SWAR: Sectarianism in the Wake of the Arab Revolts

The SWAR project (Sectarianism in the Wake of the Arab Revolts – beyond primordialist and instrumentalist understandings of Shia/Sunni divisions in a new Middle East) takes its point of departure in the recognition of the fact that a Shia/Sunni divide has become a significant factor in Middle East politics. Against this background, it examines the causes, nature and consequences of the so-called ‘new sectarianism’ in the post-Arab Revolts Middle East based on an analytical approach inspired by historical sociology and constructivism. Couched in an interdisciplinary framework, it draws on and combines theories and methods from Political Science, Anthropology, Islamic Studies, and Middle East Studies.

The SWAR Project is funded by the Danish Social Science Research Council (3.326.891,00 DKK) and will be running from August 2015 till February 2019. A number of activities are, moreover, partly funded by grants from the Danish Institute in Damascus, the Carlsberg Foundation and AUFF: Aarhus University Research Foundation.

The project is organized into four work packages:

The first work package addresses a range of (meta)theoretical questions and challenges related to an inter-disciplinary study of sectarianism, including how sectarianism is conceptualized in different disciplinary contexts and outside/inside of academia; whether Shia/Sunni sectarianism is different from other forms of sectarianism (e.g. Catholicism/Protestantism) and whether Shia/Sunni sectarianism outside of the Middle East (e.g. South Asia) is different from within this region; to what extent sectarianism can be compared to other forms of identity politics and also grasped with general theories about collective identities; what is the role of religion in sectarian politics etc.
The purpose of the second work package is to characterize and map the current sectarian surge or what some observers have coined as the ‘new sectarianism' and to put it into comparative historical perspective. This implies a mapping of where, to what extent and in which forms (banal, instrumentalist, radical sectarianism) sectarianism has manifested itself in the Middle East today; as a way of examining its allegedly ‘new-ness,’ it also involves a historical comparison of how sectarianism has manifested itself in earlier historical eras.
The third work package focuses on explanations for why sectarianism has (re)emerged as an important factor in Middle East politics after the Arab revolts. Based on the view that is it necessary to go beyond both primordialist and instrumentalist explanations of sectarianism, it explores the relative importance and the specific role of ideational/material elements, historical/contemporary factors and the role of dynamics at global/regional/state/society levels.
The fourth work package concerns consequences of the new sectarianism: whether and how it impacts different dimensions of Middle East politics, including state(de)formation, regional patterns of conflict and cooperation, prospects for democratization and authoritarian regime survival strategies and finally transformations of the ‘Islamist scene'.

