Event Report for the British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) Conference University of St Andrews 4th to 6th of July 2022

This report was produced by Elah Bruce Cohen, a third-year Arabic and International Relations student at the University of St Andrews. We would like to thank Elah for her voluntary assistance throughout the conference and for taking the time to document her experience.

Over lunch one afternoon my friend mentioned the opportunity to volunteer for the upcoming British Society for Middle Eastern Studies (BRISMES) conference. After a three-year hiatus following the pandemic, the conference was to be held in St Andrews. Given my inexperience with conferences, my ears perked up and I was curious to learn more and subsequently registered my interest immediately.

Beyond the stereotypical depictions of pharmaceutical company conferences often shown in spy films, my knowledge and expectations of what to expect were non-existent. The BRISMES 2022 conference theme was ‘Exploring and Contesting the (Re)Production of Coloniality in the Middle East’. I pictured academics referencing obscure novels or histories of the Middle East. As a second-year student, I feared there wouldn’t be much I’d be able to relate to or fully appreciate.

However, many of the academics and lecturers were down-to-earth, funny and kind. I’d like to think the complications faced with the relatively simple geography of Sally’s Quad also humbled a few.

Although my role throughout these few days was that of a volunteer and not a visiting academic, I especially enjoyed sitting in on the lectures we were meant to be supervising. My fears were proven ill-founded when I found the lectures were straightforward and touched on pertinent, relevant topics which strengthened my understanding of the region’s issues.

I thoroughly enjoyed listening to the panel discussion on ‘Gender & Creativity in the Contemporary Middle East’. The panellists referenced cases of gender oppression in the Middle East largely ignored by Western media. Panellist Reem Abuzaid explored the power of feminist legal activism and creative disobedience in the post-Arab Spring world. What especially struck me from the panel discussion was the value of intercultural dialogue in progressing discussions on gender oppression. It was a great moment to appreciate the link between academia and the real-world issues and peoples whom we study, which is so often difficult to keep in mind in the academic world of sometimes abstract political science theories.

Although it was fantastic to be granted access to the panel discussions and lectures, I also thoroughly enjoyed fulfilling my role as a volunteer. I underestimated the extent to which our geographical knowledge would be tested, and it was a rewarding feeling that we contributed to the smooth running of the conference. In between the practical duties of registering attendees and handing out lanyards, this experience provided an excellent opportunity to improve upon my public relations skills.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. The directors and team who organised the conference were engaging, kind and supportive. Connecting with other students of various years was an interesting insight into potential career paths or research routes. Ultimately, it was a treasured experience to be under the same roof (marquee tent) with an eclectic mix of people who shared a common interest in studying the vast array of issues that affect political, social and personal life in the Middle East.