The International Institute of Islamic Thought (IIIT) invites abstract submissions for its 8th Summer Institute for Scholars, which will be held between June 8 and June 13, 2015, at its headquarters in Herndon, Virginia, USA. The Summer Institute is an annual meeting dedicated to the study of contemporary approaches in Islamic thought, that brings together senior and young scholars in order to present papers and participate in panels and in-depth discussions focused on topics related to a particular theme. This year’s theme is “Constitutions and Pluralism in Muslim States and Societies.”
Summer Institute for Scholars invites original, previously unpublished submissions – both theoretical and case-studies, covering historical and contemporary settings – that examine, but are not limited to, the following:
• Constitutional politics in post-colonial era;
• Constitution-making processes;
• Political empowerment of post-colonial Muslim administrations;
• Defining religious and legal pluralisms in Islam and Muslim societies;
• Status of non-Muslim minorities;
• New role of religion and religious scholars in modern Muslim nation-states;
• Islam and human rights in the constitution;
• Maqasid al-Shari‘ah and constitutional theory;
• Legal parallelisms and hierarchies (civil-Islamic law) within constitutions;
• Legal centrism and pluralism
Deadline for abstracts is January 10, 2015. Abstracts are limited to 500 words. Final paper should be between 6,000 and 10,000 words. Please email abstract (max.500 words) and CV to Ermin Sinanovic, Director of Research and Academic Programs: ermin@iiit.org.
IIIT will cover travel costs (up to $500), hotel accommodation during the Summer Institute, and will pay each scholar a per diem of $100 for participation ($800 total in per diem).
Decisions on abstracts will be made by late January 2015. Final papers are due by May 1, 2015. Funding is contingent on full paper submission.
The Institute will convene on June 8, and will conclude on June 13, 2015. Participants should expect to arrive to Herndon, VA, on June 7 and depart on June 14. The nearest airport is Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), only about 5 miles from the Institute.
IIIT will publish selected papers in an edited volume, within one year after the Seminar. The contributors will be compensated $1,000 for publication.
For more information and to learn about previous summer programs please see the program website.