2008-2009 Research Theme

Youth Culture and Politics in the Arab and Muslim Worlds

It is often remarked that there has been a demographic explosion in the Arab and Muslim worlds and that at least 65% of the population of any given country in this region is under the age of 30.  Yet little else is known about this segment of the population.  What are the forms of sociability that dominate amongst its members? How do youth deal with the reality of political oppression, conservative mores and mobility closure?  Boredom, humiliation, sexual segregation, football and violence, in its many forms, are features in the lives of Arab and Muslim youth.  Whereas most do not have access to the Internet, a good number do, especially in the Gulf countries.  This and other technologies, such as the cellular telephone and Bluetooth, render possible certain forms of communication, some transgressive, and entertainment as well as ideas of community that were previously unimaginable.  In turn this has produced new social realities and categories (internet jihadis; Facebook exhibitionists, E-mail novelists, etc). We hope to examine these and other questions pertaining to the culture and politics of Arab and Muslim youth.

Research Fellowship Opportunities
Under this general theme, the Institute invites applications for research fellowships from applicants with any disciplinary or theoretical perspective (e.g., law, theology, sociology, anthropology, demography, politics, literature, as well as Islamic, gender and diaspora studies). Equally, our interests are not confined to any one region of the globe, but rather to any area in which Muslims live. Fellowship appointments will be for the academic year, September 2008 through June 2009, with the possibility of renewal for a second year. Fellows will be expected to teach a one-semester undergraduate seminar, which may be open to graduate students, to pursue independent research at Princeton, and to participate in Institute-related activities on campus. Preference will be given to academics whose research, teaching, and professional activities relate to the Institute’s 2008-2009 theme. Travel assistance of up to $1500 for round-trip, economy-class airfare will be available to fellows and their immediate families. Salary, title and eligibility to teach will be based on successful applicants’ qualifications and is subject to approval by Princeton’s Dean of the Faculty and relevant academic departments.

To Apply
Applicants should send a current curriculum vitae, a statement of the research interests they will pursue while at Princeton (maximum length 3 pages) and a brief outline of a course they would propose to teach. Application materials may be sent by mail, fax, or e-mail to the contacts given below and must be received by February 15, 2008. Applicants should also have three letters of recommendation sent directly to the Institute. Princeton University is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer. For information about applying to Princeton, see www.princeton.edu/sites/dof/ApplicantsInfo.htm.

Transregional Institute Research Fellowship
323 Aaron Burr Hall
Princeton University
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA

EMAIL: transreg@princeton.edu
FAX: 609-258-0204
www.princeton.edu/~transreg