Publications

Valbjørn, Morten, (forthcoming). "Beyond academic sectarianism and toward an upgraded instrumentalism", Middle East Law and Governance,
Hinnebusch, Raymond & Morten Valbjørn (eds.) (2025). Sectarianism and Civil War in Syria, London: Routledge.
Hinnebusch, Raymond & Morten Valbjørn (2025). "Theorizing Sectarianism in Syria" in Raymond Hinnebusch & Morten Valbjørn (eds.) Sectarianism and Civil War in Syria. London: Routledge.
Hinnebusch, Raymond & Morten Valbjørn (2025). "Conclusion: exposing patterns of sectarianization in Syria" in Raymond Hinnebusch & Morten Valbjørn (eds.) Sectarianism and Civil War in Syria. London: Routledge.
Valbjørn, Morten (2023). "Approaching Sectarian Identity Politics and Middle East International Relations in the First Post-Arab Uprisings Decade − A Stocktaking". IEMed - Aula Mediterranea, vol. 140
Valbjørn, Morten & Jeroen Gunning (2021). "Sunni-centrisme, shia-islamisme og sekterisme – studiet af mellemøstlig islamisme ti år efter de arabiske revolter". Babylon - Nordic Journal for Middle East Studies, vol 19, no 1.
Valbjørn, Morten (2021). "Observing (the debate on) sectarianism: On conceptualizing, grasping and explaining sectarian politics in a new Middle East". Mediterranean Politics, vol 26, issue 5.
Hinnebusch, Raymond & Ola Rifai (2021). "Understanding Syria’s Sectarian Wave". E-International Relations. May 9.
Valbjørn, Morten & Jeroen Gunning (2021). "Bringing in the ‘Other Islamists’: Beyond Sunni-centric Islamism studies in a sectarianized Middle East". Mediterranean Politics, vol 26 issue 4
Fibiger, Thomas (2020). "Heritage and Sectarianism in Bahrain". LSE Middle East Centre - Blog. May 6.
Valbjørn, Morten (2021). "Three Ways of Countering Sectarianism - Challenges and Dilemmas". Resilience and Inclusive Politics in the MENA Region: Online Commentary No. 6, Lebanese American University - Institute for Social Justice and Conflict Resolution.
Valbjørn, Morten (2020). "Sectarian identity politics and Middle East international relations in the first post-Arab Uprisings decade - from ’whether’ to ‘how,’ ‘where’ ‘when’ and for ‘whom". POMEPS Studies, no. 38 (Sectarianism and International Relations), pp. 18-23
Valbjørn, Morten (2020). "Beyond the beyond(s): On the (many) third way(s) beyond primordialism and instrumentalism in the study of sectarianism". Nations and Nationalism, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 91-107.
Fibiger, Thomas (2020). "Mom, are we Shi’a? Neg(oti)ating Sectarian Identity in Everyday Life in Post-2011 Bahrain". The Review of Faith & International Affairs, vol. 18, no. 1, pp. 34-42.
Valbjørn, Morten (2020) “Countering Sectarianism: The Many Paths, Promises and Pitfalls of De-sectarianization”, The Review of Faith & International Affairs, vol. 18, no 1.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2020). "Identity and state formation in multi-sectarian societies: Between nationalism and sectarianism in Syria". Nations and Nationalism, vol. 26, no. 1, pp. 138-154.
Valbjørn, Morten (2020). "Be careful what you wish for - The Multiple Strategies of De-Sectarianization". POMEPS Studies, no. 37 (Challenges to the Middle East North Africa Inclusionary State), pp. 22-27. (Arabic version)
Valbjørn, Morten (2020). "Studying identity politics in Middle East international relations before and after the Arab uprisings", pp. 251-269 in Raymond Hinnebusch & Jasmine Gani (eds.) The Routledge Handbook to the Middle East and North African State and States System. London: Routledge.
Nauntofte, Jens & Morten Valbjørn (2020). "Mellemøsten", pp. 291-320 in Morten Winther Bülow & Tonny Brems Knudsen (eds.) International PolitikNU - magtbalance, værdier og samarbejde. Aarhus: Systime.
Corboz, Elvire (2019). "Shi'i Clerical Networks and the Transnational Contest over Sacred Authority: Dynamics in London's Shi'i Triangle",Global Discourse, vol. 9, no. 4, pp. 721-739.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019): "Svar på sekterisme" pp. 192-206 i Kjersgaard, Clement B et al. Mellemøsten Nu, København: Ræson.
Corboz, Elvire (2019). "Iraq’s Sources of Emulation: Scholarly Capital and Competition in Contemporary Shiʿism". Middle East Critique, vol. 28, no 2. pp. 445-465.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). "Dialogues in new Middle Eastern politics – on (the limits of) making historical analogies to the classic Arab Cold War in a sectarianized new Middle East", pp. 173-197 in Lorenzo Kamel (ed.) The Middle East: Thinking About and Beyond Security and Stability. Bern: Peter Lang.
Fibiger, Thomas (2019), "The Matter Which May Be: Sectarian Dilemmas of Materiality in Bahrain". Material Religion, vol. 15 no. 2.
Phillips, Christopher & Morten Valbjørn (2019). "What is in a Name?’: The Role of (Different) Identities in the Multiple Proxy Wars in Syria"", in Abel Polese & Ruth Hanau Santini (eds.) Rethinking Statehood in the Middle East and North Africa: Security, Sovereignty and New Political Orders. London: Routledge. (re-print of SWI special issue)
Special Issue of Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism on 'Sectarianism and Regime Formation in a New Middle East' edited by Raymond Hinnebusch and Morten Valbjørn
- Hinnebusch, Raymond & Morten Valbjørn (2019). "Exploring the Nexus between Sectarianism and Regime Formation in a New Middle East: Theoretical Points of Departure". Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, vol. 19, no. 1.
- Rørbæk, Lasse Lykke (2019) ‘Religion, Political Power, and the “Sectarian Surge”: Middle Eastern Identity Politics in Comparative Perspective’. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism vol. 19 no. 1
- Hinnebusch, Raymond (2019). "Sectarianism and Governance in Syria". Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism. vol. 19 no. 1.
- Freer, Courtney (2019). ‘The Symbiosis of Sectarianism, Authoritarianism, and Rentierism in the Saudi State’. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism vol. 19 no. 1.
- Hafidh, Hasan and Thomas Fibiger (2019). ‘Civic Space and Sectarianism in the Gulf States: The Dynamics of Informal Civil Society in Kuwait and Bahrain beyond State Institutions’. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism vol. 19 no. 1.
- Saouli, Adham (2019). ‘Sectarianism and Political Order in Iraq and Lebanon’. Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism vol. 19 no. 1.
- Valbjørn, Morten (2019). "What is so Sectarian about Sectarian Politics: Identity Politics and Authoritarianism in a New Middle East". Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism, vol. 19, no. 1.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2019). "The Sectarian Surge in the Middle East and the Dynamics of the Regional States-System". TIFO: Tidsskrift for Islamforskning (Islamic Studies Journal), vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 35-61.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). "Autokratisk identitetspolitik i et 'sekteriseret' nyt Mellemøsten". Samfundsfagsnyt, no. 213, pp. 22-26.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). "Shiaha/ Sunnaha Seiji ni okeru (Shuha-kan/ shuha-nai) Daiarogu: shuhashugika shita aratana chuto de kotenteki arabu reiisen wo rekishiteki ruisui ni mochiirukoto (no genkai) ni tsuite", pp. 63-82 in Keiko Sakai (ed.) Gendai Chuto no Shuha Mondai: seiji tairitsu no "shuha-ka" to "shin-reisen" (Sectarian Issues in the Contemporary Middle East: "Sectarianisation" of Political conflicts and the "New Cold War". Tokyo: Koyo Shobou.
Riexinger, Martin (2019). "Gammelt had eller nutidskonflikter? Et moyenne durée-perspektiv på aktuelle sekteriske konflikter". TIFO: Tidsskrift for Islamforskning (Islamic Studies Journal), vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 87-111.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). "Still Dripping with Identity Politics? Three ways of discussing identity politics in the study of international relations of the new Middle East". APSA-MENA Politics Newsletter, vol. 2, no. 1, pp. 33-36.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2019). "What Went Wrong: Understanding the Trajectory of Syria’s Conflict", pp. 29-52 in Linda Matar & Ali Kadri (eds.) Syria: From National Independence to Proxy War. Cham: Springer International Publishing.
Fibiger, Thomas (2019). "Sekteriske myter: Lokale diskussioner om historie og sekterisme i Bahrain ". TIFO: Tidsskrift for Islamforskning (Islamic Studies Journal), vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 112-133.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). "Shia-Sunni sekterisme til debat i et nyt Mellemøsten". TIFO: Tidsskrift for Islamforskning (Islamic Studies Journal), vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 8-34.
Corboz, Elvire (2019). "Islamisk enhedsdiskurs: Et studie af sunni-shiarelationer fra britiske shiamuslimers perspektiv ". TIFO: Tidsskrift for Islamforskning (Islamic Studies Journal), vol. 13, no. 1, pp. 62-86.
Valbjørn, Morten & Raymond Hinnebusch (2018). "Playing ‘the sectarian card’ in a sectarianized new Middle East". Babylon - Nordisk Tidsskrift for Midtøstenstudier, vol. 16, no. 2, pp. 42-55.
Fibiger, Thomas (2018). "Potential Heritage: The Making and Unmaking of the Pearl Monument in Bahrain". Journal of Arabian Studies vol. 7, no 2, pp. 195-210.
Valbjørn, Morten (2018). "Studying sectarianism while beating dead horses and searching for third ways ". LSE Middle East Centre - Blog. September 17.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2018). "Identity and State Formation in Multi-Sectarian MENA Societies: Relations between Nationalism and Sectarianism". LSE Middle East Centre Blog. September 14.
Fibiger, Thomas (2018). "Everyday Experiences of Sectarianism in Kuwait and Bahrain". Maydan. August 15
Phillips, Christopher & Morten Valbjørn (2018). "’What is in a Name?’: the role of (different) identities in the multiple proxy wars in Syria". Small Wars & Insurgencies, vol 29 no 3.
Fibiger, Thomas (2018). Stille i Bahrain - syv år efter 'det arabiske forår'" Noter: Historielærerforeningen for Gymnasiet og HF, nr. 217 pp. 51-57.
Fibiger, Thomas (2018): Sectarian Non-Entrepreneurs. The Experience of Everyday Sectarianism in Bahrain and Kuwait. Middle East Critique 27:3.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2018). "From Westphalian Failure to Heterarchic Governance in MENA: The Case of Syria". Small Wars & Insurgencies. vol 29 no 3.
Valbjørn, Morten (2018). "Unpacking a puzzling case: on how the Yemeni conflict became sectarianised". Orient, vol. 59, no. 2
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2018). "Understanding regime divergence in the post-uprising Arab states". Journal of Historical Sociology, vol. 31, no. 1, pp. 39-52
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). "Bringing the ‘Other Islamists’ back in: Sunni and Shia Islamism(s) in a sectarianized new Middle East". POMEPS Studies, no. 28 (New Analysis of Shia Politics).
Corboz, Elvire (2017). "The Najafi Marja‘iyya in the Age of Iran’s Vali-ye Faqih (Guardian Jurist): Can it Resist?". POMEPS Studies, no. 28 (New Analysis of Shia Politics)
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). "Jordan: Variationer over velkendte temaer". Udenrigs, no. 2.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). "Strategies for Reviving the International Relations/Middle East Nexus after the Arab Uprisings". PS: Political Science & Politics, vol. 50, no. 3.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). "Twittersheiker og tvivlsomme motiver". Weekendavisen, no. 34 (25 August).
Fibiger, Thomas & Mark Sedgwick (2016). "Islamforskning på Aarhus Universitet (snart) ti år med ICSRU". Tidsskrift for Islamforskning, vol. 10, no. 1. Available here.
Fibiger, Thomas (2016). “Monumentalt fravær. Kulturarv, erindring og politik i Bahrain”, Nettidsskriftet Baggrund. Available here.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). "State Deconstruction in Iraq and Syria,” PVS: Politische Vierteljahreschrift, vol. 57, no. 4.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). "The Sectarian Revolution in the Middle East". R/evolutions: Global Trends & Regional Issues, vol. 4, no. 1, pp. 120-152.
Hinnebusch, Raymond, et al. (2016). "Civil Resistance in the Syrian Uprising", pp. 223-247 in Adam Roberts, Michael J. Willis, Rory McCarthy & Timothy Garton Ash (eds.) Civil Resistance in the Arab Spring: Triumphs and Disasters. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). "Sectarian Dangers in the Middle East: A Conversation with Raymond Hinnebusch ". POMEPS Conversations. August 29. Podcast #81. Available here.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). "The sectarianization of the Middle East: Transnational identity wars and competitive interference". POMEPS Studies, vol. 21 (Transnational Diffusion and Cooperation in the Middle East and North Africa), pp. 71-76. Available here.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2016). "Sekterisme efter det Arabiske Forår". Figenbladet, nr. 79, s. 14-15.
Corboz, Elvire (2015). Guardians of Shi‘ism: Sacred Authority and Transnational Family Networks.Edinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.
Fibiger, Thomas (2015). “Marjaiyya from below. Anthropological Approaches to the Study of Religious Authority”, Journal of Shi’a Islamic Studies 8,4: 473-489.
Fibiger, Thomas (2015). “Heritage Erasure and Heritage Transformation. How Heritage is Created by Destruction in Bahrain”. International Journal of Heritage Studies 21(4): 390-404.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2015). “Syria’s Alawis and the Ba’th Party” in Michael Kerr and Craig Larkin, (ed.) The Alawis of Syria: War, Faith and Politics in the Levant. Hurst Publishers and Columbia University Press.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2015). "Der Islam begann als Fremder, und als Fremder wird er wiederkehren“: Muḥammad b. 'Abd al-Wahhābs Prophetenbiographie Muḫtaṣar sīrat ar-rasūl als Programm und Propaganda' Welt des Islams, vol 55, nr. 1, s. 1-61.
Valbjørn, Morten (2015). "Det sekteriske Mellemøsten", pp. 215-231 in Morten Winther Bülow & Tonny Brems Knudsen (eds.) International PolitikNU - magtbalance, værdier og samarbejde. 2nd ed. Aarhus: Systime.
Valbjørn, Morten (2015). "Reflections on Self-Reflections - On framing the analytical implications of the Arab uprisings for the study of Arab politics". Democratization, vol. 22, no. 2

