BRISMES Annual Conference in St Andrews, 4th-6th July 2022
On 4th-6th July 2022, MECACS hosted over 300 delegates at the annual conference of the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES). Founded in 1973, BRISMES provides a forum for educators and researchers in Middle East Studies and raises awareness of the Middle East and how it is connected to other parts of the world, including the UK. Scholars from numerous disciplines including history, law, social anthropology, languages, literature, film studies, religious studies, political science and International Relations arrived in St Andrews to contribute to the conference theme of ‘Exploring and Contesting the (re)production of coloniality in the Middle East: Borders, Transnationalism, and Resistance’. Participants came from the UK, Europe, Middle East and North America. More than two hundred papers were presented at fifty-two panels. Panels covered a wide range of topics including the Syrian civil war, Palestinian art, natural disasters, health practices, Arab literature, gender norms, displacement, religious minorities and teaching Middle Eastern studies.
Conference keynotes on the (re)production of coloniality were given by Professor Amira K Bennison, University of Cambridge, Dr Heba Raouf Ezzat, Ibn Haldun University and Professor Raymond Hinnebusch, University of St Andrews. It was a special delight for MECACS to hear from Professor Hinnebusch, the co-founder of MECACS and the co-Director of the Centre for Syrian Studies. Additional events included Professor Nicola Pratt of the University of Warwick being presented with the BRISMES Award for Services to Middle Eastern Studies, a reception organised by GINGKO in honour of Professors Carole and Robert Hillebrand and a film screening and discussion of Four Women of Egypt (1997).
Several months of planning resulted in a great experience for conference delegates. The BRISMES team especially conference co-ordinator Nadeen Dakkak and BRISMES Secretary Prof John Chalcraft provided excellent support to the MECACS organising committee of MECACS Director Dr Fiona McCallum Guiney (lead), Dr Hsinyen Lai, Dr Jasmine Gani, Dr Malaka Shwaikh and Dr Angus Stewart. Additional support was proved by MECACS administrator Jenny Halley and the University’s Accommodation, Catering and Events team. Led by Dr Hsinyen Lai, a team of student volunteers from the Schools of International Relations, History, Classics, English, Art History and Modern Languages ensured that panels ran smoothly.
MECACS had the great honour to host the first in-person BRISMES conference since the pandemic and for many delegates, it was their first in-person event and a chance to network and meet old and new friends. It was also an excellent opportunity for MECACS members to meet each other after a long period of only virtual contact. It was a delight to welcome delegates to a (sometimes) sunny St Andrews!
