In both Arabic and Persian, the term majlis describes a regular gathering of like-minded individuals. It is regularly used in the Arabian Peninsula as a forum for friends and colleagues to meet and discuss political and social developments, to engage in debate, to share views and research, and to network. The Majlis at the ANU will provide a space for scholars and the public to meet and share their thoughts on contemporary events across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. It will also provide an opportunity for scholars to present their own original research and hear feedback from their peers.
The Majlis will be held fortnightly starting from Friday 29 April, and is open to the public. Participation by graduate students across the ANU and other Canberra-based research institutions is welcome. Meetings will be held on Fridays from 11am to 12pm in the Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies (Building 127, Ellery Crescent), and will be catered.
Discussions focus on a topic that is central to media coverage at that time. For example, Syria is scheduled to hold legislative elections on 13 April, which will allow the introduction of a broader discussion on Syria’s civil war and recent developments in the Levant. Prior to each Majlis, several short articles (of newspaper or journalistic depth) will be distributed to participants to get the conversation started.
Every third or fourth meeting will focus on a more theoretical or academic topic, and provide an opportunity for scholars to share and receive feedback on their own research. Any member of the Majlis is welcome to recommend a topic of personal interest, and the group will do their best to accommodate it. The preference is for subjects that can be linked to contemporary events, but the only requirement is that they be useful to members, and interesting! One of the purposes of the Majlis is to build connections and awareness of research across the ANU.
The Majlis is free and open to the public, but please RSVP for catering purposes.