The 2011 conference, “Marxism and Cultural Studies,”

Many accounts of the emergence and development of Cultural Studies accord a central place to Marxism, both as a body of knowledge and as an important ideological component of the New Left. The rediscovery of  the writings of Antonio Gramsci, George Luckacs, Walter Benjamin, and Theodor Adorno, among others, along with the formation of the 
Birmingham Centre for Cultural Studies, led to a general renaissance of Marxist theory and cultural analysis, which in turn resulted in ground-breaking studies of working class culture, the political role of new social movements that were not class based, the power of ideology and mass culture in sustaining existing social relations, and critical analyses of state-authoritarianism. As Cultural Studies crossed the Atlantic and gained an institutional foothold in the United States,
some have feared that its engagement with Marxism has been diluted through an over emphasis on the subversive potentialities of mass media and consumer capitalism.

The 2011 conference, “Marxism and Cultural Studies,” will explore the role of Marxism in the field. Some questions that motivate this year’s conference are: How do we understand the relationship between the base and superstructure today? Does ideology critique still have an ongoing usefulness? Do globalization and the world recession require new
objects of study? To what extent does Marxism provide a utopian impulse for existing social movements? Do iterations of Cultural Studies in South Asia, Africa, Central and Latin America, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe retain a
commitment to Marxism and how is this work revitalizing the field more broadly? Does the Marxist imperative to
historicize challenge current paradigms of cultural analysis such as the “New Formalism”? What exactly does a historical materialist methodology enable? How do we articulate media analyses with questions of political economy, geo-politics, and activism? What is the role of the intellectual and Cultural Studies more generally?

Panelists will address some of these issues during three sessions:

“Marxism and Cultural Analysis,” “Marxism and Social Movements,” and “Marxism and History.” Invited speakers include:  Dianne Feeley (UAW and Against the Current) Laura E. Lyons (University of Hawai’i), Ursula McTaggart (Wilmington College), and Janet Sorensen (University of California, Berkeley). S. Charusheela (University of Nevada) will deliver the keynote address which will consider the “return” to Marx and the political limitations of a too-easy embrace of economic determinism for cultural analyses.
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FRIDAY,
April 1 (Ernie Pyle Auditorium, Room 220)
4:00-6:00 pm; Opening
Keynote:
Delivered by S. Charusheela “Rethinking Marxism in Times of
Turmoil”

SATURDAY, April 2 in the Faculty Club on the Second Floor of
IMU
10:00 am-12:00pm; Panel I: Marxism and Cultural Analysis
1. Laura E.
Lyons "'I'd Like My Life Back': BP, Corporate Personhood
and the Intimate
Public Sphere"
2. Patrick Dove  "Muddying the Waters: The Politics of
Populism in
Peronist Argentina"
3. Lessie Frazier:"(Counter)Revolutionary
Cultures"
Moderator: Nick Williams

1:00 pm-3:00 pm; Panel II: Marxism
and Social Movements
(Faculty Club on the Second Floor of IMU)
1. Gardner
Bovington "What's class struggle got to do with it?  Social
mobilization and
framing"
2. Dianne Feeley "Building Feminist Consciousness in a Male
Workplace."
3. Jeff Gould "Marxism and Christian Base Communities: Notes from

Morazan, El Salvador”
Moderator: Micol Siegel

3:15 pm--5:15 pm;
Panel III: Marxism and History
(Faculty Club on the Second Floor of
IMU)
1. Janet Sorenson TBA
2. Ursula McTaggart “Change as Code for Black
Radicalism: Barack Obama
and Right-Wing Charges of Socialism”
3. Matt
Guterl "Class Passing and Cosmopolitanism in the Age of
Globalization"
Moderator: Patrick Brantlinger

4th Annual International Public Affairs Association (IPAA) Spring Conference

Faculty and students are invited to attend the 4th Annual International Public Affairs Association (IPAA) Spring Conference, which will take place on Friday, March 25, 2011 at the School of Public and Environmental Affairs (SPEA).

The IPAA Spring Conference is an annual, entirely
student-run conference that seeks to promote cross-disciplinary research and
inquiry in the fields of global public policy and international affairs. This
year, the conference theme is "Global
Problems, Sustainable Solutions: Creating Policy for a Rapidly Changing
World" and will
feature panels on economic development, international aid, administrative
policy, international law, education, vulnerable populations, and environmental
challenges.