Presentations

2021

Valbjørn, Morten (2021): “What is so Sectarian about Sectarian Politics? Identity Politics and Authoritarianism in a New Middle East", presentation at CMES Research Seminar, Centre for Advanced Middle Eastern Studies , Lund University, May 20 2021.
Valbjørn, Morten (2021). “Beyond the beyond(s): On the (many) third way(s) beyond primordialism and instrumentalism in the study of sectarianism”, presentation at Higher Research Seminar, Department of Political Science, Lund University, May 19 2021.

2020

Valbjørn, Morten (2020). Observing (the Debate on) Sectarianism: On Conceptualizing, Grasping and Explaining Sectarian Politics in a new Middle East. Presentation at the virtual SEPAD conference “10 Years On: The People & the Protests”, Lancaster University/virtual, December 17 2020.
Valbjørn, Morten (2020). From ’whether’ to ’how’ sectarian identity politics mattered in post-Arab Uprisings Middle East international relations: Lessons from the Iran-Saudi rivalry, Presentation at the SEPAD-POMEPS workshop “Sectarianism and International Relations”. Chatham House, London, UK, February 6-7 2020.
Valbjørn, Morten (2020). Observing (the Debate on) Sectarianism: On Conceptualizing, Grasping and Explaining Sectarian Politics in a new Middle East. Presentation at the workshop “Facing the Facts on Tremulous Grounds: Promises and Challenges of Analysing Social and Political Dynamics in the Middle East and North Africa a Decade after the Arab Uprisings”, GIGA: German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, Germany, January 30-31 2020.
Valbjørn, Morten (2020). Beyond the Beyond(s): On the (Many) Third Way(s) beyond Primordialism and Instrumentalism in the study of Sectarianism, lecture at the ACRPS Winter School, Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, Doha, Qatar, January 5 2020.

