Call for Papers:

Social Policy and Religion in the Middle East

European University Institute, Florence, Italy

6-9 of April 2011

We would like to draw your attention to a call for papers for a workshop on “Social Policy and Religion in the Middle East: Questioning Existing Paradigms”, to be held as part of the 12^th Mediterranean Research Meeting of the European University Institute, in Florence, Italy between 6-9 of April 2011.    Scholars from the Middle East and elsewhere engaged in research on social policy and religion in general or on social policy and religion in the Middle East, in particular, are encouraged to submit abstracts by July 15^th on the meeting website -  http://www.eui.eu/RSCAS/Med/mrm2011/.

We will be happy to consider papers on issues concerning:

- the role of religion in state social policy formulation;

- the social welfare activities of faith-based organizations;

- the impact of religion on the structuring of social policy institutions;  

- historcial perspectives on the role of religion in social policy;

- the relationship between religion and philanthropy;

- gender and religious welfare;

- Comparative perspectives (cross-regional or cross-national)

- case studies on specific Middle Eastern nations (MENA nations. Turkey, Israel and Cyprus) or on services or sectors within these nations;

- overviews relating to the region as a whole or a number of nations within this region;

- other areas subject to agreement with the directors

The directors of the workshop will be happy to respond to questions concerning the workshop and potential papers.

Additional data on the topic of the workshop and practical details can be found on the meeting website.

Ran Jawad ([log in to unmask])

John Gal ([log in to unmask])