The Eighth Finnish Colloquium of Middle Eastern and North African Studies will be held on 27–28 May 2027 at the University of Helsinki, Finland (Metsätalo, Unioninkatu 40, 00170 Helsinki). Online participation is also possible. The theme for the colloquium is Recovery, Reconciliation, Reconsideration – Past, Present and Future in the Middle East and North Africa. The multidisciplinary colloquium is organized by the Finnish Institute in the Middle East (FIME) and the University of Helsinki (Middle Eastern Studies).
Call for Papers and Panels
Recovery, Reconciliation, Reconsideration: Past, Present and Future in the Middle East and North Africa
The Eighth Finnish Colloquium of Middle Eastern and North African Studies
- Organizers: Finnish Institute in the Middle East & University of Helsinki (Middle Eastern Studies)
- Time and place: 27–28 May 2027, Helsinki, Finland (with a hybrid option for those unable to travel to Helsinki)
- Deadline for paper and panel submissions 30.11.2026
- You can download the CFP as a pdf here.
The Finnish Institute in the Middle East and the University of Helsinki (Middle Eastern Studies) invite proposals for the Eighth Finnish Colloquium of Middle Eastern and North African Studies, to be held on 27–28 May 2027 in Helsinki.
Beginning in October 2023, the Middle East (MENA) has undergone an exceptionally intense and still unfolding processes of transformation. These changes are closely tied to shifting interstate relations, the regional power dynamics, and the region’s relationship with the Global North. In addition to geopolitical developments, these processes encompass much more. What is the future of the Palestinians after the destruction of Gaza? What will become of Iran in the aftermath of the brutally suppressed popular uprising and the subsequent attack by the United States and Israel? What will the new post-Assad Syria look like? All of these are examples of transformations that generate a need for recovery, a desire for reconciliation, and a reason to reassess existing realities. Such moments are not historically unprecedented; similar phases have recurred throughout the history of the Middle East. The colloquium asks how societies recover from past and present challenges, reconcile competing narratives and experiences, and reconsider inherited assumptions in order to envision viable and sustainable futures.
Keynote speakers:
- Professor Nadine Sika, American University in Cairo (AUC)
- Senior Research Fellow Charlotte Lysa, Norwegian Institute of International Affairs
We welcome panel proposals or individual papers that address themes of recovery, reconciliation, and reconsideration within any current or historical context of the Middle East. The colloquium is multidisciplinary: contributions drawing on a wide range of disciplinary or methodological approaches are encouraged, including history, political science, security studies, anthropology, sociology, religious studies, linguistics, Ancient Near Eastern studies, archaeology, cultural studies, and media studies.
Researchers at all career stages, including doctoral researchers, are invited to submit proposals. Master students are also encouraged to apply with presentations based on their theses.
The colloquium will be held primarily as an in-person event in Helsinki. Remote participation will be available for most activities for those unable to travel to Helsinki. The deadline for registration and the payment of the conference fee (90 €, doctoral researchers 60 €, students 30 €, online participants 30 €) is March 5, 2027. Further information on registration will be sent with the letter of acceptance.
The final program of the colloquium will be published in March 2027. Registrations for participants without a paper will also be opened in March 2027.
Inquiries about the colloquium should be sent to: FIME’s Communications and Administration Coordinator Laura Aho, laura.aho@fime.fi
Submission Guidelines
Deadline for submissions: 30.11.2026
Notification of acceptance: By the end of January 2027
For panels: We invite the organizer or chair of the panel to submit a proposal of no more than 3000 characters (roughly 450 words) and the names, titles, and affiliations of the panelists via this online form. After the panel submission, the individual panelists have to submit their individual papers following the instructions below.
For papers: Please submit an abstract of no more than 2300 characters (roughly 350 words) together with a short biographical note (max. 500 characters, roughly 60 words) via this online form.
Panel proposals are prioritized.
We look forward to welcoming researchers of Middle Eastern Studies to Helsinki in May 2027!
