Urging different theoretical approaches and disciplinary perspectives, the XV Conference of the Italian Society for Middle Eastern Studies (SeSaMO) "Explaining Crisis beyond Chaos: Middle East and North Africa in Global Change" will reflect on the several dimensions of crisis in the modern Middle East and North Africa.

We invite PANELS in all disciplines of the humanities and social sciences, focusing on any area of the Middle and North Africa and historical period (the long version of the CfP can be found here http://www.sesamoitalia.it/xv-convegno-sesamo-napoli-2022/). Panels are particularly encouraged to:

-stimulate reflections on the idea of chaos vs crisis from a theoretical point of view, for example by discussing the diverse normative paradigms in the study of change as they have been applied to the region or by questioning and problematizing the understanding and framing of "crisis" from within or from outside the region

- analyse and exemple single or multiple dimensions of crisis affecting the region from different disciplinary perspective (e.g. linguistic, literary, historical, sociological, juridical, anthropological, political, religious and area studies) and offer, where possible, a comparative view with other world regions. Analysis of the interrelations between different dimensions of crisis are particulary encouraged. Examples could be, but are not limited to: growing inequalities, unemployment, fiscal crisis, corruption, access to public health and social services, environmental crisis, food and water scarcity, social control, censorship and repression, violence (state violence, armed conflicts, etc.), political representation, participation, regimes' legitimacy crisis, identity politics, sectarianization, migration, borders and mobility.

- analyse social actors and bottom up processes of change, both historical and contemporary.

- analyse how crisis and change are reflected in cultural and artistic production from the region (cinema, comics, theatre, literature,etc..) addressing both the national and transnational level

- explore the complexity of the methodologies (empirical and theoretical) used over the years to investigate crisis and change by, for instance, discussing research in difficult contexts, research ethics, research funding, etc..

The deadline for panels' submission is 23 December 2021. Please submit a panel proposal of no more than 1500 words including references using this form http://www.sesamoitalia.it/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/FORMAT-PANEL-SUBMISSION.docx

The call for papers for accepted panels will be issued in January 2022. Main working languages of the conference are Italian, English, and French. Submissions should be sent to: sesamoconferenza@gmail.com.