Frequently asked questions about the future Annual Meeting format
An FAQ with answers to some frequently asked questions about the format of MESA's future annual meetings.
Pinned Story
Mission Statement
The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) is a non-profit association that fosters the study of the Middle East, promotes high standards of scholarship and teaching, and encourages public understanding of the region and its peoples through programs, publications and services that enhance education, further intellectual exchange, recognize professional distinction, and defend academic freedom in accordance with its status as a 501(c)(3) scientific, educational, literary, and charitable organization.
Annual Meeting
The Middle East Studies Association’s 57th annual meeting was held in Montréal, Québec, Canada from November 2-5, 2023 at the Palais des congrès.
MESA holds the largest gathering of Middle East studies scholars, and MESA 2023 included a robust program of over 350 sessions, more than 50 exhibitors, and a virtual film festival.
Advocacy
The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) advocates on behalf of its members on issues that are central to its mission.
This includes statements and letters from MESA's Board of Directors, MESA's Committee on Academic Freedom, the Task Force on Civil and Human Rights, and the MESA Global Academy.
Become a Member
Be a part of a community of scholars who are passionate about the pursuit of academic knowledge on the MENA region. Help MESA defend academic freedoms. Share your research at the annual meeting. Access the best, cutting-edge scholarship in person at the conference or online in our journals.
Join or renew today!
Member Announcements
Applications Sought for IJMES Editor
The MESA Board of Directors invites applications and nominations for the next editor of the International Journal of Middle East Studies (IJMES) for a five-year term beginning July 1, 2024. Application review will begin August 1, 2023, and continue until a new editor is identified. For more information, go here.
MESA Strategic Plan
MESA has adopted a strategic plan for 2021-2025. To view the plan or for more information, please see here.
Issues of IJMES, RoMES, and IMES available
To access, select the Publications tab in your myMESA account then click the publication image. 
Security Alerts for Researchers and Students
There are two active security alerts issued by MESA’s Board of Directors for those embarking on research in Egypt and UAE.
Frequently Asked Questions about the BDS Resolution
An FAQ with answers to some frequently asked questions about the BDS resolution.
Pinned Story
The Khānjī Correspondence and the Arabic Manuscript Trade in the Early Twentieth Century
Hagop Kevorkian Center for Near Eastern Studies at New York University
Professor Garrett Davidson will give a talk that offers a preliminary analysis of the recently discovered al-Khānjī papers. The papers, accumulated and preserved by Sāmī al-Khanjī in Cairo, document his and his father’s business and scholarly activities from the 1920s to 1960s and provide an unparalleled window onto the worlds of the Arabic and Islamic manuscript trade in the first half of the twentieth century.
Senior Lecturer in Language and Culture Studies (Arabic)
Trinity College - Hartford, CT
The Department of Language and Culture Studies at Trinity College invites applications for a renewable long-term Lectureship in Arabic Studies to teach all levels of Arabic language beginning July 2024.
Letter to the University of Pennsylvania protesting its decision to ban the screening of the documentary Israelism
Our letter expressing dismay about the administration’s decision to prevent the screening by Penn students of "Israelism".
Khayrallah Center Undergraduate Summer Internship
The Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies
The Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies will award two undergraduate students with a paid, 8-week internship in summer 2024.
CSRC Annual Conference 2024 - Arab American University, Palestine
Arab American University
The Conflict Studies Research Center at the Arab American University of Palestine plans to hold its annual conference titled “Conflict Resolution Redefined.” scheduled to take place on July 1-3, 2023.
December 9th InFocus: Middle Easter & Arab Cinema
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles
NewFilmmakers Los Angeles (NFMLA) hosts its December Monthly Film Festival, which features its annual InFocus: Middle Eastern & Arab Cinema program, which highlights the work of Middle Eastern and Arab filmmakers in front of and behind the camera.
History Teacher – Upper Division
Horace Mann School
The Upper Division History Department at Horace Mann School is seeking a dynamic and experienced history teacher with a specialization in any period of the History of the Middle East.
Visiting Assistant Professor of Arabic - Modern Languages and Literatures
Swarthmore College
The Arabic Section of the Department of Modern Languages and Literatures at Swarthmore College invites applications for a one-year Visiting Assistant Professor position in Arabic Studies, starting August 2024.
Faculty Leave Fellowship
Crown Center for Middle East Studies at Brandeis University
The Crown Center for Middle East Studies invites applications for a one-year faculty leave residential fellowship for scholars of the contemporary Middle East and North Africa.