2019

Valbjørn, Morten (2019) Beyond the Beyond(s): On the (Many) Third Way(s) beyond Primordialism and Instrumentalism in the study of Sectarianism, Paper presented at the workshop “Beyond ‘Sectarianism’? Towards an Alternative Understanding of Identity Politics and Communal Antagonism”, Woolf Institute, University of Cambridge, 25 October 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019) Observing (the Debate on) Sectarianism: On Conceptualizing, Grasping and Explaining Sectarian Politics in a new Middle East, Presentation at the panel “Facing the Facts on Tremulous Grounds: The State of MENA Political Science after the Arab Uprisings” German Middle East Studies Association for Contemporary Research and Documentation (DAVO), Hamburg, 4 October 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019) “’Be careful what you wish for’ − The Multiple Strategies of De-Sectarianization, Presentation at the panel “What? Where? How? Why?: Understanding ‘de’, ‘anti’, and ‘post’ Sectarianization Moves in the Contemporary Middle East”, German Middle East Studies Association for Contemporary Research and Documentation (DAVO), Hamburg, 4 October 2019
Valbjørn, Morten (2019) What do we talk about when we talk about anti/counter/multi /post /de/ trans-sectarianism – and how to go about it?, Paper presented at the workshop ‘The Challenges of Transnational Movements & Inclusionary States in the MENA’ at the Lebanese American University, Beirut 19 September 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019) What do we talk about when we talk about anti/counter/multi/ post/non/de/trans-sectarianism – and how to go about it?, presentation at the workshop "Solutions to Sectarianism? Examining efforts at ‘de-sectarianization’ across the Middle East", SEPAD/The Foreign Policy Center, London, United Kingdom. September 10 2019.
Fibiger, Thomas (2019) Mom, are we Shia? neg(oti)ating sectarian identity in everyday life in post-2011 Bahrain, presentation at presentation at the workshop "Solutions to Sectarianism? Examining efforts at ‘de-sectarianization’ across the Middle East", SEPAD/The Foreign Policy Center, London, United Kingdom. September 10 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019) Studying identity politics in Middle East international relations - before and after the Arab uprisings, TOMidEast Summer School – Understanding the Middle East, University of Turin, Italy. June 21 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). Roundtable on International Relations of the Post-Uprisings Middle East, POMEPS 10TH Annual Conference Agenda, George Washington University, Washington DC, United States. May 23-24 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). Dialogues in Sectarian Politics – on (the limits of) making historical analogies to the classic Arab Cold War in a sectarianized new Middle East, Presentation at the conference ‘Sectarianism, Proxies and De-Sectarianisation Across the Middle East’, Lancaster University, March 28 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). Be careful what you wish for – the multiple strategies of de-sectarianization, SEPAD workshop ‘Prospects of Shared/Social Prosperity: Exploring De-sectarianisation in the Middle East’, University College London, March 27 2019
Valbjørn Morten (2019) ‘Debating authoritarianism before, during and after the Arab Uprisings – 3 interventions from a Middle Eastern debate’, Paper presented at the workshop ’What is new in new authoritarianism’, Department of Sociology of Law, Lund University, March 21-22 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019). On (the limits of) making historical analogies to the classic Arab Cold War in a sectarianized new Middle East Presentation at the NewMed conference ‘The Middle East: Thinking About and Beyond Security and Stability’, The Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs, AUB, Beirut, February 7-8 2019.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019) Shia-sunnisekterisme til debat i et nyt Mellemøsten, Presentation at TIFO/SWAR workshop on 'Sectarianism before, during and after the Arab Revolts, February 4, Aarhus University.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2019) The Sectarian Surge in the Middle East and the Dynamics of the Regional States-System Presentation at TIFO/SWAR workshop on 'Sectarianism before, during and after the Arab Revolts, February 4, Aarhus University.
Fibiger, Thomas (2019) Sekteriske myter: Lokale diskussioner om historie og sekterisme i Bahrain, Presentation at TIFO/SWAR workshop on 'Sectarianism before, during and after the Arab Revolts, February 4, Aarhus University.
Riexinger, Martin (2019) Et moyenne durée-perspektiv på aktuelle sekteriske konflikter, Presentation at TIFO/SWAR workshop on 'Sectarianism before, during and after the Arab Revolts, February 4, Aarhus University
Valbjørn, Morten (2019): Shakespeare and Islam(ists) at War, Paper prepared for " POMEPS Workshop on ’Islamists at War’", George Washington University, January 25 2019, Washington DC.
Valbjørn, Morten (2019): Memo for concluding SWAR workshop, Paper presented at SWAR Concluding Workshop, January 21 2019, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University

2018

Valbjørn, Morten (2018), How to grasp and map sectarianism: Experiences from the SWAR Project, Presentation at the workshop ‘Sunni/Shia relations in Europe – How to study them?’, Migration Institute of Finland, Turku, Finland, 13-14 Dec.
Fibiger, Thomas Brandt (2018), Everyday experiences of sectarian relations: Theory, methodology and some observations. Presentation at the workshop ‘Sunni/Shia relations in Europe – How to study them?’, Migration Institute of Finland, Turku, Finland, 13-14 Dec.
Valbjørn, Morten (2018): Hvordan Yemen blev ’sekteriseret’, Presentation at FALS conference ’Sandheden om Mellemøsten?’, Hasseris Gymnasium, Aalborg, Denmark, Dec 11.
Valbjørn, Morten & Curtis Ryan (2018). Sectarianism in Less Likely Places: The Impact of Rising Regional Sectarianism Even in Jordan. Paper presented at workshop on ‘Sectarianism in Not So Sectarian Societies’ at Durham University, United Kingdom, November 16 2018.
Fibiger, Thomas Brandt (2018). Frames of Commemoration and Politics. Narrating the History of Uprisings in Bahrain. Presentation at the workshop 'Commemoration Reframed', Moesgaard Campus, October 11 2018.
Fibiger, Thomas Brandt (2018). Settlers or Migrants: Stranded in Kuwait's Transit State. Presentation at the 15th EASA Biennial Conference ‘Staying, Moving, Settling Stockholm University. 14-17 August, 2018.
Valbjørn, Morten (2018). Sekterisk politik: Shia- og sunni-debatten i (et nyt) Mellemøsten. Presentation at the ‘2018 Aarhus Seminar’. Department of Political Science, Aarhus University. August 17 2018.
Valbjørn, Morten. (2018). Beyond the Beyond(s): On the (Many) Third Way(s) beyond Primordialism and Instrumentalism in the study of Sectarianism. Presentation at the workshop ‘The Comparative Politics of Sub-state Identity in the Middle East’, Middle East Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science. June 29 2018.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2018). Identity and State Formation in multi-sectarian societies: between nationalism and sectarianism in Syria’. Presentation at the workshop ‘The Comparative Politics of Sub-state Identity in the Middle East’, Middle East Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science. June 29 2018.
Fibiger, Thomas (2018). Dynamics of Difference: Intra-Shia Divisions in Kuwait and Bahrain, Presentation at the panel ‘Intra- and Inter-Sect Dynamics and the Study of Sunni-Shi‘i Relations’. BRISMES Conference 2018, King's College London, London UK. June 26 2018.
Riexinger, Martin (2018). Sunni-Shia Sectarianism and the Puritanization of Sunni Islam. Presentation at the panel ‘Intra- and Inter-Sect Dynamics and the Study of Sunni-Shi‘i Relations’. BRISMES Conference 2018, King's College London, London UK., June 26 2018.
Corboz, Elvire (2018). Shi‘i Discourses on Islamic Unity in the UK: Reconfiguring Majority-Minority Relations within Islam,Presentation at the panel ‘Intra- and Inter-Sect Dynamics and the Study of Sunni-Shi‘i Relations’. BRISMES Conference 2018, King's College London, London UK. June 26 2018.
Valbjørn, Morten. (2018). Beyond the Beyond: On the (Many) Third Way(s) Beyond Primordialism and Instrumentalism in the Study of Sectarianism. Presentation at the panel "Contending Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Sectarian Mobilisation", BRISMES Conference 2018, King's College London, London UK. June 25 2018.
Hinnebusch, Raymond. (2018). Eclectic approaches to understanding the sectarian surge and its consequences: the Syrian case. Presentation at the panel "Contending Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Sectarian Mobilisation", BRISMES Conference 2018, King's College London, London UK. June 25 2018.
Valbjørn, Morten (2018). Studying Sectarianism – the need for getting beyond in 4 ways, Presentation at the panel ‘Studying Sectarianism’, POMEPS 9^th Annual Conference, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, May 24 2018.
Valbjørn, Morten. (2018). Introduction: Shia-and Sunni-Islamism(s) in a sectarianized new Middle East. Presentation at the workshop 'Shia-and Sunni-Islamism(s) in a sectarianized new Middle East', Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, March 16 2018.
Corboz, Elvire (2018). The Marja'iyya of Najaf in the Age of Iran's Vali-ye Faqih (Guardian-Jurist): The Dynamics of a Transnational Competition. Invited lecture at Organization for Islamic Area Studies, Waseda University, Japan, 28 February 2018.
Fibiger, Thomas (2018). Bahrain - religion og modernisering i den arabiske Golf. UNESCO kursus for lånere af udlånssamlinger på skoler i Danmark, Moesgaard Museum 8. marts 2018.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2018). From Westphalian Failure to Heterarchic Governance: the Case of Syria Presentation at conference "Rethinking Nationalism, Sectarianism and Ethno-religious Mobilization in the Middle East, Oxford University, 26-28 January 2018.
Corboz, Elvire (2018). Shi‘i Discourses on Islamic Unity: Reconfiguring Majority-Minority Relations Within Islam. Presentation at conference "Rethinking Nationalism, Sectarianism and Ethno-religious Mobilization in the Middle East, Oxford University, 26-28 January 2018.

