Westfield

Westfield State holds lecture, panel discussion on Syria

WESTFIELD – As part of its Guest Lecture Series, Westfield State University will host “The Syrian Crisis: Local, Regional, and International Perspectives” a day of renowned speakers, a groundbreaking film, and a “World Café” on Tuesday March 3 starting at 2 p.m. in Scanlon Banquet Hall.
“World Café” kicks off the series and features multi-generational conversations, in a panel discussion about the Syrian Crisis, that link and build on each other as people move between groups and cross-pollinate ideas, and discover new insights into how the program will affect their lives, work, and communities.
At 4 p.m. a documentary film with be shown with commentary by Omar Dahi, an associate economics professor from Hampshire College and Syria native. Dahi was awarded a grant from the Arab Council for the Social Sciences to research Syrian refugees in Lebanon, Turkey, and Jordan. He has an extensive background in international trade, economic development, and the political economy of North Africa and the Middle East.
At 7 p.m., there will be a panel discussion. The panel will discuss an overview of the current Syrian situation, how ISIS originated in Iraq and Syria and how they came to rise, Turkey’s stance on the issue, and how Islamophobia has affected Europe and the United States while touching upon the recent terrorist attacks on Paris.
Featured Speakers
Elif Babul, Ph.D., specializes in politics, legal anthropology, anthropology of the state, human rights politics, citizenship, national belonging, gender and nationalism, and Turkey and the Middle East. Due to her passion and interest in state power and political authority, among other things, Babul has become a member of the European Union (EU) and focuses on human rights training programs in Turkey. She currently teaches at Mount Holyoke College.
Vijay Prashad, Ph.D., is a journalist, historian, and professor at Trinity College. He has published seventeen books, five in 2012 alone, and is a world-renowned speaker. Prashad is a senior research fellow at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut, Lebanon and is known for his outspoken criticism on US Foreign Policy.
Dr. Leyla Keough is a visiting professor of anthropology and Middle East studies at Hampshire College. She has conducted extensive research about transnational migration, gender, and global neoliberalism. Dr. Keough is set to release a book that analyzes the trafficking of women and the migration policy on European and Middle Eastern borders.
For more information regarding “The Syrian Crisis: Local, Regional, and International Perspectives”, please contact: Mark Abate ([email protected]) or Michelle Pescetta in the History Department located in Bates 113.
The Guest Lecture Series is supported by funding from the Academic Affairs budget to enhance student learning and service to the larger community. An advisory committee with representation by the faculty and librarians, staff, and students review proposals and recommend selection of proposals for the year. For more information on upcoming speakers in the Guest Lecture Series, please visit http://www.westfield.ma.edu/speakerseries.

To Top