Arab-American Educational Foundation Professorship in Modern Arab History
University of Houston
The Department of History at the University of Houston invites applications for the Arab-American Educational Foundation Professorship in Modern Arab History at the advanced associate or full professor level.
Visiting Assistant Professor in Islamic Studies
University of Rochester
The Department of Religion and Classics at University of Rochester invites applications for a full-time appointment as Visiting Assistant Professor in Islamic Studies. This is a two-year, potentially renewable, position, anticipated to begin in July 2024.
Assistant Professor of Historical Studies and Digital Humanities
Central European University
The Department of Historical Studies at Central European University invites applications for an Assistant Professorship position in Historical Studies and Digital Humanities. Regional and chronological specializations are open, but applicants should demonstrate the ability to engage in research on transregional phenomena in Eurasian history between c. 800 and c. 1850, based on expertise in one or more regional/local languages. Scholars working on the Islamicate and/or Persianate world and/or South Asia are particularly encouraged to apply.
Letter regarding intensified targeting of Palestinian students in Israeli universities
Our letter to Israeli government authorities expressing concern about the mounting threats to and repressive measures against Palestinian students in Israeli universities since the Hamas attack of 7 October
Assistant Professor / Associate / Professor open Rank- in Anthropology
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
The Sociology and Anthropology Program invites applications for an Assistant/Associate or Full professor in Anthropology. The successful candidate must have completed a PhD Anthropology or is scheduled to complete it before September 01, 2023.
Visiting Professor - Sociology and Anthropology
Doha Institute for Graduate Studies
The Sociology and Anthropology Program invites applications for a visiting professor in Anthropology for the Spring 2024 term. The successful candidate must have completed a PhD Anthropology. A proven teaching at graduate studies level and research experience in the Anthropology of the Arab world is preferred.
Webinar 27 November: The Future of Labour Demand in the Gulf States: What Skills?
Gulf Labour Markets, Migration, and Population (GLMM) Programme
In view of the economic reforms enacted recently in the Gulf states, what is the future of skills demand there, and how will it affect the trends and patterns of labour and labour migration to the region? The webinar will review the changes and innovations in the Gulf States’ economies over the last decade and assess their impact on the actual structure of the workforce, by nationality (national – non-national) and skill level. The webinar will discuss future trends in the demand for skilled labour, highlight the challenges they pose and measures to address these challenges, and reflect on possible scenarios for the future of migration to the region, concerning the number and characteristics of migrants.
Call for Papers - Workshop - Migration to the Gulf: Possible Scenarios for the Future: A View from the GCC and from Countries of Origin
Gulf Labour Markets, Migration, Population (GLMM) Programme
Against the backdrop of the current transformations of GCC demographics and economies, as well as the socio-political and economic contexts of origin countries, the purpose of the workshop is to assess and forecast future trends and patterns of migration to the Gulf states.
14th Gulf Research Meeting 2024 - Call for Paper
Gulf Research Center (GRC)
The Gulf Research Center (GRC) is pleased to announce that we are accepting applications for the 14th annual Gulf Research Meeting (GRM), the annual academic conference highlighting critical issues of importance to the Gulf region and providing a basis for undertaking and engaging in academic and empirical research. GRM 2024 will take place in Cambridge (UK) from July 9-11, 2024.
Postdoctoral or Associate Researcher Scholar of Modern Palestine and Israel
The Institute for the Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia (TRI), Department of Near Eastern Studies
The Institute for the Transregional Study of the Contemporary Middle East, North Africa, and Central Asia (TRI) invites applications from outstanding postdoctoral or more senior researchers of modern Palestine and Israel for one or more positions as a Postdoctoral Research Associate or an Associate Research Scholar at Princeton University.
Fifth Annual Islamic Philosophy Conference
American Society of Islamic Philosophy and Theology
Please join Us for the 5th Annual Islamic Philosophy Conference Dec. 1-3, 2023 Harvard University
Letter protesting intensification of arrests of students at Birzeit University
Our letter to Israeli government authorities protesting the ongoing targeting and intensification of arrests of Palestinian students at universities in the occupied West Bank, with a focus on Birzeit University
Response from George Washington University to November 20 Letter
The Committee on Academic Freedom received a response to our 20 November letter requesting clarification about the decision to suspend the George Washington University (GWU) chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) for at least 90 days.
Letter Demanding an end to Israel’s military assault on Gaza’s educational sector
Our letter condemning and demanding an end to the ongoing military assaults against the Palestinians of Gaza and Gaza’s educational infrastructure.