2017

Fibiger, Thomas (2017). Ancient Hatred or Ancient Love - Forms of Emic Primordialism among Sunni and Shia Muslims in Bahrain and Kuwait. Presentation at the conference 'Muslim Care beyond the Self', Aarhus University/Moesgaard, December 11-12 2017
Valbjørn, Morten & Curtis Ryan. (2017). Sectarianism in Less Likely Places: The Impact of Rising Regional Sectarianism Even in Jordan. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), Washington D.C., November 18-21 2017
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2017). "What Went Wrong: Understanding Civil War and State Failure in Syria, " Department of Islamic and Middle East Studies, University of Edinburgh, 17 November 2017
Fibiger, Thomas (2017): The place and role of religious authority among Kuwaiti Shia. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA), Washington D.C., November 18-21 2017
Valbjørn, Morten. (2017). Typologizing Shia-Islamism. Paper presented at the workshop "New Analysis of Shia Politics", George Washington University, Washington D.C., United States. October 12-13 2017.
Corboz, Elvire (2017). The Najafi Marja‘iyya in the Age of Iran’s Vali-ye Faqih (Guardian Jurist): Can It Resist? Paper presented at the workshop "New Analysis of Shia Politics", George Washington University, Washington D.C., United States. October 12-13 2017.
Valbjørn, Morten. (2017). Dialogues in (intra) Sectarian Politics: (Sectarian) Trans-state Identities in New and Old Regional Cold Wars of the Middle East. Paper presented at the conference "Sectarianism in the Middle East: how is it mobilized in politics and conflicts", Institute for Advanced Studies on Asia, The University of Tokyo. Sept 21 2017.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2017). Sectarianism in the Islamic World and the Puritanization of Sunnism. Presentation at EASR Annual Conference 2017, University of Leuven, Belgium, 18-21 September 2017.
Valbjørn, Morten. (2017). Dialogues in Sunni-Muslim Politics – Comparing the international politics of Arab and Sunni Supra-State Identities. Paper presented in the panel ‘Examining the Nexus between Religion and International Relations in a Sectarian New Middle East’’ at the 11th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, Barcelona, Spain. September 15 2017.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2017). Kongeriget Saudi Arabien. Folkeuniversitets i Aarhus. September 12.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). ”Historier fra Libanon - Sekterisk politik”, Public talk at Danmission Unge, Gellerup Kirke, August 22 2017. ("Stories from Lebanon: Sectarian Politics").
Fibiger, Thomas (2017). When the Mahdi returns. Apocalyptic Visions within Contemporary Shia Islam. Presentation at the conference 'Anthropologi MEGA Seminar', Aarhus University/Sandbjerg, August 15-17.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). What is so Sectarian about Sectarian Politics?: Identity Politics and Authoritarianism in a Sectarian New Middle East, Presentation at the panel "Sectarianism and Regime Trajectories after the Arab Uprisings", BRISMES Annual Conference 2017, University of Edinburgh, UK. July 5-7 2017.
Fibiger, Thomas & Hasan Hafidh (2017), Civic Space and Sectarianism in GCC States: Dynamics of “Informal” Civil Society in Kuwait and Bahrain beyond State Institutions, Presentation at the panel "Sectarianism and Regime Trajectories after the Arab Uprisings", BRISMES Annual Conference 2017, University of Edinburgh, UK. July 5-7 2017.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2017). Sectarianism and Governance in Syria and the Levant, Presentation at the panel "Sectarianism and Regime Trajectories after the Arab Uprisings", BRISMES Annual Conference 2017, University of Edinburgh, UK. July 5-7 2017.
Lauritsen, Henrik (2017). The Origins and Evolution of the Saudi-Iranian Rivalry , Presentation at the SWAR workshop "IR Theory in a sectarian new Middle East", Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, June 22.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2017). Sovereignty, Sectarianism and the Post Arab Uprisings Middle East, Presentation at the SWAR workshop "IR Theory in a sectarian new Middle East", Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, June 22.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). Dialogues in Sunni-Muslim Politics, Presentation at the SWAR workshop "IR Theory in a sectarian new Middle East", Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, June 22.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). Participation in Roundtable on Perspectives from Political Science, Anthropology and Religious Studies, at the conference Sectarian Materiality, Aarhus University, May 30-31.
Fibiger, Thomas (2017). Anti- and Intrasectarianism in Kuwait. The case of the Shaykhiyya community in the context of the Imam Sadeq Mosque Attack. Paper presented at the SWAR workshop “Sunni and Shi’i Intra- and Anti-Sectarianism", Aarhus University, June 16.
Corboz, Elvire (2017). The Framing of a Shi‘i Discourse on Islamic Unity in the UK. Paper presented at the SWAR workshop “Sunni and Shi‘i Intra- and Anti-Sectarianisms”, Aarhus University, June 16.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2017). Sectarianism and the Puritanization of Sunni Islam Since the Late 18th-Century. Presentation at the conference "Invention or Rediscovery? The Emergence of Sunni Identity in the 21st Century", Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore, February 9.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). (Sectarian) Trans-state Identities in New and Old Regional Cold Wars of the Middle East. Presentation at the conference "The Middle East and North Africa in the Emerging Global Cold War", The Middle East and North Africa Research Cluster, Nottingham Trent University, UK, May 2.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2017)."From Westphalian Failure to Neo-Medievalism in the Middle East," invited lecture to conference “Deconstructing Unitary Statehood: Hybrid Governance in Comparative Perspective, Universita L’Orientale di Napoli, May 5-6.
Fibiger, Thomas (2017). When is Some Thing Sectarian? Investigating Sectarian Materialities in Contemporary Kuwait and Bahrain. Paper presented at the conference Sectarian Materialities, Aarhus University, May 30-31.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2017). Materiality as a sectarian issue. Presentation at the conference "Sectarian Materiality", May 30-31.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). Identity Politics and Authoritarianism in a New Sectarian Middle East: What is So Sectarian about Sectarian Politics? Presentation at the panel "Dimensions of Authoritarianism - Identity, State, and Regime", as part of the conference "Unlike Twins?! Comparing Autocracies and Democracies", the Section "Comparative Politics" of the German Political Science Association (DVPW), University of Tübingen, Germany, March 15-17.
Corboz, Elvire (2017). Participation in Roundtable on Perspectives from Political Science, Anthropology and Religious Studies, at the conference “Sectarian Materiality”, Aarhus University, May 30-31.
Fibiger, Thomas (2017). Material Mediation. The Turba Prayer Stone as Traveling Soil. Paper presented at the Gulf Studies Symposium, American University of Kuwait, March 17-19.
Valbjørn, Morten (2017). Dialogues in Sunni-Muslim Politics. Presentation at the conference "Invention or Rediscovery? The Emergence of Sunni Identity in the 21st Century", Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore, February 9.

