Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Nora Jaber In brief Date - 13 February 2024 Guest speaker - Dr Nora Jaber (University of Exeter) Title - Colonial Logic and Capitalist aims: Interrogating Saudi Arabia’s ‘progress’ narrative Format - Talk, Q&A and reception Email for joining details About the event This talk will examine the Saudi Arabian state narrative’s recent emphasis on ‘progress’ and ‘prosperity’, and interrogates how it builds on Orientalist and homogenising constructions of Saudi Arabia found in ‘Western’ knowledge production. Dr Jaber will argue that efforts to decolonise Middle East Studies must contend with how a colonial logic is reproduced in and by the region to further neoliberal capitalist state agendas. About the speaker Dr Nora Jaber joined Exeter Law School in 2021. She holds an LLB from King's College London, an LLM in Public International Law from the London School in Economics, and a PhD in Law from King's College London. Nora's research focuses primarily on the role and limitations of international human rights law in achieving gender justice in non-Western contexts, with a focus on women's rights in the Middle East. Her doctoral thesis was awarded the 2022 Leigh Douglas Memorial Prize for best dissertation on a Middle Eastern topic in the Social Sciences or Humanities. About the seminar series This seminar series critically employs the concept of decoloniality, a term coined by sociologist Anibal Quijano. By questioning the boundaries of knowledge production, agency and representation more specifically within the curriculum in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, the series will bring together a diverse range of perspectives on historical and contemporary topics, interrogating some unexamined framings that shape our understanding of the Middle East. Seminars will be interdisciplinary, covering diverse themes, such as: Arabic teaching pedagogy; archiving and the production of history during and after the British Mandate in Scotland, Lebanon, Palestine and Somalia; Saudi Arabia’s progressive narratives; the role of libraries and librarians in the UK. The series also explores new avenues in the study of the region, reflecting on its positionality within Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and by looking into consolidating interdisciplinarity and dialogue with other fields. How to join Events 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 details. All talks are followed by a reception. Email for joining details 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 Feb 13 2024 13.00 - 14.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Nora Jaber Join us on campus for a seminar by Dr Nora Jaber (University of Exeter) that will examine Saudi Arabia's recent narrative and emphasis on 'progress'. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LH Find the venue: 50 George Square Email for joining details
Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Nora Jaber In brief Date - 13 February 2024 Guest speaker - Dr Nora Jaber (University of Exeter) Title - Colonial Logic and Capitalist aims: Interrogating Saudi Arabia’s ‘progress’ narrative Format - Talk, Q&A and reception Email for joining details About the event This talk will examine the Saudi Arabian state narrative’s recent emphasis on ‘progress’ and ‘prosperity’, and interrogates how it builds on Orientalist and homogenising constructions of Saudi Arabia found in ‘Western’ knowledge production. Dr Jaber will argue that efforts to decolonise Middle East Studies must contend with how a colonial logic is reproduced in and by the region to further neoliberal capitalist state agendas. About the speaker Dr Nora Jaber joined Exeter Law School in 2021. She holds an LLB from King's College London, an LLM in Public International Law from the London School in Economics, and a PhD in Law from King's College London. Nora's research focuses primarily on the role and limitations of international human rights law in achieving gender justice in non-Western contexts, with a focus on women's rights in the Middle East. Her doctoral thesis was awarded the 2022 Leigh Douglas Memorial Prize for best dissertation on a Middle Eastern topic in the Social Sciences or Humanities. About the seminar series This seminar series critically employs the concept of decoloniality, a term coined by sociologist Anibal Quijano. By questioning the boundaries of knowledge production, agency and representation more specifically within the curriculum in Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies, the series will bring together a diverse range of perspectives on historical and contemporary topics, interrogating some unexamined framings that shape our understanding of the Middle East. Seminars will be interdisciplinary, covering diverse themes, such as: Arabic teaching pedagogy; archiving and the production of history during and after the British Mandate in Scotland, Lebanon, Palestine and Somalia; Saudi Arabia’s progressive narratives; the role of libraries and librarians in the UK. The series also explores new avenues in the study of the region, reflecting on its positionality within Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and by looking into consolidating interdisciplinarity and dialogue with other fields. How to join Events 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 details. All talks are followed by a reception. Email for joining details 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 Feb 13 2024 13.00 - 14.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Nora Jaber Join us on campus for a seminar by Dr Nora Jaber (University of Exeter) that will examine Saudi Arabia's recent narrative and emphasis on 'progress'. Project Room 1.06 50 George Square Edinburgh EH8 9LH Find the venue: 50 George Square Email for joining details
Feb 13 2024 13.00 - 14.30 Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies Research Seminar Series: Nora Jaber Join us on campus for a seminar by Dr Nora Jaber (University of Exeter) that will examine Saudi Arabia's recent narrative and emphasis on 'progress'.