This year's keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Carl Gershman,
President of the National Endowment for Democracy.  The title of his talk is "Democracy's New Moment: A Forward
Strategy for Advancing Freedom in the World."

The conference is free and open to the public, and
those interested are encouraged to register for the conference.  Registered
participants will receive breakfast and a copy of the conference prospectus.  A
limited number of seats at a luncheon following the keynote address are reserved
for registered participants on a first-come, first-serve basis.  Participants
may register by emailing ipaa@indiana.edu.

International Medieval Congress

Each July over 1600 medievalists, ranging from senior scholars to postgraduate students, meet at the International Medieval Congress in Leeds in the North of England. The IMC is organised and administered by the Institute for Medieval Studies at the University of Leeds. It takes place at two adjacent conference sites which provide the conference rooms, accommodation, and dining facilities for all participants. The sites are used exclusively by IMC participants, making it an ideal opportunity to network and meet other scholars. Alongside the academic programme there are a wide variety of events and excursions related to medieval fields of study, as well as a world-class bookfair with more than 70 stands.

Each year's Congress has one special thematic strand that focuses on an area of interdisciplinary study in a wider context. The 2011 thematic strand is: Poor...Rich.

Details - www.leeds.ac.uk/ims/imc/imc2011.html

Portland State University - Outreach Coordinator

The Outreach Coordinator of the Middle East Studies Center (MESC) assists that Director and Program Manager in fulfilling the educational mission of the Center and PSU. The position coordinates MESC's year-round outreach program of on- and off-campus conferences, lectures, workshops and cultural events and directs the shape and content of the outreach website. The Outreach Coordinator maintains relationships and collaborates with PSU departments, community organizations, other higher educational institutions and educational and professional organizations that are involved with the study of the Middle East. The Outreach Coordinator promotes PSU's academic and international programs by providing information, meeting with students and assisting on special projects of the MESC Director and Program Manager and the Vice-Provost for International Affairs.

*Primary Responsibilities*
1 Coordinate MESC Outreach Program. Oversee year-round scheduling of lectures, conferences and cultural events; secure speakers, obtain and allocate funds, evaluate programs, collaborate with community organizations, refer speakers, set goals, provide programs and resources for K-12 educators, secure and process acquisitions for MESC resource library with more than 1000 items
2 Build and coordinate the MESC Outreach website. Manage construction and maintenance of dynamic web presence for outreach web site; provide online resources for K-12 educators, businesses, government, media and the general public.
3 Assist the MESC Director and Program Manager on administration, grant writing, fund-raising and special projects. Meet with the Director and Program Manager regularly, provide information, plan and schedule events and meetings and represent MESC on and off campus as needed. Meet with potential and current funders and support PSU alumni relations.
4 Support PSU's Middle East-related Academic Programs Assist faculty and students in obtaining resources, speakers, and professional development opportunities.
5 Oversee MESC's Official Outreach Communication Manage MESC listserv, oversee website content, submit newsletter descriptions of MESC activities, publicize MESC programs, provide information about MESC to the media, and on- and off-campus constituents and create exhibits and displays.
6 Assist the Director and Program Manager in MESC planning, goal-setting and program development Meet with the Director, Program Manager and other staff, faculty and advisory boards to do long term MESC planning and goal setting. Acquire information and participate in setting priorities and decision making process
7 Support Students focused on Middle East Studies Provide opportunities for international U.S. students to be involved in outreach activities
8 Support PSU Internationalization Efforts through the Office of International Affairs Support and provide information about the Middle East to staff working with international students and on overseas study programs. Collaborate with other OIA units on special projects.

*Required Qualifications*
* BA/BS in Middle East Studies, International Studies, Education, or a related field with 3+ years of related experience or Masters in Middle East Studies, International Studies, Education, or a related field with
1+ year of related experience.
* Successful completion of a background check or a valid driver's license.
* Must be able and willing to travel and transport materials.