2016

Valbjørn, Morten & Raymond Hinnebusch (2016). Exploring the Nexus between Sectarianism and Regime Formation in a New Middle East. Presentation at the workshop "SWAR/CODE Workshop on Sectarianism and Regime Formation", Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Denmark, August 16-17.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). Presentation “State De-Formation In Iraq And Syria, “Centre For Global Cooperation Research, Duisberg, Germany, January 14.
Corboz, Elvire (2016). The Framing of a Shi‘i Discourse on Islamic Unity in the UK. Presentation at the SWAR panel “Inter-disciplinary Explorations into Shia/Sunni Sectarianism” at the Tenth Nordic Conference on Middle Eastern Studies, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, September 22-24.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2016). Sectarianism – A Blind Spot in the Study of Religion? Presentation at the workshop "Comparative Sectarianism", Aarhus University, November 29.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). Shia/Sunni Sectarianism in the Middle East. Presentation at the workshop "Comparative Sectarianism", Aarhus University, November 29.
Fibiger, Thomas (2016). “Wallahu Alam”. Doubt and Certitude in a Sectarian Setting in Kuwait. Paper presented at the conference Doubt and Certitude in Islam, Aarhus University, December 13-15.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). “Syria: From Civil Resistance To Sectarian War” Presented To Workshop On Political Repression And Violence, Aarhus University, March 14.
Corboz, Elvire (2016). The Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq or the Quest for ‘Iraqiness’ of a Formerly Exiled Shi‘i Political Party. Presentation at the conference “Political Parties in the Middle East”, University of Manchester, January 28-29.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2016). Kongeriget Saudi Arabien, November 3.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). “Thinking About Sectarianism: The Case Of Syria, Invited Lecture, Center For Middle East And Islamic Studies, University Of Oslo, April 22.
Valbjørn, Morten & Curtis Ryan (2016). Exploring the regime formation/sectarianism nexus in a less likely place – lessons from Jordan. Presentation at the "SWAR/CODE Workshop on Sectarianism and Regime Formation", Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Denmark, August 16-17.
Fibiger, Thomas (2016). Proper Religion in the Glocal Gulf Museums. Questions of Inclusion and Exclusion. Paper presented at the Middle East Studies Association Meeting, Boston, November 17-20.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2016). Sectarianism and the Transformation of Modern Sunni-Islam, Presentation at the SWAR panel “Inter-disciplinary Explorations into Shia/Sunni Sectarianism” at the Tenth Nordic Conference on Middle Eastern Studies, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, September 22-24.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). Sectarianism and Syria’s Trajectory: Sectarianization Of Political Culture And Competitive Regime Formation, to Conference On "The Long-Term Impacts Of The Syrian Conflict," Chatham House, London, April 27.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). "A Comparative Politics perspective on religion and sectarianism" at Roundtable on inter-disciplinary perspectives on religion and sectarianism, Department of Anthropology, Aarhus University, April 12.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). “Sectarianism in Syria and the Middle East: The Regional Dimension” Presentation To International Relations Workshop, University Of Aarhus, May 2.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). Beyond the Beyond(s) – On the (Many) Third Way(s) Beyond Primordialism and Instrumentalism in the Study of Sectarianism. Presentation at the SWAR panel "Inter-disciplinary Explorations into Shia/Sunni Sectarianism’ at the Tenth Nordic Conference on Middle Eastern Studies, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, September 22-24.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). “Thinking About Sectarianism: The Case of Syria, invited Public Lecture, University Of Aarhus, May 3.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). ”Sekterisk politik: Shia- og sunni-debatten i et nyt Mellemøsten”, presentation at FLSH Annual Meeting, Copenhagen, April 14.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). Presentation, “Governance in the Regime Controlled Areas, with special reference to Damascus,” Workshop on post-conflict governance in Syria, Chatham House, June 23.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). Revisiting the (Post)Democratization Agenda in a New (Sectarian) Middle East. Paper presented at the workshop "Theorizing Authoritarianism in the Arab Middle East’", Smith College, Northampton, MA, United States, November 11.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). Presentation, “Sectarianism and Regime Type: the Case of Syria,” Workshop on sectarianism after the Arab Uprising, Aarhus University, August 16.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). Syrien: Politiske, religiøse og etniske konflikter, at Folkeuniversitetet, April 7.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). Keynote Lecture: “Syria: What Went Wrong, “ Middle East Institute, National University of Singapore, August 31.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). Sectarianism as Identity Politics and/or Religious Politics, SWAR-AIC Workshop: Inter-disciplinary Perspectives on Sectarianism in Iraq and Beyond, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, May 24.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2016) Sectarianism and the role of the near/moyenne/ancient history, SWAR-AIC Workshop: Inter-disciplinary Perspectives on Sectarianism in Iraq and Beyond, Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, May 24.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). Presentation, “Thinking About Sectarianism and the Syrian Case, “ Nordic Middle East Studies Association Conference, Odense, University of Southern Denmark, September 22.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). Weak States and (Sectarian) Trans-state Identities in New and Old Regional Cold Wars of the Middle East. Presentation at the panel "Sectarianism, State Failure and the Regional States System", the 23rd annual congress of DAVO (German Middle East Studies Association), Eberhard Karls Universität, Tübingen, Germany, October 6-8.
Fibiger, Thomas (2016). Sectarian Anti-Sectarianism. Paper presented at the Nordic Middle East Studies Conference, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, September 22-24.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). “MENA’s Sectarian Surge: implications for state formation/de-formation: lessons from Syria,” DAVO, German Middle East Studies Association Conference, Tubingen, Germany, October 5.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). Promises, Pitfalls and Possible Avenues for a Stronger Cross-fertilization between IR and CP in the study of Middle East politics at the panel 'Rethinking the IR/Comparative Politics Divide in Middle East Political Science, 7th Annual POMEPS Conference, Elliott School of International Affairs, George Washington University, Washington DC, USA, May 19-20.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2016). Keynote Lecture, “Understanding Civil War and State Failure in Syria,” Hamburg Institute for Social Research, December 7.
Valbjørn, Morten (2016). Three ways of discussing new identity politics in the International Relations of the Middle East. at the panel "New Identity Politics in the International Relations of the Middle East", International Studies Association's 57th Annual Convention, Atlanta, United States, March 18.

