Rita E. Hauser is President of The Hauser Foundation. She is an international lawyer and of counsel to the New York City law firm, Stroock & Stroock & Lavan where she was a senior partner for more than twenty years. Dr. Hauser was appointed by President George W. Bush to the President's Foreign Intelligence Advisory Board and to the Intelligence Oversight Board.

Co-sponsored by The Columbia Iranian Students Association and the SIPA Iranian Transition.

Join us for our second movie screening of the year..."Children of Heaven" directed by Majid Majidi. "Children of Heaven" has recently become Iran's first-ever Oscar Nominee for Best Foreign Language Picture (1998).

Set in modern-day Iran, the story tells of an eight-year-old boy Ali and his younger sister, Zahra, who are accustomed to shouldering much responsibility. When Ali loses Zahra's only-and recently mended-pair of shoes, the siblings are too scared to tell their father about the loss and can't afford to buy another pair. When the shoes are finally found on another girl, who probably needs them just as much, it's up to the boy to find a way to get his sister a new pair of shoes. A fascinating film about the lower rungs of society, where what you wear on your feet says much about your status.

Co-sponsored by MEALAC

"Out for Love...Be Back Soon", is a groundbreaking documentary picturing Dan Katzir in Israel torn by the Oslo agreements and the violent protest against them. The author’s quest for love runs along with the quest for peace, culminating with the murder of P.M Yitzchak Rabin.

Dan Kazir's grandfather - Aharon Katzir, was killed by the notorious Japanese terrorist Kozo Akomoto at Ben Gurion Airport in 1972. Aharon's brother - Efraim became the fifth president of Israel 1973-1978.

The Middle East Institute invites you to its End of Year Party. Please join us for Middle Eastern food and wine.

Co-sponsored by the Alliance Program.

Olivier Roy is research director at the CNRS in the "Iranian World" research unit, a specialist of Afghanistan, Central Asia and of Islam.

Olivier Roy will discuss his latest book, "Globalized Islam" (Columbia University Press, 2004). Globalization of Islam refers to the "passage to the West" entailed by the growing influence of Western consumption habits, cultural models and sociological behaviors inside Muslim societies.

By George Corm

Co-sponsored by the Alliance Program

Georges Corm is by profession an economist, specialized in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean region. He is a well-known consultant to International Organization and central banks as well as the former Finance Minister for Lebanon. In addition to his academic articles and books on economic and financial issues, he is also the author of articles and books pertaining to the contemporary history and sociology of the Arab East.

By Mounira Souliman and Patrick McGreevey

From the American Studies Association

With the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq continuing, what does American Studies in the Middle East look like? Two American Studies practitioners, Mounira Souliman from Cairo University and Patrick McGreevey of the American University of Beirut, will discuss these issues and their experiences.

By Qudsia Mirza and Kate Stoneman

The Middle East Institute in collaboration with The Institute for Research on Women and Gender, and Qanun--the Middle Eastern Law Students Association.

Qudsia Mirza is a Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of East London. Kate Stoneman is a Visiting Professor of Law and Democracy, Albany Law School.

Qudsia Mirza, editor of the forthcoming book, Islamic Feminism and the Law, and author of numerous publications on critical race theory, feminism and law, and women and Islamic law will discuss the new interpretive methodologies in contemporary Islamic feminism and the implications that these have for law and the creation of gendered legal rights.

*Schermerhorn is just north of Fayerweather and Avery, themselves north of St. Paul Chapel on the main campus. After entering the building turn right then left; follow the green tile floor to the elevator. This is Schermerhorn Extension; seminar room is on the 7th floor.

Are you interested in spending some time studying a local language in the Middle East? Come hear all about your fellow students’ experiences. They have studied Arabic, Persian, Turkish or Hebrew and they will be there to answer your questions about the programs they attended and about fellowship opportunities (FLAS…).

By Ammar Abdulhamid

Four years after his rise to power, all bets remain on the ability of the young Syrian President to deliver on the long overdue reform of his country's internal and foreign policies. Can he still deliver? Ammar Abdulhamid is a Syrian novelist and social analyst living in Damascus.

By Mai Yamani

Dr Mai Yamani was born a Saudi national and became one of the leading British experts on Saudi politics and sociology.

She is now a research fellow with the Middle East Programme at the Royal Institute of International Affairs, Chatham House and writes and broadcasts frequently on Saudi affairs.

Mai Yamani's latest book, "Cradle of Islam - the Hijaz and the Quest for an Arabian Identity" (2004) will be available for purchase during the event.

Are you looking for an internship in the Middle East or in a field related to the region? Come hear all about your fellow students’ experiences! You will have the opportunity to ask questions and meet with other students interested in the Middle East. Pizza and drinks will be served!!

Please register on SIPATRAK for this event.

By Zaid A. Zaid

Zaid A. Zaid is a first year Richard Paul Richman Fellow at Columbia Law School and a Foreign Service Officer. He served most recently in Baghdad as the liaison between the Coalition Provisional Authority and the Iraqi Governing Council. He will talk about his experiences at the US Mission to the United Nations in the lead up the war in Iraq and about his experiences in Baghdad.

By Lina Yakobova, Yerevan State University

Screening of "Assyrians in Armenia", an English language documentary with Aramaic (Syriac) dialogue.

An analysis of the peace process and beyond through poetry and scholarship
By Tanya Reinhart & Aharon Shabtai
 

Tanya Reinhart is a Professor of linguistics at Tel Aviv University and writes a bi-weekly political column for Israel's largest newspaper, Yediot Ahronot. Poet Aharon Shabtai will speak about his latest book, “J'accuse”, winner of the PEN Award for Poetry in Translation.

By Safa Abu-Rabia and Hannah Safran

Safa Abu-Rabia will be telling the special story of her community, Palestinian Bedouins from the Negev. She will also be talking about her work for women rights and for reconciliation between Israelis and Palestinians.

Hannah Safran is a veteran feminist and peace activist. She will talk about the Israeli society, joint Israeli-Palestinian activism for reconciliation and peace, and her work to promote women rights for Israeli and Palestinian women.

By Professor Sam Freedman

A look at the attitudes of American Jews toward Zionism, the Israeli state, the peace process, and the state of affairs since the Al-Aqsa Intifada.

Sam Freedman is a Professor at Columbia University’s School of Journalism. He also works as the education columnist for The New York Times, and is the author of four books, including “Jew Vs. Jew: The Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry", published in 2001.

By Gilles Kepel
Lecture and Book signing

Gilles Kepel, the noted French historian of Islam and the Middle East will be speaking about his new book, The War for Muslim Minds:

Islam and the West. Gilles Kepel is a researcher at the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS) and teaches at the Institut d'Etudes Politiques de Paris. Some of his other books include: Jihad, the Trail of Political Islam, Muslim Extremism in Egypt: The Prophet and Pharaoh, Bad Moon Rising, and Allah in the West: Islamic Movements in America and Europe.

Click here for the Press Release.

Ambassador Dennis Ross
Lecture and Book signing

Dennis Ross was U.S. Envoy to the Middle East 1988-2000 and is currently counselor and Ziegler distinguished fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy. He will talk about his new book, the history of the Middle East peace process, the prospects for peace, and America's current and future role in the region.

Click here for the Press Release.