the website: http://www.irex.org/programs/grants.asp

Please note that this fellowship is only available to applicants that are US citizens or have permanent residency in the United States.

INTERNSHIP- The Foundation for Tolerance International, Bishkek

Position: International Volunteer
Place: The Foundation for Tolerance International (FTI), Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan

The Foundation for Tolerance International

The Foundation for Tolerance International (FTI) is a Kyrgyz non-governmental organization working to prevent violent conflict and build peace and justice in Central Asia. It was born out of a project on tolerance education and conflict transformation launched by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Southern Kyrgyzstan in March 1996. Realizing the broader needs of the cross-border communities of the Ferghana Valley, FTI was then established as an independent NGO in 1998.

Ever since that date, the organization has been expanding its work to prevent and resolve conflicts in Central Asia. Originally concentrating its projects on horizontal interethnic conflicts in the Ferghana Valley, FTI then adapted to the changing political context and began to address vertical conflicts between the population and state authorities on the whole Kyrgyz territory. It has also become engaged at the global level by taking on the role of Regional Coordinator in Central Asia for the Global Partnership for the Prevention of Armed Conflict.

The organization is composed of a Head Office located in Bishkek and four regional offices located in the Southern Kyrgyzstan cities of Osh, Batken, Aksy and Leilek, at the borders of Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

Today, FTI stands as one of the largest and most experienced Central Asian NGOs working explicitly to prevent and resolve conflict in the region.

FTI International Volunteer Program

FTI has been involving international volunteers in all aspects of its work for a number of years. So far, it has worked with volunteers from countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, Japan, the Netherlands, Belgium and France.

Every year, one to two international volunteers are selected to work at one of FTI's five offices. Upon arrival, the volunteer gets familiar with the office, the organization and its activities, and then chooses a specific direction to work on and proposes a specific plan of activities. FTI international volunteer program has been extremely successful and has significantly contributed to the development of the organization as well as to the professional development of its volunteers.

General Tasks and Responsibilities of the International Volunteer

- Developing new initiatives to assist with programmatic,
institutional and organizational development.
- Conducting substantial research addressing an issue of mutual
interest to FTI and the volunteer.
- Editing and assisting with the development and improvement of grant
proposals, reports and communication materials in English.
- Public relations duties: assisting staff with fundraising and
external communication to donors and international partners, searching
for new partners and potential donors
- Contributing to the maintenance and updating of the English version
of the website.
- Conducting English lessons for some members of the staff.

Qualifications and Skills

- Be currently enrolled or having recently completed an undergraduate,
graduate or post-graduate degree in a field related to FTI work, such
as International Relations, Political Science, Law (Note: Other
educational or professional backgrounds will also be considered,
depending on the candidate's motivations. Candidates with particular
qualifications or experience in organizational capacity-building are
strongly encouraged to apply).
- Excellent knowledge of English and preferably a good knowledge of
Russian (but very good candidates with no Russian knowledge may also
be considered).
- Excellent organizational skills.
- Excellent analytical, research and writing skills.
- Excellent communication skills.
- Good computer skills (excellent computer skills would be
particularly valued).
- Be able to work both independently and as part of a team, and
having a strong sense of initiative.
- Willingness to volunteer at FTI for a minimum term of six months is
desired (although shorter periods of time will be considered).

Additional Information

Please note that unfortunately, FTI is unable to provide any financial compensation. The primary responsibilities of FTI in support of the volunteer are to:

- Provide all necessary documentation and contact for visa application.
- Provide work space and conditions (personal desk and computer, 24
hours internet access).
- Organize meetings for the volunteer, if interested, with
representatives of the civil society, law enforcement bodies and
governmental structures.
- Organize a trip for the volunteer to all the project implementation
areas of FTI.
- Find reasonable accommodation for the volunteer, at short distance
from the office.
- Provide pick-up and drop-off from the airport to the volunteer's apartment.

Application Process

Applications should include a resume and cover letter. They should be sent by e-mail to: fti@fti.kg, ref. "International Volunteer Application"

Applicants will be informed by FTI about the status of their application within one to three weeks.

FELLOWSHIP– American Center for Mongolian Studies Research Fellowship Program

The American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS), with funding support from the Henry Luce Foundation, is pleased to announce the first year of the American Center for Mongolian Studies (ACMS) Research Fellowship Program. The ACMS Research Fellowship Program will annually support three fellows to conduct up to 12-months of doctoral dissertation or post-doctoral research in Mongolia on topics in the Social Sciences or Humanities. Previous Mongolian Studies experience is not required, but projects should enhance knowledge of Mongolia and the Mongols within relevant academic disciplines or fields of study.
Projects that link research conducted in Mongolia to research in other parts of Asia or across academic fields are especially encouraged.

