CONFERENCE: "The Caucasus and Central Asia: Theoretical, Cultural, and Political Challenges"

3-4 July 2009, Caucasus and Central Asia Research Group

The University of Birmingham, UK

This major international conference is the founding event of the University of Birmingham Research Group on the Caucasus and Central Asia, formed by academics and Ph.D. students from across the University of Birmingham. The two-day inter-disciplinary conference will be held in room G51 of the European Research Institute, University of Birmingham on *Friday, 3rd July and Saturday, 4th July 2009.

The conference seeks to generate a more balanced and comprehensive understanding of the Caucasus and Central Asia by providing historic, cultural, social, and political perspectives on these strategically important regions of the former Soviet Union. It brings together a
wide range of panellists, including policy-makers, CEELBAS-network academics, other distinguished scholars and Ph.D. students specialising in these areas. Among the main speakers are:

- Vicken Cheterian (CIMERA, Geneva)
- John Colarusso (McMaster University, Ontario)
- Moshe Gammer (Tel Aviv University)
- Edmund Herzig (University of Oxford)
- Ashirbek Muminov (The Institute of Oriental Studies, Almaty)
- Domitilla Sagramoso (Kings College, London)
- Thomas de Waal (Conciliation Resources, London)

Papers will be presented on a variety of topics, including:

- Language and Literature of the Regions
- Ethno-Nationalism and Politics in the South Caucasus
- History of the Caucasus
- Central Asia and Caucasus and the Outside World
- Traditionalism versus Reformism in Islam
- Domestic and Foreign Policies of the Central Asian and Caucasian States
- Culture and Society of the Regions

The conference is organised with financial assistance from the Centre for East European Language Based Area Studies (CEELBAS); the ASSC Seed Corn Funding of the College of Social Sciences and the Department of Political Sciences of the University of Birmingham.

There is no registration fee but those wishing to attend the conference will be asked to make a small contribution of £5 (students) and £10 (non-students) towards coffee and lunch provided
at the conference during two days. For further information you can consult the University of Birmingham website at www.crees.bham.ac.uk

To register an interest in attending this event please contact Ms Nino Kemoklidze at NXK790@bham.ac.uk
Please, include your name, institutional affiliation and contact details. Participants are requested to register by Monday, 29 June 2009.