The Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC) held a seminar entitled 'A Pioneer of Islamic Studies in Hungary: Ignaz Goldziher (1850-1921) and his Significance for the 21st Century' on 4... Show moreThe Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo (NVIC) held a seminar entitled 'A Pioneer of Islamic Studies in Hungary: Ignaz Goldziher (1850-1921) and his Significance for the 21st Century' on 4 October 2000, in co-operation with the Hungarian Embassy in Cairo. The work of Ignaz Goldziher can still be regarded as seminal for numerous fields within Arabic and Islamic Studies. Show less
The title of the international congress held in Leiden from 14 to 16 December 2000, 'Religious Freedom and the Neutrality of the State: The Position of Islam in the European Union', can be said to... Show moreThe title of the international congress held in Leiden from 14 to 16 December 2000, 'Religious Freedom and the Neutrality of the State: The Position of Islam in the European Union', can be said to indicate a challenge. Although all member states of the European Union state the principles of religious freedom and non-discrimination in their constitutions, neutrality appears to be a paradoxical concept. A group of 35 scholars from 11 countries of the European Union discussed the recent developments regarding the position of Islam within the current national legislations, political structures and public discourses in the European Union. Show less
From 6 to 8 December 2001 the ISIM, together with the Research Centre Religion and Society, will hold an international conference on 'Religion, Media and the Public Sphere' at the University of... Show moreFrom 6 to 8 December 2001 the ISIM, together with the Research Centre Religion and Society, will hold an international conference on 'Religion, Media and the Public Sphere' at the University of Amsterdam. Since the 1990s, three themes have featured prominently in debates in the social sciences and cultural studies: the crisis of the post-colonial nation-state, the increasing global accessibility and proliferation of electronic media, and the rise of religious movements. Show less
From 21-24 June 2000, a group of international scholars met in Paris to discuss modern Islamist movements in a conference under the (translated) heading: 'Twenty Years After...'. The idea was to... Show moreFrom 21-24 June 2000, a group of international scholars met in Paris to discuss modern Islamist movements in a conference under the (translated) heading: 'Twenty Years After...'. The idea was to review and assess the 20 years of the studies of Islamist movements, taking the Iranian Revolution of 1979 as a hypothetical point of reference. These movements, collectively known as 'Political Islam', have been used synonymously with terms as varied as 'fundamentalism', 'alternative modernities', 'Islamic revivalism', and so on. It has been perceived as a 'threat', a force opposing Western culture in the 'clash of civilizations'. The more militant groups, with their calls for 'jihad', are often - and erroneously - considered representative of Political Islam as a whole. Show less
In October 1998, The Middle East and West Europe Centers of the University of California at Berkeley jointly sponsored a two-day symposium, ‘Islam and the Changing Identity of Europe: Culture,... Show moreIn October 1998, The Middle East and West Europe Centers of the University of California at Berkeley jointly sponsored a two-day symposium, ‘Islam and the Changing Identity of Europe: Culture, Politics and Citizenship in an Era of Globalization’. The programme focused on the deep ideational changes which have been taking place in Europe due to the Muslim populations which have sprung up in the United Kingdom, France, Germany and elsewhere. The symposium explored political and cultural aspects of the emerging identities of these relatively new citizens Ð how they view themselves and how they are viewed by non-Muslim Europeans, as well as how the relatively indigenous populations of Europe are being forced to rethink their own collective identities, both as Europeans and as citizens of specific countries. In their symposium prospectus and introductory remarks the organizers argued that these are no longer migration issues in the traditional sense, because most Muslims in Europe are no longer migrants. Muslim populations have been present in Europe for several generations, although many Europeans have been slow to recognize that Islam is now a European religion. Show less
