10
n addition to the “Beirut Conference on Public Spheres,” activi-I
ties of the project included workshops in Amman (2002) and Cairo
(2003), two workshops in Florence, in collaboration with the European
University Institute’s Mediterranean Programme annual meeting (2003,
2004), one panel at the World Congress for Middle Eastern Studies in
Mainz (2002) and one panel at the Middle East Studies Association
meeting in Alaska (2003).
e list of individuals deserving of our thanks is long and includes Th
those who contributed to the success of each of the project activities as
well as to this volume in particular. The members of the SSRC Middle East
and North Africa Regional Advisory Panel oversaw and guided the proj-
ect as well as taking on various roles in the workshops and conferences.
They included: Dwight Reynolds (chair), Khaldoun Al-Naqeeb, Mona
Abaza, Fawwaz Traboulsi, Şemsa Özar, Tsugitaka Sato, Riccardo Bocco,
Jocelyne Dakhlia, Michael Fischer, Homa Hoodfar and Anh Nga Longva.
In addition, Philippe Fargues, Ann Lesch and Lucine Taminian took the
lead in the design of the collaborative grants program, its intellectual sub-
stance and its different components. For their collaboration in co-orga-
nizing activities, special thanks are due to Samir Khalaf and Peter Heath
(American University of Beirut), Imco Brouwer (European University
Institute) and the late, and much missed, Cynthia Nelson (American
University at Cairo). For active contribution and thoughtful presentations
at various events, I would especially like to mention and thank Talal Asad,
Michael Burawoy, Craig Calhoun, Ravi Devusevan, Hoda Elsadda, Ray
Jureidini, Sumathi Rasmaswamy, Shahnaz Rouse and Judith Tucker. SSRC
staff and consultants who ensured the success of the project through over-
sight of myriad details include Maureen Abdelsayed, Laleh Behbehanian,
Laura Bier, Aziz Isham, Anthony Koliha, Nazli Parvizi, Mary Ann Riad
and Shabana Shahabuddin. Melissa Aronczyk was an excellent editor, and
Ramona Naddaff also worked closely with several of the chapter authors.
SSRC’s editorial director, Paul Price, and production manager, Debra Yoo,
put many hours into the actual production of the volume.
e introduction was written when I was a Fellow at the Swedish Th
Collegium for Advanced Study (SCAS), 2008–2009. My thanks to Björn
Wittrock, Barbro Klein, directors, and SCAS staff for a most congenial
and productive atmosphere.