Fellowship awards will include travel expenses to and from Mongolia, an accommodation and food allowance, and a stipend to cover research expenses. Fellows will also have the opportunity to take intensive Mongolian language courses, select resources for inclusion in the ACMS Library, and participate in an annual academic seminar in Mongolia that will bring together international, regional and local scholars and students.

Research work under this program must begin between September 2008 and March 2009, and last for a continuous 6-12 months. Fellowship recipients will be based in Mongolia for the duration of their fellowship, but research travel in the broader region is encouraged.
Dissertation fellows must have an approved dissertation proposal prior to the start of their research work under the fellowship, and Post-Doctoral fellows must begin their fellowship work within five years of the granting of their doctoral degree. Fellowship recipients must be US or Canadian citizens attending or recently graduated from a university in the US or Canada.

For more information on the program, including an Application Package and the General Terms and Conditions of the awards, visit the ACMS website at: http://www.mongoliacenter.org/fellowship.

Deadline for receipt of complete application packages is May 15, 2008.
Awards will be announced in June 2008.

Questions about the program should be directed to info@mongoliacenter.org, to phone (360) 356-1020, or to the ACMS office in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia.

Funding support for the ACMS Research Fellowship Program is provided by the Henry Luce Foundation. For more information on the Henry Luce Foundation, please visit: http://www.hluce.org/home.aspx

03 March 2008

The Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Program, the Department of History, the Chair of Ottoman and Turkish Studies, the Department of Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, and the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center invite you to a talk by

Thomas Kühn

Assistant Professor of History

Simon Fraser University, Vancouver-Burnaby, B.C.

Shaping and Re-Shaping Politics of Difference and Integration in the late Ottoman Empire, 1869-1919

The Ottoman Empire of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries has often been portrayed as the victim of European imperial expansion. Yet, while the Ottomans incurred heavy territorial losses in the Maghreb and southern Europe, they expanded at the same time into the hinterland of Tripolitania and into the south-western part of the Arabian Peninsula. Focusing on the latter region, this paper explores the discourses and practices of Ottoman imperial rule from the late 1860s to the end of World War I within the broader, world-historical context of empire-building during this period. In this context, I will discuss to what extent we are dealing with an Ottoman "rule of colonial difference" (Partha Chatterjee) and how older Ottoman practices of ruling a large, spread-out and differentiated empire informed governmental practices in newly conquered south Arabia. I will also explore how Ottoman policy-makers adapted British, French, and Italian notions and strategies of ruling "uncivilized" peoples for the purpose of maintaining the Ottoman imperial presence in this area.

Monday, March 3

4:00 pm

Oak Room, IMU

27 February 2008

We invite you to attend a performance by:

DR. FAIK CHELEBI
Noted Azerbaijani Tar Player and Folklorist

Sunday, March 2nd 3:00pm
The Grand Hall
Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center

Dr. Chelebi will discuss the role of the Azerbaijani mugham as a solo performer. Following his presentation, he will give a solo tar performance.

Sponsored by the Inner Asian and Uralic National Resource Center, Collins Living-Learning Center, and the Ottoman and Turkish Studies Chair.

21 February 2008

PROG. INFO.- 2008 Summer Research Lab, Univ of Illinois, Deadlines: Apr. 1 & 15

2008 Summer Research Laboratory on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia June 9 - August 1 University of Illinois

The Russian, East European, and Eurasian Center and the Slavic and East European Library at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, are pleased to announce its 2008 Summer Research Laboratory (SRL) on Russia, Eastern Europe, and Eurasia, June 9 - August 1. Please check the website for the full list of programs, eligibility, and application information: http://www.reec.uiuc.edu/srl/srl.html

The SRL enables scholars to conduct advanced research in Russian, East European and Eurasian Studies. Lab associates are given full access to the collection and resources of the University of Illinois Library, the largest Slavic collection west of Washington, DC, and are able to seek assistance from the Slavic Reference Service staff. The SRL provides an opportunity for specialists to keep current on knowledge and research in the field, to access newly available and archival materials, and disseminate knowledge to other scholars, professionals, government officials, and the public. The Summer Lab is an ideal program for doctoral students conducting pre-dissertation/dissertation research.