*Preferred Qualifications*
* Masters or advanced professional degree with 3+ years of experience.
* Strong communication and organizational skills * Ability to be flexible, work independently, assume responsibility, and to initiate new ideas * Ability to work with faculty, administrators, and the general public.
* Excellent ability in Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Suite software * Willingness to work a limited number of evening and weekend hours * Experience with US Government-funded grants and contract compliance * Grant writing and management experience * Curriculum development and assessment experience * Academic background in the Middle East * Experience with outreach
*
Compensation*
The starting annual salary rate for this position based on 0.8 FTE is
$32,506 with an excellent benefits package including fully paid healthcare; a generous retirement and vacation package; and reduced tuition rates for employee, spouse or dependent at any of the Oregon University System schools.

*To Apply*
Please submit a cover letter and resume to Outreach Coordinator Search Committee, c/o Lydia Beyoud, Middle East Studies Center, Post Office Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751, or via e-mail at beyoudL@pdx.edu beyoudL@pdx.edu>. Review of applications will begin immediately and position will remain open until finalists are identified.

EMPLOYMENT: Assistant Professor- Arabic

Department of Languages & Literatures

Position:

The Department of Languages & Literatures at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater is seeking a dynamic and versatile teacher of Arabic with a broad background in literature and cultural studies for a full-time tenure-track position for the 2011-12 academic year. Responsible for regular teaching of beginning through advanced Modern Standard Arabic in the classroom and via distance education. Occasional teaching of an upper-level general humanities core curriculum course (World of Ideas) that emphasizes a multidisciplinary approach, Middle Eastern/African literature in translation and/or a course on contemporary Islam is also anticipated. 12-hour teaching load each semester.

Starting Date: August 24, 2011

Qualifications:

Ph.D. or ABD in Arabic language and literature, comparative literature or closely related field. The ideal candidate will have native or near-native fluency in Arabic, a strong background in second language teaching pedagogy and comfort with technology-rich learning environments. Prior second language teaching at the university level is required. Familiarity or experience with distance education, including emerging web-based technology for language learning is highly desirable.

Rank: Assistant Professor, Tenure-Track

Salary: Dependent upon qualifications and experience.

University:

UW-Whitewater is a premier public regional university with an enrollment of 11,400 students in 44 undergraduate majors and 12 master's degree programs. It offers high-quality, career oriented programs with a model general education curriculum.

Community:

Whitewater, a city with a population of over 14,000 is located in southeastern Wisconsin near the scenic Kettle Moraine State Forest. The immediate area offers a wide variety of summer and winter recreational activities, including facilities of the nearby Whitewater Lake recreational area. Whitewater is 50 miles from Milwaukee, 45 miles from Madison and 110 miles from Chicago.

Application:

A complete application package must include a letter of application, vita including all relevant professional experience, all undergraduate and graduate transcripts (photocopies are acceptable for initial application) and three letters of recommendation. Only complete applications will be considered. Unless confidentiality is requested in writing, lists of applicants must be released upon request. Finalists cannot be guaranteed confidentiality.

Please send materials to:

Peter Hoff, Arabic Search Chair
Department of Languages & Literatures
University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
Whitewater, WI 53190-1790

Review:

Applications received by April 8, 2011 are ensured consideration; the position is considered open until otherwise noted.

UW-Whitewater is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. We promote excellence through diversity and encourage all qualified individuals to apply. UW-Whitewater conducts criminal background checks as a contingency to employment.

ymposium on Difference and Constitutionalism in Asia

As current events demonstrate, countries around the world look to their constitutions as a means to address lines of division within society.  Join us for a symposium that will explore how countries across pan-Asia – a region stretching from Turkey in the west through the Pacific Islands in the East – have looked to their constitutions when dealing with the challenge of societal difference.  Panels will explore issues such as religion, race and ethnicity, language, the urban-rural divide, and gender and the experiences of more than 14 countries across pan-Asia. 

When:             March 4-5, 2011

                        Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

                        Saturday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Where:           IU Maurer School of Law

                        211 S. Indiana Ave.

                        Bloomington, IN  47405

All sessions are free and open to the public.  Further information can be found in the attached and at the symposium website.  Please feel free to share this invitation broadly with your students, faculty, and colleagues.

Mathal Journal

New peer reviewed journal - more info:
http://www.mathal.org/