International treaties represent critical moments in the history of Armenia and of the Armenian people that had serious implications for their status and future as well as that of neighboring peoples and countries. International treaties also constitute the linchpin of diplomatic history, an aspect of Armenian history that has been neglected. The purpose of the conference is to determine patterns and processes which might shed light on the challenges faced by Armenia and Armenians in their long history.

For the purposes of this conference the term “treaties” will include also international agreements such as the one between the Armenian merchants of India and the British East India Company in 1688 or the May 1896 agreement regarding the Eastern provinces of the Ottoman Empire.

Scholars interested in the subject of Armenian diplomatic history from earliest times to the present are invited to submit abstracts for their proposed papers on the theme to Ms. Gloria Caudill, ASP Administrator, (gcaudill@umich.edu) by Friday, October 3, 2008. ASP will notify scholars regarding the acceptance of their proposal by the end of October, 2008. Final papers should be submitted two weeks before the conference, by February 18, 2009. The papers will be made available to all participants in order to limit presentations during the conference to 20 minutes per participant and provide time for discussion during panels.

The conference will begin with a reception on the evening of Wednesday, March 18, followed by three full days of panels. The conference will be webcast live internationally. Professor Gerard Libaridian is the main convener of the conference.

The language of the conference will be English, although presentations in Armenian as well as in French, Russian and Spanish will be accepted as long as the presenter can provide an English translation of the paper two weeks before the conference.

ASP will cover all expenses related to travel, lodging and meals for participants.

For further information, please contact Ms. Gloria Caudill at the ASP office:
Email: gcaudill@umich.edu
Telephone: (1) 734-763-0622.

The Abe Fellowship is designed to encourage international multi-disciplinary research on topics of pressing global concern. The program seeks to foster the development of a new generation of researchers who are interested in policy-relevant topics of long- range importance and who are willing to become key members of a bilateral and global research network built around such topics.

It strives especially to promote a new level of intellectual cooperation between the Japanese and American academic and professional communities committed to and trained for advancing global understanding and problem solving.

Applicants are invited to submit proposals for research in the social sciences and related disciplines relevant to any one or any combination of the following three themes: traditional and non-traditional approaches to security and diplomacy; global and regional economic issues; and the role of civil society. Research proposals bearing on these themes may address issues related to human security, multilateralism, bilateralism, U.S.-Japan relations, transnational economic relations, the empowerment of peoples and communities, and sustainable development, among others.

This competition is open to citizens of the United States and Japan as well as to nationals of other countries who can demonstrate strong and serious long-term affiliations with research communities in Japan or the United States. Applications are welcome from scholars and non-academic research professionals.

Applicants must hold a Ph.D. or the terminal degree in their field, or have attained an equivalent level of professional experience.

Visit the SSRC Web site for complete program guidelines.
RFP Link: http://fconline.foundationcenter.org/pnd/15014018/fellowshipsssrc

For additional RFPs in Social Sciences, visit:
http://foundationcenter.org/pnd/rfp/cat_social_sciences.jhtml

This particular group of students is participating in one of George Mason University’s Center for Global Education Summer Internship Programs titled, “Israel and Palestine: An Applied Workshop in History, Politics and Peacemaking.”

Their desire to share about their observations and work this summer provides an excellent opportunity for all of our readers, and those who may stumble upon the PIJ for the first time, to become acquainted with the numerous organizations that are working towards articulating and living a sustainable peace in Israel and in a future Palestine.

We look forward to your online visit at www.pij.org. As always, you may leave any feedback that is inspired after reading these blog entries, and we encourage you to do so!

Best wishes,
PIJ Staff

A conference for K-16 educators in Foreign Languages, Social Studies and Humanities-related fields, featuring renowned experts in Intercultural Competence and Communication from across the U.S. as well as University of Arizona faculty. For more details about the conference including complete schedule with abstracts, see the conference webpage: http://cercll.arizona.edu/events_intercultural.php. Scholarships that pay registration and lodging costs are available.

Keynote address by Janet Bennett, Intercultural Communication Institute

Plenary addresses by: Benjamin Broome, Arizona State University; Darla Deardorff, Duke University; Kamakshi Murti, Middlebury College; Gail Robinson, San Diego State University; Renate Schulz, University of Arizona; Christian Sinclair, University of Arizona. Other sessions will be given by faculty of the University of Arizona.

