Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Pietro Stefanini In brief Date - 2 February 2026Venue - Room LG.09, 40 George SquareSpeakers - Dr Pietro Stefanini (University of Edinburgh)Title - Making Colonisation Humanitarian: A Genealogy of Settler Humanitarianism in Palestine/Israel Email an IMES colleague to join online About the eventPietro Stefanini will discuss a book manuscript project, which deploys archival and ethnographic methods to trace a genealogy of the relationship between humanitarianism and settler colonialism, from the period of British imperial rule in Palestine, through the 1948 Nakba and 1967 Naksa, to the contemporary conjuncture and the genocide in Gaza.The book illustrates a settler colonial modality of humanitarianism along two main axes: enabling the continuous reproduction of the settler society; and providing a mechanism for the dispossession of the Palestinian people. It demonstrates how, rather than constituting a constant dynamic throughout a century-long historical arc, the settler form of humanitarianism gains particular prominence during moments of crisis, disruptions of populations (both settler and native), and peaks in colonial violence.The event is co-badged with The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH).About the speakerPietro Stefanini is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and a Tutor in the School of Social and Political Sciences. He holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where he was awarded a Politics and International Relations doctoral scholarship. His primary research interests are in the international politics of humanitarianism, empire and settler colonialism, and anti-colonial resistance.Some of his academic work has been published in Millennium: Journal of International Studies, Participation and Conflict, and by the American University in Cairo Press. He has written shorter pieces for the Legal Agenda and Middle East Eye, and has appeared as a commentator on Al Jazeera TV. Since 2022, he has served as a researcher for the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in occupied Palestine.View Pietro's staff profileAbout the seminar seriesThe Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies research seminar series, taking place during the spring semester 2026, draws upon theories and methodologies from the Humanities and Social Sciences to study Palestine through temporal and spatial narratives.The series aims to bring together academics, writers, and artists, both in person and online, to engage critically with knowledge production in Palestine Studies. Our guest speakers will unpack timely questions about colonial violence and various creative counternarratives in academia, literature, music, cinema, and the digital world.Some of the events are co-badged with: The Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, and The School of Social and Political Sciences. We welcome you all to join us for these timely debates and discussions!How to attendEvents are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. If you wish to join online, you can email a colleague in IMES for joining information.All talks are followed by a reception. Email an IMES colleague to join online Are you interested in studying with us?We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Tags Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Feb 02 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Pietro Stefanini Join us for a hybrid seminar by Dr Pietro Stefanini (University of Edinburgh) in which he will discuss tracing a genealogy of the relationship between humanitarianism and settler colonialism, from the period of British imperial rule in Palestine to present-day. Room LG.09 40 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 40 George Square Email an IMES colleague to join online
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Pietro Stefanini In brief Date - 2 February 2026Venue - Room LG.09, 40 George SquareSpeakers - Dr Pietro Stefanini (University of Edinburgh)Title - Making Colonisation Humanitarian: A Genealogy of Settler Humanitarianism in Palestine/Israel Email an IMES colleague to join online About the eventPietro Stefanini will discuss a book manuscript project, which deploys archival and ethnographic methods to trace a genealogy of the relationship between humanitarianism and settler colonialism, from the period of British imperial rule in Palestine, through the 1948 Nakba and 1967 Naksa, to the contemporary conjuncture and the genocide in Gaza.The book illustrates a settler colonial modality of humanitarianism along two main axes: enabling the continuous reproduction of the settler society; and providing a mechanism for the dispossession of the Palestinian people. It demonstrates how, rather than constituting a constant dynamic throughout a century-long historical arc, the settler form of humanitarianism gains particular prominence during moments of crisis, disruptions of populations (both settler and native), and peaks in colonial violence.The event is co-badged with The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities (IASH).About the speakerPietro Stefanini is a Postdoctoral Fellow at the Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities and a Tutor in the School of Social and Political Sciences. He holds a PhD from the University of Edinburgh, where he was awarded a Politics and International Relations doctoral scholarship. His primary research interests are in the international politics of humanitarianism, empire and settler colonialism, and anti-colonial resistance.Some of his academic work has been published in Millennium: Journal of International Studies, Participation and Conflict, and by the American University in Cairo Press. He has written shorter pieces for the Legal Agenda and Middle East Eye, and has appeared as a commentator on Al Jazeera TV. Since 2022, he has served as a researcher for the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights situation in occupied Palestine.View Pietro's staff profileAbout the seminar seriesThe Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies research seminar series, taking place during the spring semester 2026, draws upon theories and methodologies from the Humanities and Social Sciences to study Palestine through temporal and spatial narratives.The series aims to bring together academics, writers, and artists, both in person and online, to engage critically with knowledge production in Palestine Studies. Our guest speakers will unpack timely questions about colonial violence and various creative counternarratives in academia, literature, music, cinema, and the digital world.Some of the events are co-badged with: The Alwaleed Centre for the Study of Islam in the Contemporary World, The Institute for Advanced Studies in the Humanities, and The School of Social and Political Sciences. We welcome you all to join us for these timely debates and discussions!How to attendEvents are free and everyone is welcome. No booking is required. If you wish to join online, you can email a colleague in IMES for joining information.All talks are followed by a reception. Email an IMES colleague to join online Are you interested in studying with us?We are the only university in Scotland to offer courses in the Muslim world's three main languages, placing Arabic, Persian and Turkish in the context of history, literature, culture, religion and politics, past and present.Choose from a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, including PhD programmes. Find out more about Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at Edinburgh Tags Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Feb 02 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Pietro Stefanini Join us for a hybrid seminar by Dr Pietro Stefanini (University of Edinburgh) in which he will discuss tracing a genealogy of the relationship between humanitarianism and settler colonialism, from the period of British imperial rule in Palestine to present-day. Room LG.09 40 George Square University of Edinburgh EH8 9JX Find the venue: 40 George Square Email an IMES colleague to join online
Feb 02 2026 17.15 - 18.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Pietro Stefanini Join us for a hybrid seminar by Dr Pietro Stefanini (University of Edinburgh) in which he will discuss tracing a genealogy of the relationship between humanitarianism and settler colonialism, from the period of British imperial rule in Palestine to present-day.
