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Language : English and PersianOrganizers :Iranian Sociological Association, Institute of Humanities and Cultural Studies, International Sociological AssociationScientific Editors :Seyed Farid Alatas (National University of Singapore), Seyed Javad Miri (Institute of Human Sciences and Cultural Studies, Tehran) Seyed Hossein Serajzadeh (Kharazmi University. Tehran)Conference themeThe theme of the 1st and 2nd International Conference on Social Thought and Society in the Middle East and North Africa was the origin and development of social thought and theory in the Middle East and North Africa. Papers were presented on thinkers and ideas from the Middle East and North Africa as well as other parts of the Muslim world that are deemed to be contributions to the building of theories and concepts for sociology and social theory. The 3rd International Conference on Social Thought and Society will continue to develop this theme as well as emphasize applications. Therefore, papers are invited on the following topics :1.    The critique of the sociology and other social sciences that have emerged in the Middle East. This would include the critique of Orientalism, Eurcoentrism, academic dependency and other such perpectives;2.    Theoretical reflection on alternative sociologies that have been discussed or that are emerging in the social scientific literature of the Middle East. Here the focus should be on theories and concepts derived from the classics such as the works of Ibn KhaldÉn or Al-Biruni, or from the works of contemporary thinkers such as MÅlik Bennabi, Muhammad ‘Abid al-Jabri, `AlÇ Shari’ati and Said Nursi;3.    Empirical applications of alternative theories and concepts derived from the classical tradition or contemporary works. For example, what would a study of modernity founded on concepts from the works of Nursi, Shari’ati or al-Jabri look like?4.    Taking into consideration current events of the Middle East and North Africa, the special theme of the conference will be the question regarding the relationship between contemporary changes, crisis and turmoil in the Middle East, particularly democratization process and sectarianism phenomena, with social thought of Muslims or how these events can be analyzed, explained understood from the perspective of Muslim thinkers and alternative social thoughts.Apart from dealing with the theme, the conference provides a unique opportunity to bring together Arab, Iranian and Turkish scholars working in the various universities and research centres of the Middle East and North Africa.Please send abstracts of 100 to 150 words for individual papers or proposals for panels of 3 to 4 papers (including abstracts) by October 20, 2013.Abstracts are to be submitted to the conference office (isa.conference2013@yahoo.com).