Minutes, November 2014

Middle East Sociology Working Group
Minutes

Informal meeting, Middle East Studies Association, Annual Meeting, Washington, D.C., November 23, 2014.

24 members of the Middle East Sociology Working Group met at Medaterra Restaurant, near the conference site. Over lunch, we discussed efforts to establish a Middle East-related section in the American Sociological Association. Two speakers introduced their work over the past couple of years: Tugrul Keskin described his work on a Sociology of Islam section, and Rita Stephan described her discussions over the past several months with ASA staff members, who have sounded supportive of a Middle East-related ASA section. At Rita’s suggestion, Charles Kurzman distributed a survey in October 2014 to gauge interest in this effort and opinions on the label that the section ought to adopt (link to survey). By mid-November the survey had received 56 positive responses indicating support for the petition, including a commitment to pay dues of around $12 a year for two years. Of the 56 respondents, 31 respondents said they would sign regardless of the label that the section adopts. Other respondents were split:

Middle East and Middle Eastern Diasporas: 13
Sociology of Islam and Muslim Societies: 13
Middle East and Muslim Societies: 10
Middle East and Middle Eastern Americans: 8
Middle East and North Africa/Middle East and North African Societies (write-in): 2
Middle East and Sociology of Islam (write-in): 1
Scientific Study of Islam (write-in): 1
West Asia and North Africa (write-in): 1

These numbers were still well below the 200 ASA members needed to submit a petition. However, the discussion in Washington suggested that there may be considerably more people willing to sign up. In addition, the discussion led to a new label for the section, Global Middle East (or possibly Global Middle East and Islam), which would signal both a region and cross-regional focus. Dr. Stephan agreed to lead the effort to draft a statement to go along with the petition, and several others volunteered to join her.

Minutes taken by Charles Kurzman, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.