I have the pleasure to invite you to participate at the International Symposium: "Bektashism between religious movement and established religion", taking place on 23-24 October 2009 in the Faculty of Social Sciences, European University of Tirana, which is the hosting institution of the event.
The address is: Bulevard "Gjergj Fishta" (ish NPV 2), Tirana, Albania.
More than thirty scholars from the United States, United Kingdom, France, Spain, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, Greece, and Albania will gather to discuss the relationship of Bektashism to culture, society, and politics in countries where it spreads throughout history.
Please find attached the Symposium's Poster, Program and Abstracts. Please note that there will be a book presentation and welcome reception Thursday 22 October at 18.00 and registration starts on 23 October at 9.00.
For registered participants the Symposium will end with an excursion to Kruja, Berat and Vlora.
Looking forward to seeing you in the Symposium.
Sincere Regards,
Prof. Dr. Albert Doja, H.D.R.
Member of the Academy of Sciences
Professor of Sociology & Anthropology
European University of Tirana, Albania
Phone: +355-686038335
Email: albert.doja@ ul.ie
http://www.researcherid.com/rid/C-1637-2008
University Institute
of Advanced Studies
International Symposium
BEKTASHISM BETWEEN RELIGIOUS MOVEMENT AND
ESTABLISHED RELIGION
With special support from
University Institute of Advanced Studies,
U.S. Embassy & UNESCO National Commission
Convenor: Prof. Dr. Albert Doja,
Member of the Albanian Academy of Sciences
Venue: Faculty of Social Sciences, European University of Tirana 23-24 October 2009
Recent work on Bektashism demonstrates an innovative and well -argued approach, according to which the system of beliefs and practices related to Bektash ism seems to have corresponded to a kind of liberation theology, whereas the structure of Bektashi groups corresponded more or less to the type of religious organization conventionally known as charismatic groups. If this is the case, their spiritual tendency could at times connect with and meet social, cultural and national
perspectives. It is the overall combination of these factors that seems to cast heterodox mystics and heretics of any kind as non-conformist and often dangerous for the political establishment, as was the case with the Bektashis as much in Ottoman Anatolia and Modern Turkey as in Albania.
However, in other circumstances, they may become politically compliant and reliable, depending on political situations. In this case, when members of the previously persecuted religious minority will acquire a degree of religious and political respectability within society at large, the doctrines of heterodoxy and liberation theology fade into the background. In the end, the heirs of the heterodox promoters of spiritual reform and social movement turn into followers and faithful defenders of a legitimate authority. They become the spokespeople for an institutionalized
orthodoxy whose support is sought by the political regime.
Programme Timetable
22 October 2009
18.00�20.00 Book presentation and Welcome reception
23 October 2009
09.00�10.00 Registration
10.00�10.30 Opening Session
10.30�12.30 Panel I: ORTHODOXY AND HETERODOXY
12.30�14.30 Lunch break
14.30�17.00 Panel II: STATE AND POLITICS
24 October 2009
09.00�11.00 Panel III: IDENTITY AND MEMORY
11.00�11.30 Coffee break
11.30�13.30 Panel IV: ARTS AND REPRESENTATIONS
13.30�14.30 Lunch break
14.30�17.00 Panel V: HISTORIES AND LEGACIES
17.00�19.00 Farewell Session
25 October 2009
08.00�18.00 Excursion to Kruja, Berat and Vlora
2
Detailed Programme
OPENING SESSION
Opening Address: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Enika Abazi , Dean of the Faculty of Social
Sciences, European University of Tirana Welcome Address: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Adrian Civici , Rector of the European University of Tirana
I. ORTHODOXY AND HETERODOXY
Chair: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Enika Abazi
Prof. Dr. Albert Doja, Member of the Albanian Academy of Sciences
From Confraternal Religion to Instrumental Theology: ideological reversal between
heterodoxy and orthodoxy in the pol itical history of Bektashism.
Prof. Dr. Enzo Pace, Department of Sociology, University of Padova, Italy, and
Ass. Prof. Dr. Fatma S黱dal, Department of Sociology, Anadolu University,
Eskisehir, Turkey
Inner-world mysticism and the production of social cap ital in Bektashism.
Dr. Mark Soileau, Assistant Professor of Religious Studies, Albion College,
Michigan, U.S.A.
From Cult to Tarikat: The Formation of Bektashism in the Vilayetname of Haji
Bektash.
Nazli Ozkan, Comparative Study in History and Society, Koc University, Istanbul,
Turkey
Anthropology of Alevism in Turkey: Dealing with the Orthodoxy 桯eterodoxy Issue.
Discussant: Dr. David Shankland
II. STATE AND POLITICS
Chair: Dr. David Shankland
Dr. Nathalie Clayer, CNRS, France
Institutionalisatio n and Bektashi Religious Authority in Twentieth -Century Albania.