The Institute for National Strategic Studies
in cooperation with the
Office of the Secretary of Defense and U.S. Joint Forces Command

4-5 June 2008

Fundamental to the development and implementation of a successful future defense posture is a foundation comprised of a well-reasoned assessment of the future security environment, a clear understanding of the “realm of the possible” for and limitations of military forces, and an understanding of the nation’s security objectives. Developing an appropriate assessment of the future security environment is not something done in a vacuum as it is impossible to fully separate purely military or national security issues from other elements of the national and global environment. This is particularly true for the United States. Technical innovation and adaptation, the rise and decline of other actors on the international stage, domestic politics, globalization and its effects on trade, migration, communications, and the power of nonstate actors all, bear heavily on any security assessment.

The objectives of this symposium are to examine some of these strategic assessments, to review our success at incorporating their key elements into strategic and operational plans, and to propose ways to institutionalize best practices into the process for future force development and joint force planning. We will explore these issues through a series of panel discussions and keynote addresses.

There is a registration fee for this symposium, which includes continental breakfast and lunch on both days. Registration and payments must be made through the pay.gov web site using our online registration form. See our website for a link to the online registration form.

$95 - The registration fee before May 20, 2008
$135 - The registration fee after May 19, 2008

Register and view our agenda at: http://www.ndu.edu/inss/symposia/joint2008/index.htm.
Call 202-685-3857 if you have questions or need assistance.

Courses: students may choose two courses to ear n up to 6 credits:
Beginning ARAB 110: must have basic knowledge of the script (6 credits) Intermediate ARAB 210 (3 credits) and Gateway to advance ARAB 250 (3 credits) Intermediate ARAB I 201 (3 credits) and Intermediate ARAB II 202 (3 credits) Advanced reading and Conversation I and II, ARAB 330 and 331 (3 credits each course.

Dates: June 28- July 30-2008

Housing: students will stay in a Hotel that is 10 min away from the university.

Price: $6,292 for in and out of state. This includes: airfare, tuition, housing, some meals, visa fees, excursion, ground transportation, ID card, travel guide, emergency evacuation insurance, pre-departure orientation and much more.

Please visit our web site: http://globaled.gmu.edu/Programs/summer/intarabicsummerjordan08.html

Deadline for the Applications is April 20th.

We hope you will join us at the 9th Annual Conference of CSID, which will take place on May 14, at the George Washington University, in Washington DC. The main theme for this year's conference will be:

Political Islam and Democracy - What do Islamists and Islamic Movements want?

We have put together an excellent program, including several world-renown experts, leaders, and activists as well as parliamentarians of Islamic movements from different countries, to discuss their parties' views and positions on democracy. To view the tentative program, go to Tentative Program

To register for the conference, please go to Online Registration

We sincerely hope you will join us at this important conference on May 14.

Wassalam,

Radwan Masmoudi..............................Asma Afsaruddin
President, CSID............................Chair of the Board, CSID

CENTER FOR THE STUDY OF ISLAM AND DEMOCRACY

Inviting papers dealing with different issues of Arab-American Women’s lives, including immigration, history (especially the early history of Arab-American women), settlement, organizations, professions, gender issues, marriage and family, health, religion, involvement in society and politics, status within the Arab-American community and the larger American society, successes and failures, general accomplishments, etc. Papers which analyze Arab-American literature, music and the arts are also invited.

Abstracts, not to exceed one page, should be submitted to suleiman@ksu.edu.

Call for papers deadline: August 31, 2008.

Final drafts should be ready and submitted by January 15, 2009.

The University of Wisconsin–Green Bay announces an exciting opportunity for high school students: several days in Washington, D.C. and a seven-week Arabic language institute in Amman, Jordan. A diverse group of 21 students from across the U.S. will be selected to participate in this once-in-a-lifetime experience along with four previous participants (special assistants) and program staff.

-Must be age 15-18 when the program begins.
-A GPA of 3.0 is required.
-No previous Arabic experience required.
-Pre-departure and follow-on learning online using podcasts and other fun materials, with assistance from instructors of Arabic.
-Pre-departure and return activities in Washington, D.C., including: cross-cultural orientation, “Arabic in Careers" presentations, and visits to Washington museums and monuments.
-Cultural immersion activities in Jordan including: field trips to places like Dana Nature Reserve and Petra, the “Lost City of Stone,” visits to museums, government offices, multinational organizations, and other special places of interest; community service and civil society projects with Jordanian youth organizations; a four-week home stay with a host family.
-Accompanied for the duration of the program by Arabic-speaking American staff who have traveled and worked in the region.

