Professor Michael Carter
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Macquarie receives Laffin book collection
Some time ago the Centre was approached by Craig Laffin son of the famous Australian journalist and author, the late John Laffin, who wrote extensively on the Middle East during his long and productive life. After searching the Internet, Craig Laffin decided that Macquarie University was more active in the area of Middle East studies than any other university in NSW and wished to donate his father’s Middle East research library to Macquarie.
The bulk of the library went to the Macquarie University Library, but the pamphlet collection and a valuable selection of other books not needed by the main library were passed to the Centre where they are already providing a valuable resource to our students. Craig Laffin personally presented this memorial to his father on Thursday October 6 when he was entertained at a lunch given by the Dean of Humanities and the Director of the Centre.
Craig Laffin presents his father's
library to Macquarie University
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Fundamentalism and the Arabic language
In October, as part of its regular seminar series, the Centre hosted a talk by Professor Michael Carter, professor of Arabic at Oslo University. Professor Carter spoke about the Arabic language, and its association with Islamic fundamentalism. Professor Carter, whose talk was particularly well attended by staff and students, has also graciously agreed to become an Associate of the Centre.
The theme of the talk was on the uniqueness of Arabic as a language of revelation. A basic belief of Islam is that the Quran is the exact words used by God. This makes Arabic both a human and divine language. When Muslims recite the Quran they are speaking God’s own words. Adam is a symbol of this dual human/divine language because he is supposed to have spoken Arabic in heaven as well as being the ancestor of Muhammad.
Islamic institutions instituted a system for recording and transmitting the revelation and its related literature. The system preserves the depth of feeling and commitment to a high degree – a fact often not recognized by non-Muslims.
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Prof. Igor Primoratz |
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A revealing definition of "terrorism"
Professor Igor Primoratz, in the last of the Friday Seminar series for 2005, gave a highly interesting talk on the concept of terrorism. Professor Primoratz is the Professor of Philosophy at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. In an abstract of his talk, Professor Primoratz says " Terrorism is a central component of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Every public debate about the conflict abounds in charges and countercharges of terrorism, indicating much confusion about who is and who is not a terrorist and just what terrorism is.
"When addressing issues of this sort, applied philosophy seeks to clarify the concepts involved, and to display moral and other principles and values grounding the positions taken. That is what I do, briefly, in the first part of this paper. After offering a definition of terrorism I find helpful in this context and sketching the main approaches to the question of its moral justification, I review the use of terrorism in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and try to see whether resort to it by either party might be morally justified."
A printed version of this talk is available by clicking here.
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Peter Goodall hands the essay prize to Alex Lombard
Ms Ainslie Gilkes receives the travelling scholarship award from Dr Andrew Vincent and Mr Cramer Ball of Gulf Air.
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Traveling scholarship and essay prize awarded
The annual traveling scholarship and essay prize donated to the Centre by the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry were decided in November. There were 16 entrants in the essay competition, which was judged by Mr Peter Goodall, Deputy Dean of the Division of Humanities. Commenting on the universally high standards of all the essays, Mr Goodall awarded the $1000 prize to Alex Lombard who wrote about the application of the realist paradigm of international relations to the politics of the Middle East.
The $3000 traveling scholarship provided by the Australia Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry together with Gulf Air, was awarded by a subcommittee of the Centre’s Board. The subcommittee chose the proposal submitted by Ms Ainslie Gilkes, a student in the Masters of International Relations program at Macquarie University. The subcommittee said it was difficult to pick the best entry from a field of eight entrants all of which were a high standard.
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Xenophobia and anti-terrorist legislation
In late November, the Centre’s Director, Dr Andrew Vincent, presented a paper on “Human Security or Xenophobia: a hidden agenda behind the war against terrorism” at an international conference on the subject of Islam, Human Security and Xenophobia in Melbourne.