Prof. Dr. Bernd Fischer, Full Professor and Chair, Department of History, Indiana
University, Fort Wayne, U.S.A.
Religion and the State in Albania
Dorian Ko鏸, UFO University, Tirana, Albania
The relationship of Bektashism to culturalist and nationalist movements .
3
Gizem Kaşoturacak, PhD Candidate, History Department, Sabanci University,
Istanbul, Turkey
The relations between the Ottoman State and heterodox tekkes: A case study on
the the Tekke of Abdal Musa.
Ass. Prof. Dr. B黮ent Bilmez , Department of History, Bilgi University, Istanbul,
Turkey
The closure of the central Bektashi dergah in Turkey (1925) and its consequences .
Discussant: Dr. Domna Michail
III. IDENTITY AND MEMORY
Chair: Prof. Dr. Enzo Pace
Dr. David Shankland, Reader of Social Anthropology, University of Bristol, U.K.
Alevi-Bektashi relations: an example village from rural Anatolia .
Dr. Fotini Tsimpiridou, Assistant Professor of Social Anthropology, Department of
Balkan, Slavic and Oriental Studies, Macedonia University, Thessaloniki, and
Dr. Giorgos Mavrommatis, Lecturer of Educational History, Department of
Education Sciences, Democritus University of Thrace, Greece
Bektashi Identity politics and fieldwork experiences: challenging 慼eterodoxy�,
慸ifference� and 憈radition�.
Dr. Domna Michail and Antonis Koutsoumbas, Lecturer of Social Anthropology,
University of Western Macedonia, Florina, Greece
Bektashi Islamic tradition in Western Thrace 朑reece: an ethnographic observation
of the Bektashi practices among the Pomaks of Xanthi .
Vladislava Spasova Ilieva, PhD student, Institut des Langues et Cultures de la
M閐iterran閑 et du Proche-Orient, CCHS, Consejo Superior de
Investigaciones Cient韋icas (CSIC), Madrid, Spain
Demir Baba dans la reconstruction de la m閙oire chez la population du nord -est de
la Bulgarie.
Discussant: Dr. Mark Soileau
IV. ARTS AND REPRESENTATIONS
Chair: Prof. Dr. Gianclaudio Macchiarella
Prof. Dr. Gianclaudio Macchiarella , Full Professor of Medieval Art History and
Director, Centre for Balkan Studies, Ca'Foscari University of Venice, I taly
The cultural heritage of Delvina (Southern Albania): a Bektashi architectural
enclave.
Prof. Maurizio Boriani and Mariacristina Giambruno, Department of Architectural
Design, Polytechnic University of Milan, Italy
4
The architectural Islamic complexes in the area of Delvina: A problem of
conservation, protection and valorization of Albanian cultural heritage .
Massimiliano Fusari, PhD researcher, Ca'Foscari University of Venice, Italy
Forms of representations of the Albanian Bektashi: A visual anthropol ogical
research.
Inis Shkreli and Armand Za鏴li鏸, Centre for Albanian Studies, Tirana
Music as an aspect of inter -religious harmony: The role of Bektashi and Orthodox
communities in the urban music of Elbasan (XIX and the early XX century) .
Dr. Ali Akbar Ziaee, International Institute of Islamic Thought and Civilization,
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
The Mysticism and Bektashism of the Albanian national poet Naim Frasheri .
Discussant: Dr. Fotini Tsimpiridou
V. HISTORIES AND LEGACIES
Chair: Prof. Dr. Bernd Fischer
Sibel Imren, Graduate student, History Department, Middle East Technical
University, Ankara, Turkey
Bektashism in the early Turkish Republic: An Overview .
Stephen Schwartz, Independent Scholar, Washington, U.S.A.
The Harabati Teqe in Tetova Under Sunni Fundamentalist Attack.
Ass. Prof. Dr. Fatih Usluer , TOBB University of Economics and Technology,
Ankara, Turkey
Hurufism among Albanian Bektashis .
Abd黮kadir Yeler, PhD Student, Department of Sociology of Religion, Marmara
University, Istanbul, Turkey
Alawism and Jafarism in Turkey: Similarities and Differences .
Mehmet T黷黱c�, Independent scholar, The Netherlands.
Traces of Bektashism in Tunisia and Algeria .
Discussant: Dr. Nathalie Clayer
FAREWELL SESSION
Chair: M. Besnik Mustafaj, National Coordinator, Albanian Forum for the Alliance
of Civilizations
Farewell Address and Presentation of the National Strategy for the Alliance of
Civilizations.
Distribution of Certificates and Farewell Cocktail
Please quote 10 Academic Resources Daily in your application to this opportunity!