The ISIM is organizing sounding board meetings in the intellectual capitals of the Muslim world. The first of this series was held in Beirut last May. In October 1999, an ISIM delegation visited... Show moreThe ISIM is organizing sounding board meetings in the intellectual capitals of the Muslim world. The first of this series was held in Beirut last May. In October 1999, an ISIM delegation visited Cairo for a joint meeting with the Center for the Study of Developing Countries at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science (FEPS) of Cairo University. The ISIM delegation also visited a number of other institutes in order to explore the possibilities of cooperation, in particular in view of the collection of local printed materials. The choice for Cairo was an obvious one: the city has been a centre of Islamic learning since the early days of Islam and has been a cradle of reformist, modernist and revivalist movements in the last two centuries. This city of teeming millions has a large number of publishing houses that produce an abundance of Islamic literature, demonstrating the scholarly vitality of the city that also hosts major trends in Islam today. Show less
One of the objectives of the ISIM is to build cooperation networks with academics and institutions in other countries in order to develop the field of the study of Islam in the modern world as a... Show moreOne of the objectives of the ISIM is to build cooperation networks with academics and institutions in other countries in order to develop the field of the study of Islam in the modern world as a scientific discipline and to seek institutional collaboration in this respect. The first of such meetings was held in Beirut on 27 May 1999 with the German Orient Institute in Beirut as host. Scholars from academic institutions in Lebanon, Turkey, Jordan, and Syria attended the meeting. Show less
The Second International Malaysian Studies Conference was held at the University of Malaya from 2-4 August 1999. It was attended by local participants from Malaysia, as well as many from such... Show moreThe Second International Malaysian Studies Conference was held at the University of Malaya from 2-4 August 1999. It was attended by local participants from Malaysia, as well as many from such countries as the UK, Germany, Denmark, Japan, and the US. The papers addressed issues relating to Malaysia, particularly with regard to economics, politics, education, culture, technology, and religion, especially Islam. The following pertains to the sessions which made most reference to Islam. The Conference as a whole, however, was not confined to Islam. Show less
The 4th International Summer Academy of the Berlinbased Working Group Modernity and Islam (see ISIM Newsletter 2) took place from 13-25 September 1999 at the Fondation du Roi Abdul-Aziz Al Saoud... Show moreThe 4th International Summer Academy of the Berlinbased Working Group Modernity and Islam (see ISIM Newsletter 2) took place from 13-25 September 1999 at the Fondation du Roi Abdul-Aziz Al Saoud pour les Etudes Islamiques et les Sciences Humaines in Casablanca, Morocco. About 30 junior and senior scholars from various disciplines and geographical backgrounds discussed questions relating to 'Notions of Law and Order in Muslim Societies' at one of the major research institutions in the Muslim world. The Summer Academy was directed by Professor Gudrun Kramer from the Institute of Islamic Studies of the Free University of Berlin. Show less
On Tuesday, 20 October 1998, the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM) celebrated its official opening day. Well over 300 people attended the gathering in the... Show moreOn Tuesday, 20 October 1998, the International Institute for the Study of Islam in the Modern World (ISIM) celebrated its official opening day. Well over 300 people attended the gathering in the renovated Concert Hall of Leiden. It was to become a memorable day, attracting extensive media coverage following protests by Iranian asylum seekers. The morning programme consisted in the more official aspects of the day, featuring an opening speech by State Secretary of Justice and - what sparked off an angry response of the demonstrators - an address by Faezeh Hashemi, member of Parliament of Iran and editor-owner of the oppositional Zanperio dical. The address did not take place. After a short musical intermezzo, the afternoon programme had a more academic tone: a lecture by anthropologist Professor Dale Eickelman and a forum discussion on the format and plans of the ISIM. Show less
Transformation Processes and Islam in Africa was the theme of a conference held on 15 October 1999 at the African Studies Centre (ASC) in Leiden, the Netherlands. The conference was co-sponsored ISIM.
Qur'anic studies, Ulum al-Qur'an, is a multi-disciplinary field of scholarship. Its development is necessarily governed by the progress achieved in social sciences in general and in linguistics,... Show moreQur'anic studies, Ulum al-Qur'an, is a multi-disciplinary field of scholarship. Its development is necessarily governed by the progress achieved in social sciences in general and in linguistics, semantics and hermeneutics in particular. The assumption underlying the idea of the symposium is that the long history as well as the well-established tradition of Qur'anic studies in Islamic culture have been under the great influence of modern political and cultural changes in the Muslim world. The twentieth century witnessed the emergence of almost a new world order, which affected all fields of knowledge. As for the Muslim world it has been a century of external as well as internal conflict. Show less
