"Islam and Women's Rights in Middle East Politics"

THURSDAY, SEPT. 25, 2008 at 5:00pm

in Belk Library, Room 114

(lecture is free and open to the public)

This lecture addresses the controversial question of women's rights in Islam, in both theory and practice. Does Islam oppress women? Are feminism and Islamic politics inherently opposite ideas? What are the prospects for women's participation in politics and public life in the Middle East? This lecture examines these questions, in order to better understand women's rights and roles in Middle East politics today.

Curtis R. Ryan is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Appalachian State University. Dr. Ryan specializes in international and Middle East politics, with particular interests in inter-Arab relations, Islam and politics, alliances, democratization, security, and international terrorism. In 1992 and 1993 Dr. Ryan served as a Fulbright Scholar and guest researcher at the Institute for Strategic Studies, University of Jordan, in the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan. He was also twice named a Peace Scholar by the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. He is the author of Jordan in Transition: From Hussein to Abdullah (Lynne Rienner Press, 2002) and articles published in Middle East Journal, Middle East Insight, Arab Studies Quarterly, Israel Affairs, Southeastern Political Review, Journal of Third World Studies, Middle East Policy, The Middle East Review of International Affairs, and Middle East Report. His current book project, Inter-Arab Alliances, will be published in late 2008.

For more information about the Women's Studies Distinguished Lecture Series, please see http://www.ws.appstate.edu