Istanbul Seminars May 19-24, 2012 – Philosophers bridge the Bosphorus
“The promise of democracy in troubled times” faces several challenges that are notably related to altered material conditions: Western democracies have to find new answers in the face of a severe economic and financial crises and an ageing population. Arab countries invest all their hopes in democracy in order to confront poverty and inequality as well as an unprecedented youth bulge.
Which are the methods and limits of democratic participation and political deliberation in economics? Does the Arab Spring lead to more rights for women and citizens in the Arab world? How do claims to justice engage new forms of political responsibility, political judgment and leadership?
PROGRAM
Venue: Conference hall at Bilgi Santralistanbul: E1-301
Saturday, May 19, 10.00 am – 4.15pm
Introductions: Giancarlo Bosetti and Asaf Savas Akat
Timur Kuran: Religious Obstacles to Democratization in the Middle East: Past and Present
Seyla Benhabib: Democracy Building and Transnational Sites: Reconfiguring Political Geographies
Chair: Ferda Keskin
ROUNDTABLE 1.45 pm:
Populism and Technocracy: Twin Dangers for Democracy
With Albena Azmanova, Marina Calloni, Timur Kuran, Jim Sleeper, Asaf Savas Akat
———–
Sunday, May 20, 11.30 am – 5.30 pm
Micheline Ishay, Claus Offe: Arab Seasons: Historical Analogies, Current Actors and Prospects for Democratic
Katajun Amirpur: ‚We are Half of Iran’s Population’ – Women and The Green Movement Transitions
Chair: Nina zu Fürstenberg
ROUNDTABLE 3.00 pm:
Message from His Excellency Mohammed Khatami: Overcoming Postcolonialism: from the Civilizational Dispute to the Renewal of Dialogue
With Giuliano Amato, Alessandro Ferrara, Ali Khoshroo, Ramin Jahanbegloo, Roberto Toscano, Giancarlo Bosetti
———-
Monday, May 21, 10 am – 4.00 pm
Andrew Arato: The Return of Reform and Revolution, and the Problem of Legitimacy
Jeffrey Alexander: Obama-Tahrir-Occupy
Chair: Ayşen Candaş
Asma Barlas: Uncrossed Bridges: Islam, Feminism, and Secular Democracy
ROUNDTABLE 1.45 pm:
A Big Change in Progress in the Mediterranean Region: A New Season Between Hopes and Risks
With Jeffrey Alexander, Francesca Corrao, Nilüfer Göle, Mohsen Marzouk, Ulises Mejias, Roberto Toscano
———-
Tuesday, May 22, 10 am – 3.30 pm
Massimo Campanini: A New Way for Democracy from an Islamic Perspective
Mehmet Paçaci: Democratic Values and the Qur’an as a Source of Islam
Chair: Pınar Uyan
Jean Cohen: Defending Constitutionalized Anti-Establishment and Political Secularism: How to Square the Circle of Separation, Religious Freedom and (Reflexive) Regulation
Chair: David Rasmussen
ROUNDTABLE 1.30 pm:
Are Democracies Still Sovereign? The Challenge of Transnational Institutions
With Seyla Benhabib, Craig Calhoun, Fuat Keyman, David Rasmussen, Joseph La Palombara
———-
Wednesday, May 23 10 am – 4.30 pm
Craig Calhoun: Cosmopolitanism and Belonging
Avishai Margalit: The Arab Spring and the Israeli Spring: the Cry for Social Justice.
Chair: Umut Özkırımlı
ROUNDTABLE (1) : Cosmopolitanism and the Challenge of Pluralism
İlay Romain Örs, Ramin Jahanbegloo, Volker Kaul, Fuat Keyman
ROUNDTABLE (2) 2.00 pm:
Postsecularism from Turkey to North Africa: Debating the Role of Religion in the New Course of Arab Democracy
With Massimo Campanini, Zaid Eyadat, Avishai Margalit, Nilüfer Göle, Heinrich Thyssen-Bornemisza
Closing with Remzi Sanver, Rector of Bilgi University
———-
Thursday, May 24 10 am – 11.30 am
Open Discussion with Young Scholars and Proposals for Future Editions of the Istanbul Seminars
Students have an hour of Q and A with selected speakers at the end of every day’s Seminar.
This program might be subject to changes. Please consult our website www.istanbulseminars.org for possible changes.
You can DOWNLOAD the detailed program on the top of this page