2015

Valbjørn, Morten (2015). "Shia- og sunni-debatten i et nyt Mellemøsten", Ældre Sagen, Aarhus, December 14.
Corboz, Elvire (2015). Politics of Self-Representation of the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq (Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq): The Old & New Identity Symbols of a Former Exile Organisation. Presentation at the workshop “Shiite Identity, Party Politics & Militants”, King Faisal Center for Research & Islamic Studies, Riyadh, September 2.
Valbjørn, Morten (2015). ”IS(lamisme) og Muslim Politics i et nyt (sekterisk) Mellemøsten” Forsvarets Værnsfælles Efterretningsseminar, Flyvestation Skalstrup, November 25.
Riexinger, Martin Thomas (2015). The Shia/Sunni Question in a Sectarian Gulf – Politics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states after the Arab Uprisings. Aarhus University, November 12.
Valbjørn, Morten (2015). Yemen at War in a ‘Sectarian New Middle East’, Presentation at IP-NU event ‘Yemen at war - regional and domestic dimensions’, Aarhus University, November 16.
Hinnebusch, Raymond (2015). Workshop presentation at University of Aarhus, Denmark, “Conceptualizing Sectarianism and the Syrian Case,” November.
Valbjørn, Morten (2015). “(Inter)disciplinary Perspective on Sectarianism in a New Middle East”, Presentation at the SWAR Workshop “(Inter)disciplinary Perspectives on Sectarianism”, Aarhus University, November 12.
Corboz, Elvire (2015). The Life Achievements of the Maraji‘: Claims and Counter-Claims to Authority. Presentation at the workshop “Arab Shī‛a and Shī‛īsm vs. Wilāyat al-Faqīh”, University of Oxford, June 1-2.
Valbjørn, Morten (2015). “The role of (scholarly) identities in the study of identities in Middle East international relations”, EISA Symposium, Rapallo, Italy, November 4-7.
Valbjørn, Morten (2015). "Sekterisk politik: Shia- og sunni-debatten i et nyt Mellemøsten", Folkeuniversitet i Aarhus, Aarhus University, October 26.
Corboz, Elvire (2015). The Transnational Marja‘iyya and the Islamic Republic of Iran: The Dynamics of a Competition. Paper presented at the Shi‘i Studies Symposium “Practical Authority of the Imams and their Representatives”, University of Chicago, April 3-4.
Valbjørn, Morten (2015). Perspectives on the debate about Shia/Sunni sectarianism in a new Middle East. Presentation at the workshop "Modernities and Subjectivities: Social Transformations in the Middle East and the Muslim World", Ca' Foscari University of Venice/The Naval War College - Venice, September 20-26.

SWAR events

SWAR Events: Conferences, Workshops, Panels and Seminars organized as part of the SWAR Project

2020

SWAR Seminar on Comparative Sectarianism in Syria’s Regions

Place: online / University of St Andrews and the Department of Political Science, Aarhus University
Date: August 13-14, 2020.

2019

TIFO/SWAR workshop on 'Sectarianism before, during and after the Arab Revolts.

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: February 4.
Speakers: Morten Valbjørn (Aarhus University), Martin Riexinger (Aarhus University), Thomas Brandt Fibiger (Aarhus University), Raymond Hinnebusch (University of St. Andrews)
Further info: http://icsru.au.dk/arrangementer/vis/artikel/sekterisme-foer-under-og-efter-de-arabiske-revolter/

Concluding SWAR workshop,

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: January 21
Speakers: Morten Valbjørn (Aarhus University), Martin Riexinger (Aarhus University), Thomas Brandt Fibiger (Aarhus University),Raymond Hinnebusch (University of St. Andrews), Rainer Brunner (CNRS), Bassel Salloukh (Lebanese American University), Christian Axboe (Aarhus University), Justin Gengler (Qatar University), Christa Salamandra (City University of New York), Laura McAtackney (Aarhus University),Toby Matthiesen (Oxford University), Simon Mabon (Lancaster University), Rola el-Husseini (Lund University), Helle Malmvig (DIIS), Jeroen Gunning (King’s College, London)

2018

Research workshop on 'Sunni/Shia relations in Europe – How to study them?’,

Place: Migration Institute of Finland, Turku, Finland.
Date: December 13-14.The workshop is part of a series of exploratory workshops on Sunni–Shi‘i Relations in Europe funded by the Joint Committee for Nordic research councils in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NOS-HS).

'Voices from Syria': Public Lecture by Wendy Pearlman

Place: Moesgaard Museum.
Date: October 9.
Speakers: Wendy Pearlman (Northwestern University), author of the book 'We Crossed a Bridge and it Trembled: Voices from Syria'.
Further info here

Research seminar with Wendy Pearlman

Place: Dept of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: October 8.
Speakers: Wendy Pearlman (Northwestern University), Thomas Brandt Fibiger (Arab Islamic Studies, Aarhus University), Emilie Lund Mortensen (anthropology, Aarhus University), Martin Thomas Riexinger (Arab Islamic Studies, Aarhus University), Morten Valbjørn (Political Science, Aarhus University)

Research workshop on "Repercussions of Middle Eastern sectarian conflicts beyond the Middle East"

Place: Dept of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: October 5.
Speakers: Paulo Pinto (UFF, Rio de Janeiro), Mara Leichtman (Michigan State University), Elvire Corboz (Edinburgh Uni.), Lene Kühle (Aarhus Uni.), Uzair Ahmed (Oslo Uni.).

BRISMES Panel "Contending Theoretical Approaches to the Study of Sectarian Mobilisation"

Place: BRISMES Conference 2018, King's College London, London UK.
Date: June 25 2018
Speakers: Toby Dodge, Raymond Hinnebusch, Fanar Haddad, Morten Valbjørn.

BRISMES Panel "Intra- and Inter-Sect Dynamics and the Study of Sunni-Shi‘i Relations"

Place: BRISMES Conference 2018, King's College London, London UK.
Date: June 26 2018
Speakers: Elvire Corboz, Rainer Brunner,Thomas Fibiger, Martin Riexinger.

Research workshop on ' Mapping Sunni-Shi‘i Relations in Europe'

Place: University of Gothenburg, Sweden
Date: June 7-9.

The workshop is part of a series of exploratory workshops on Sunni–Shi‘i Relations in Europe funded by the Joint Committee for Nordic research councils in the Humanities and Social Sciences (NOS-HS). The core team members of the project are Elvire Corboz (University of Edinburgh), Göran Larsson (University of Gothenburg), and Tuomas Martikainen (Migration Institute of Finland), with also the collaboration of Marius Linge (University of Oslo).