Participants are responsible for partial expenses.
For more information and the application package:
www.uwgb.edu/intlprojects/jordan.htm

-The Centrality of Lebanon & Syria for the Future of Palestine and the Middle East
-Hezbollah’s Role in Lebanon
-Hamas’ Strategic Options in Palestine
-The Plight of Millions of Iraqi Refugees in Syria & Jordan

An Academic Dialogue Trip Sponsored by US Academics (A division of Conscience International)

Featuring interaction with academic colleagues At universities in Damascus and Beirut, plus key official briefings and valuable cultural experiences.

US Academics engages in citizen diplomacy through academic exchanges and cultural experiences designed to help bridge the divide between the US and Middle Eastern countries and to explore alternatives to “Clash of Civilizations.”

Previous US Academics-sponsored conferences were held at Baghdad University—Tehran University—Damascus University—Khartoum University

ITINERARY
May 14, WED—departure from US; May 15, THURS—Arrive in Amman, Jordan; continue to Beirut, Lebanon; May 16, FRI—Meetings at the Lebanese Foreign Ministry; Visit South Beirut for Meeting with Hezbollah spokesman; May 17, SAT—Visit to Tyre, Qana and the Litani River Valley, including villages bombed in the 2006 August War; May 18, SUN—Visit Ma’aloula and Christian areas north of Beirut; May 19, MON— Visit Baalbek in the Bekaa Valley; travel by road to Damascus, Syria; May 20, TUE— City tour in Damascus: reception at the Foreign Ministry; May 21, WED— Official meetings with Syrian Foreign Ministry; May 22, THURS— Day-long academic colloquium at Damascus University, including meetings with key religious and political leaders; May 23, FRI— All day trip to Palmyra, the fabulous Roman-period city in the desert; May 24, SAT—Visit national archaeological museum; May 25, SUN—Catch-up day for personal activities; May 26, MON—Flight from Damascus to Amman and back to the US.

REGISTRATION
Cost of $2,695 includes international airfare, hotels, meals, entrance fees, and local transportation. Domestic airfare not included. Contact: James E. Jennings, PhD, Executive Director, tel. 678-513-7565; www.conscienceinternational.org; e-mail jimjennings@earthlink.net

The AANM and the AAHF are partnering to bring about a conference which collects and disseminates research about Arab Americans and Arab American history. To this end, we are accepting proposals for papers on topics dealing with Arab Americans within the disciplines of humanities and the social sciences on contemporary or historical issues related to Arab Americans.

PAPERS: Please send a one-page abstract (250 – 300 words) for a 15 – 20 minute presentation relating to Arab Americans in a contemporary or historical context. Send paper abstracts to aahistory@accesscommunity.org.

In your proposal, be sure to include your name, the title of your presentation, an email and/or postal address, your occupation, academic affiliation (if applicable), resume, and your A/V needs. Papers will be selected by the Conference committee and selected participants will receive an invitation to present at the Forum. Proceedings from the Conference will be compiled and made available to the public and researchers. A partial subsidy to presenters is available.

The deadline for proposal submission is June 30, 2008.
Selected participants will be notified by July 15, 2008.

For immediate information on the conference or submitting paper proposals, please contact tlsfritzler@accesscommunity.org or call (313)624-0224

http://www.arabamericanmuseum.org/Arab-American-History-Conference.id.468.htm

Organized by:
The Institute for National Strategic Studies
in cooperation with the Office of the Secretary of Defense and U.S. Joint Forces Command
4-5 June 2008

Fundamental to the development and implementation of a successful future defense posture is a foundation comprised of a well-reasoned assessment of the future security environment, a clear understanding of the “realm of the possible” for and limitations of military forces, and an understanding of the nation’s security objectives. Developing an appropriate assessment of the future security environment is not something done in a vacuum as it is impossible to fully separate purely military or national security issues from other elements of the national and global environment. This is particularly true for the United States. Technical innovation and adaptation, the rise and decline of other actors on the international stage, domestic politics, globalization and its effects on trade, migration, communications, and the power of nonstate actors all, bear heavily on any security assessment.

The objectives of this symposium are to examine some of these strategic assessments, to review our success at incorporating their key elements into strategic and operational plans, and to propose ways to institutionalize best practices into the process for future force development and joint force planning. We will explore these issues through a series of panel discussions and keynote addresses.

There is a registration fee for this symposium, which includes continental breakfast and lunch on both days. Registration and payments must be made through the pay.gov web site using our online registration form. See our website for a link to the online registration form.

$95 - The registration fee before May 20, 2008
$135 - The registration fee after May 19, 2008

Register and view our agenda at: http://www.ndu.edu/inss/symposia/joint2008/index.htm.
Call 202-685-3857 if you have questions or need assistance.