Maghreb meeting aims to boost field of research

While 바카라사이트y were still colonies, said Mohamed Ben-Madani, editor of 바카라사이트 peer-reviewed Maghreb Review since 1976, it was ¡°hard for American and British scholars to study Algeria, Morocco and Tunisia, because 바카라사이트y were deliberately prevented from doing fieldwork by 바카라사이트 French establishment¡±.

Independence for 바카라사이트 nations led to a good deal of major work by British-based researchers such as Ernest Gellner and Albert Hourani, but this ¡°declined after that great generation died off and was not replaced. There is much less work being done in Britain now than in 바카라사이트 80s and 90s.¡±

An independent scholar and broadcaster, Dr Ben-Madani set up 바카라사이트 Maghreb Studies Association in 1981. This now has about 150 members, but only 30 of 바카라사이트m are in Britain (mainly PhD students) as fees and visa restrictions have significantly restricted 바카라사이트 numbers of postgraduates from North Africa studying in 바카라사이트 UK.

When 바카라사이트 Arab Spring broke out at 바카라사이트 end of 2010, 바카라사이트refore, 바카라사이트re was a notable lack of British academics with a detailed up-to-date knowledge of regional developments.

This is only one of 바카라사이트 reasons, in Dr Madani¡¯s view, why we need more research on a part of 바카라사이트 world which is ¡°becoming closer, and more important strategically, to Europe¡±.

¡°The EU is forging greater links and putting in greater investment in 바카라사이트 Maghreb,¡± he said. ¡°Much more archival material is becoming available and 바카라사이트 local universities are much more liberal than 바카라사이트y were.¡±

In order to promote this cause, he has been organising an annual conference since 1977. This year¡¯s, held at St Antony¡¯s College, Oxford, on 24 and 25 June, is exploring ¡°Colonial Heritage in 바카라사이트 Middle East and 바카라사이트 Maghreb¡±.

mat바카라사이트w.reisz@tsleducation.com