The paper examines the role of government in the war against terrorism, with particular emphasis on anti-terrorist legislation, which is being proposed in a number of Western countries. It suggests that rather than providing for enhanced security as claimed, such legislation is more designed to appeal to the rising tide of xenophobia and anti-immigrant sentiment which many western countries are experiencing. The legislation is also designed to enhance government control powers, at a time when the more traditional powers of government are receding.
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Vice Chancellor Di Yerbury addresses guests at the opening of the Sudan exhibition |
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Exhibition on The Sudan
Following the Centre’s very successful Exhibition of Syria in the University’s Library, earlier this year, the Centre mounted a second exhibition entitled “Images of the Sudan: from Africa to Australia” The exhibition created by Macquarie student and photographer Bob Snow, was formally opened by the Vice Chancellor Di Yerbury on November 23.
A large number of Sydney’s Sudanese community attended the reception which reinforced links between the University and the Sudanese community. The Sudanese community has requested that when the exhibition finishes it will go on display at a community Centre in the Western Suburbs.
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The Syrian Ambassador, Dean of Humanities and author Ross Burns
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New Ross Burns book launched
The Centre for Middle East & North African Studies together with Macquarie's Centre for the Study of Early Christianity held an end-of-year function to launch a new book by Ross Burns, the former Australian Ambassador to Syria. The function was attended by the Syrian Ambassador, H.E. Mr Tamam Souliman, and the Dean of Humanities, Professor Christina Slade.
Ross Burns is also the author of a highly respected guide to the monuments of Syria. His new book, Damascus, a history, traces the story of this colourful, significant and complex city from its obscure origins in the Bronze Age through the changing cavalcade of Aramaean, Persian, Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Arab Trukish and French rulers right up to the end of Ottoman control in 1918.
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New Board member: journalist, Antony Lowenstein
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New Board member
The Centre's Board is pleased to announce that journalist and author Antony Loewenstein has agreed to join the Board. Antony has written for the Sydney Morning Herald, Sydney's Sun-Herald, The Bulletin, Znet, Counterpunch and many others. He writes a regular column for online magazine New Matilda.
He contributed a major chapter on the Hanan Ashrawi affair to 2004's best-seller, Not Happy, John! He is currently writing a book on the Israel/Palestine conflict with Melbourne University Publishing, due July 2006. His next book will be on the Australian media and will be published by Random House in 2007. He appears regularly on radio and television discussing current affairs and politics. His website is at http://www.antonyloewenstein.com/.
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Message from the Centre's Chairman
The past year has seen the hot-bed of the Middle East region continue to dominate the news around the world. The traumatic, ongoing events which have thrown nations deeper and deeper into seemingly unsolvable problems and situations do not appear to be waning. As a result, the role of the Centre for Middle East and North African Studies continues to be a essential, positive element in the attempt to clearly understand the situation so that accurate and unbiased knowledge may be passed on to our students.
With Christmas just a few days away and as 2005 draws to a close, I wish to take this opportunity to extend my thanks and very best wishes to everyone involved with the Centre for Middle East and North African Studies at Macquarie University.
I extend special thanks to our Patron in Chief, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir AC and to our Deputy Patrons, The Hon. John Aquilina, MP, Speaker of the NSW Legislative Assembly and to The Hon. Bob Carr, Past Premier of NSW and to Mr. Russell D. Grove, Clerk of the NSW Legislative Assembly. Their role as Patrons is a great honour and continues to be a source of pride for us all.
The excellent efforts of everyone involved with the Centre, under the guidance of Dr. Andrew Vincent is most commendable.
Special thanks also to Ms. Sally Totman our Board Secretary for her tireless efforts and to Mr. Steve Townsend for keeping everyone well informed with the excellent publication of our newsletter ‘Centreline’.
To all of our Board Members who continue to freely give of their very valuable time and knowledge in the service of the Centre I can only say Thank You. I am inspired by the excellence of your individual qualities and attributes and look forward to a bigger, better and even more productive 2006.
Finally, please accept my sincere thanks for having the confidence and trust in me as your Chairman.
So, until we next meet, may you and your families enjoy a great festive season and a happy and prosperous new year.
Anthony Khouri
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