{"word_count": 761, "character_count": 5743}
SOAS-Nohoudh Muslim Integration Conference 2015  Convenor: Professor M.A.S. Abdel Haleem5 -6 November 2015  |    Brunei Gallery Lecture TheatreBritain is a net host country for global migration. This has resulted in great diversity in the languages, faiths, traditions, cultural practices and identities that are represented in the multicultural fabric of British society. Current debate surrounding the issue of integration and the challenges that it presents has brought to the fore the need to re-examine the question of what constitutes an integrated and successful multicultural society.SOAS is delighted to announce this new annual conference series on ‘Muslim Integration in Britain’, a collaboration between the Centre of Islamic Studies at SOAS and the Nohoudh Endowment for Development Studies. The Centre of Islamic Studies is an integral part of the School of Oriental and African Studies, and aims to promote scholarship and research in all areas of Islamic Studies. In addition to regular teaching and research, Centre activities include lectures and seminars, conferences, and occasional publications. The Nohoudh Endowment for Development Studies is an independent international trust, registered in the state of Kuwait, which seeks to engage with global issues facing Muslim cultures and societies. Nohoudh supports intellectual reform within Islamic thought via graduate study grants, international knowledge transfer partnerships and institutional links. This conference series has been funded by the generosity of Nohoudh.The inaugural Muslim Integration in Britain Conference will commence with two crucial questions: what is integration?, and what is meant by Muslim integration in Britain? To this end, it aims to provide a forum for multidisciplinary research into the major issues at stake. Areas of discussion will include the historical context; integration and alienation; the role of national and international politics (civil and human rights, radicalisation and Islamophobia etc.) in the shaping of orientation and dis-orientation; normativity and diversity within the British Muslim community; and the framing of Muslim identities in Britain.Proposals may be framed within (but need not be restricted to) the following areas:Integration: terminology, theory, methodology and measurementsConceptualising integrationDefining models of integrationResearch methodologies and measurements of social integrationMeasuring Muslim demographics: theoretical frameworks, methodology and the collection of dataDevelopments in the study of integrationMigration, history and politicsSituating British Islam and Muslim institutions within the larger context of British and European historyMigration, immigration and the economics of migrationSocial conditions of the British Muslim community: navigating education, ethnicity, employment, housing, and multi-racial / multi-cultural relationsSocial cohesion and vernacular cosmopolitanismsPolitical representation and challenges to Muslim participation in politicsIntegration experiencesInterfaith relationships and dialogueIntegration and alienationOrientation and dis-orientation (spatial, intellectual, political, emotional, aesthetic, etc.)Civil and human rightsIslam and ‘social contract’Foreign policy and warAlienation, moral panic, security and social trust: their effects on racial and ethnic identities in the British Muslim communityRacial and religious discrimination and IslamophobiaExtremism, radicalisation and counter-terrorismThe enduring influence of British politics, culture and religion on the British Muslim community and the British Muslim community’s influence on British societyNormativity and diversityAssimilation and diversity: religious authority and authenticity in the intellectual and religious heritage of British IslamThe institutionalisation of British Islam and the role of Muslim organisations in defining and facilitating Muslim integrationIslam and new British national identities (Muslim and non-Muslim)Islamic law and finance in BritainInter and intra sectarian collaboration within the British Muslim communityBritish Muslim youth cultureFraming Muslim identitiesMuslim identities: ‘what kind of Islam?’ - the various types of Islam that constitute Muslim identities in BritainIslam and Muslims in the mediaSocial media and the internetMuslim journalism and film, TV, literary and artistic contributions to British societyLocal histories and family historiesSubmission of abstractsThe deadline for abstracts is 1 April 2015. Abstracts of up to 500 words and a short bio (of up to 200 words) should be submitted in MS Word format by email attachment to muslimintegration@soas.ac.uk. All applicants will be notified of the status of their proposals by 1 June 2015.Presentations of papers should be 20 minutes long (full papers should not exceed 8,000 words and should be submitted, in full, prior to the Conference by the 1st of October), and will be followed by 5 minutes for questions.Further InformationTimetable1st April 2015   Abstract submission deadline1st June 2015 Paper acceptance notification and panels announced1st October 2015 Full paper submissionRegistration (free) is required for this conference.It is Centre of Islamic Studies policy to reimburse speakers for their standard travel expenses, hotel accommodation and board.It is envisioned that select conference proceedings will be published in a dedicated volume.If you would like further information on the conference, please revisit this page which will be updated on an ongoing basis.For general enquiries, please contact the conference administrator at muslimintegration@soas.ac.ukFor academic enquiries only contact Professor M.A.S. Abdel Haleem at ha4@soas.ac.uk