Guest-lectures by Waleed Hazbun and Anne-Kirstine Rønn “(Anti-Sectarianism before and after the 2018 Parliamentary Elections”

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University
Date: May 16.
Speaker: Waleed Hazbun (American University of Beirut) and Anne Kirstine Rønn (Aarhus University)

FIFO/SWAR-seminar om Sectarianism in the Wake of the Arab Revolts, April 16, Aarhus University

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University, Bartholins Alle 7, 8000 Aarhus C (www.ps.au.dk)
Time: April 16 2018 14.15-16.00
Program:

Morten Valbjørn (Political Science, AU): Analytical perspectives on sectarian politics before and after the Arab uprisings
Martin Thomas Riexinger (Arab and Islamic Studies, AU): The Puritanization of Sunni Islam
Elvire Corboz (Arab and Islamic Studies, AU): Shiite Discourses of Islamic Unity in the UK
Thomas Brandt Fibigier (Anthropology, AU): The Turba and Everyday Sectarianism
Henrik Lauritsen (Political Science, AU): Saudi Arabia, Iran and the Regime Security Dilemma

2017

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Workshop on "Everyday Sectarianism" with Joanne Nucho

Place: Aarhus University
Date: November 6 2017
Speakers: Joanne Nucho, Thomas Brandt Fibiger, Morten Valbjørn
See also here

Panel "Examining the Nexus between Religion and International Relations in a Sectarian New Middle East’’

Place: 11th Pan-European Conference on International Relations, Barcelona, Spain.
Date: September 15 2017
Speakers: Helle Malmvig, Rosita Di Peri, Henrik Lauritsen, May Darwich, Morten Valbjørn

Panel on "Sectarianism and Regime Trajectories after the Arab Uprisings", BRISMES Annual Conference 2017.

Place: University of Edinburgh.
Date: July 6 2017.
Speakers: Raymond Hinnebusch, Morten Valbjørn, Thomas Brandt Fibiger, Hasan Hafidh, Cortney Freer
For abstracts see here

Workshop on “IR Theory and the new sectarian Middle East”

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: June 22 2017.
Speakers: May Darwich, Simon Mabon, Helle Malmvig, Raymond Hinnebusch, Søren Schmidt, Henrik Lauritsen, Morten Valbjørn.
See the program here

Author workshop on “Sunni and Shi’i Intra- and Anti-Sectarianism”

Place: Aarhus University.
Date: June 16 2017.
Speakers: Mohamed Nawab, Aida-Mihaela Arosoaie, Ingvild Flaskerud, Thomas Brandt Fibiger, Elvire Corboz, Martin Riexinger.

International Research Seminar on “Sectarian Materiality”

Place: Department of Anthropology, Aarhus University.
Date: May 30-31 2017.
Speakers: Fanar Haddad, Christa Salamandra, Laura MacAtackney, Marie Vejrup, Joachim Meyer, Thomas Fibiger, Martin Thomas Riexinger, Morten Valbjørn, Elvire Corboz, Maria Louw
See the program here.

Seminar on “New and old Media in a New Sectarian Middle East”.

Place: Department of Religion, Aarhus University.
Date: May 9 2017.
Speakers: Marc Owen Jones, Jakob Skovgaard-Petersen.
Read more here.

Mini-conference on “Power Politics in Syria – Where are we now and where are we going? “ (Co-organized with IP-NU)

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: February 13 2017.
Speakers: Christopher Phillips, Jakob Skovgaard Pedersen, Jan Pêt Khorto.

2016

Workshop on “Comparative Sectarianism”

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: November 29.
Speakers: Christian Axboe Nielsen, Ingvild Flaskerud, Patrick Milton, Justin Jones, Martin Thomas Riexinger, Michael Kerr, Morten Valbjørn.

Panel on “Sectarianism, State Failure and the Regional States System” at 23^rd Annual Congress of DAVO: German Middle East Studies Association.

Place: Eberhard Karls Universität, Tübingen.
Date: October 6-8 2016.
Speakers: Adham Saouli, Morten Valbjørn, Raymond Hinnebusch, Vincent Durac.

Panel on “Inter-disciplinary Explorations into Shia/Sunni Sectarianism” at the Tenth Nordic Conference on Middle Eastern Studies.

Place: University of Southern Denmark.
Date: September 23 2016.
Speakers: Thomas Brandt Fibiger, Elvire Corboz, Martin Riexinger, Morten Valbjørn, Raymond Hinnebusch, Ali Granmayeh.
See the program here.

Workshop on Sectarianism and Regime Formation” (co-organized with CODE)

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: August 16-17 2016.
Speakers: Lasse Lykke Rørbæk, Courtney Freer, Hasan Hafidh, Adham Saouli, Thomas Brandt Fibiger, Morten Valbjørn, Raymond Hinnebusch.

Workshop “Jordan in a New Sectarian Middle East” (co-organized with DJUCO and CSS)

Place: Center for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan.
Date: August 11 2016.
Speakers: Curtis Ryan, Abdel Ilah Alkhatib, Oraib al Rantawi, Mohammed Abu Rumman, Giulia el-Dardiry, Majeda Omar, Sara Ababneh, Morten Valbjørn.

Workshop on Inter-disciplinary perspectives on Sectarianism in Iraq and Beyond (co-organized with AIC)

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: May 24 2016.
Speakers: Toby Dodge, Thomas Brandt Fibiger, Morten Valbjørn, Martin Riexinger, Bjarke Aae.

ICSRU Workshop on “Sectarianism and non-religious identity politics”

Place: Aarhus University
Date: May 9
Speakers: Raymond Hinnebusch (University of St. Andrews) Thomas Brandt Fibiger (Aarhus University), Morten Valbjørn (Aarhus University), Martin Riexinger (Aarhus University).

Public Lecture by Raymond Hinnebusch on "Thinking about Sectarianism: Drivers and Consequences – lessons from Syria"

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: May 3 2016.

Roundtable on ”Inter-disciplinary perspectives on religion and sectarianism”,

Place: Department of Anthropology, Aarhus University.
Date: April 12 2016.
Speakers: Thomas Brandt Fibiger, Martin Riexinger, Morten Valbjørn, Raymond Hinnebusch.

2015

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Public event on Yemen at War in a ‘Sectarian New Middle East – regional and domestic dimensions (co-organized with IP-NU).

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: November 16 2015.
Speakers: Maria-Louise Clausen and Siris Hartkorn.

Workshop on (Inter)disciplinary Perspectives on Sectarian in a New Middle East

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: November 12 2015.
Speakers: Rainer Brunner, Bassel Salloukh, Toby Matthiesen.

Public lecture by Toby Matthiesen on “The Shia/Sunni Question in a Sectarian Gulf – Politics in Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states after the Arab Uprisings” (co-organized with IP-NU).

Place: Department of Political Science, Aarhus University.
Date: November 11 2015.
Read more here.

Contact

Morten Valbjørn

Lektor

M mortenv@ps.au.dk
H 1332, 216
P +4587165651

Revideret 27.04.2026

Thomas Jeppe Albrektsen