The following persons are eligible to apply to the Summer Lab:
- Faculty or graduate students at a university or college who are
teaching and/or doing research on the region.
- Individuals who have a PhD and are doing research on the region,
even if this expertise is not being used in current employment.
- Individuals working in an area of government, NGOs or business
related to the region, regardless of academic training.
- Librarians specializing in the Slavic, East European, and Eurasian field.

To be eligible for housing grants, the above criteria apply along with the following: Scholars conducting policy relevant research (broadly
defined) on the countries of Eurasia and Southeastern Europe. Under U.S. Department of State regulations, scholars whose research focuses on any EU member state­Poland, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Romania, Bulgaria, Estonia, Latvia, or Lithuania­must be doing comparative research that includes a non EU member state of Eurasia or Southeastern Europe in order to be eligible for funding.

Application Deadlines:

Housing Grants:
- for non-U.S. citizens/permanent residents: 1 April
- for U.S. citizens and permanent residents: 15 April Graduate Student Travel Grants: for U.S. citizens and permanent residents only 15 April Lab Only (no housing grant): for guaranteed housing availability 15 April, or at least 2 weeks prior to arrival (housing not guaranteed)

2008 Summer Research Lab Programs
http://www.reec.uiuc.edu/srl/SRL2008/programs.html

Ralph and Ruth Fisher Forum
"Interpreting Emotion in Eastern Europe, Russia, and Eurasia"
June 19-21
Faculty Organizers: Mark Steinberg (Professor of History, University of Illinois; Editor of the Slavic Review) and Valeria Sobol (Assistant Professor of Slavic Languages and Literatures, University of Illinois)

Eurasia Studies Training Workshop for Junior Scholars "Gendering Democracy: Self, State, and Political Reform in Eurasia and Beyond"
June 11-13
Moderator: Cynthia Buckley (Associate Professor of Sociology, University of Texas, Austin)

Balkan Studies Training Workshop for Junior Scholar "Building Balkan Studies: Integrating Multidisciplinary Perspectives"
June 30-July 2
Moderator: Julie Mostov (Associate Vice Provost for International Programs and Associate Professor of Political Science, Drexel University)

SRS Individualized Research Practicum
Duration of the Lab
The Slavic Reference Service offers Individualized Research Practicum to select Summer Lab associates. Associates can apply using the SRL application.

Voluntary Discussion Group: Russian History and Culture, June 9-13
Coordinator: Ann Kleimola (Professor of History, University of Nebraska)

For more information contact the Russian, East European and Eurasian Center at the University of Illinois at reec@uiuc.edu, 217.333.1244.

The Summer Research Lab is funded in part by the U.S. State Department Title VIII grant, the U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant, and generous contributions from private donors.

 

19 February 2008

11 February 2008

September 18-21, 2008

Georgetown University, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.

The Central Eurasian Studies Society (CESS) invites panel and paper proposals for the Ninth CESS Annual Conference, September 18-21, 2008, in Washington, D.C. The event will be held at Georgetown University, hosted by the Center for Eurasian, Russian and East European Studies (CERES). Panels begin Friday morning, September 19, and continue through mid-day on Sunday, September 21.

Panel and paper topics relating to all aspects of humanities and social science scholarship on Central Eurasia are welcome. The geographic domain of Central Eurasia extends from the Black Sea and Iranian Plateau to Mongolia and Siberia, including the Caucasus, Crimea, Middle Volga, Afghanistan, Tibet, and Central and Inner Asia. Practitioners and scholars in all humanities and social science disciplines with an interest in Central Eurasia are encouraged to participate.

The program will feature approximately 60 panels and there will also be a supplementary program including cultural events, a welcome reception on Thursday, a conference dinner and a keynote speaker.

Deadline for submission of panel/paper proposals: Friday, April 11, 2008.

Submissions of pre-organized panels are strongly encouraged and will be given some preference in the selection process. Individual papers are also welcome and will be assigned by the program committee to an appropriate panel with a chair and a discussant. Only electronic submissions will be accepted, preferably via the webform available on the CESS website: http://www.cess.muohio.edu/cesspg_conf_cfp.html

Virtually all questions about the conference can be answered by consulting the above-mentioned webpages. If you don't have web access, or if you don't find the answer to your questions there, you can contact the conference organizers by e-mail at cess@muohio.edu.

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