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International Conference Constitutional Experiences in the Middle East and North Africa (from approx. 18th to 20th centuries) convened by Stefan Leder and Astrid MeierDate: November 6-7, 2014Venue: Orient-Institut BeirutDeadline: May 16, 2014The conference is aimed at exploring political concepts and practices which are related to constitutional experiences prior and parallel to the occurrence of written constitutions. Combining political, intellectual, legal and social history across the region, we invite papers on legal and organizational frameworks, administrative bodies, associations, councils, corporative structures, customs, as well as discourses of rule, power and statehood aimed at containing authority. Constitution can in its broadest sense be understood as the internal governmental norms and practices that establish the institution and system of government and define and limit the scope of governmental sovereign powers. Adopting a cross-temporal approach and taking account of diverse historical trajectories, we are interested in exploring the extent to which social practices of power sharing, especially when legally framed, as well as Islamic and other conceptual systems or habitual institutions provide a context that is akin to constitutional thought. (For more see call for paper)The deadline for the submission of abstracts (300 words maximum) is May 16, 2014. Your abstract, together with a short biographical note, should be sent to Ahmad Hussein (sek@orient-institut.org), under the subject header “constitutional experiences”. You will be informed about the decision of the selection committee by June 2, 2014.Accommodation in Beirut will be provided for the duration of the conference. We are currently finalizing the conference budget and very much hope that air travel will also be provided to participants. However, if your own university, center or institute can help in this matter, this will considerably reduce our financial obligations to our two institutional sponsors. If you plan to apply for a travel grant, please indicate this when submitting your abstract.Please submit only unpublished papers that would be eligible for publication in an edited volume.Call for papers (Download pdf)