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Sunni-Shii Relations in the Middle East

Project description

Shedding light on the struggle between Islam’s two branches

Sunni versus Shiite. In the Middle East, there is an ancient split between the two main branches of Islam. The argument about which one is the dominant sect continues to this day. Shia represent the majority of the population in Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Iran and Iraq, and a plurality in Lebanon. Sunnis are the majority in more than 40 other countries, from Morocco to Indonesia. The EU-funded SSRIME project will study Iraq under the Baath Party (1968-2003) in order to understand under what circumstances Sunni-Shiite conflict occurs. The findings from this case study can also be applied to other countries in the region like Syria under the Baath party. Overall, the project will be able to trace the root causes of instability in the Middle East, which has fuelled the refugee crisis.

Objective

SSRIME investigates the entangled history of Sunni-Shii sectarianism in the Middle East by looking at the case study of Iraq under the Baath Party (1968-2003). SSRIME thus seeks to explain the root causes of instability in the Middle East, which has fuelled the refugee crisis, and thus fits key policy objectives of the European Union. It is thus not only of academic interest but has clear policy relevance. The primary research question is under what circumstances does Sunni-Shii conflict occur? SSRIME studies the relationship between the Iraqi state and the Shia, which will also allow us to draw conclusions as to the importance of the 2003 Iraq War for sectarianism. The lessons from this project can also be applied to other countries in the region, in particular to Syria under the Baath party. I will spend two years at Stanford University, most of which will be spent in the Baath Party of Iraq archives. The archives are a unique source when it comes to the modern Middle East, because they are the only publicly accessible archive of any Arab state. They are thus the best archive to study the process of sectarianisation in the modern period. Given that they are in Arabic, only accessible on site, and have not been distributed via microfilms to other institutions, they have not been used extensively yet, and have not been looked at primarily from the angle of relations between Iraq’s main religious communities. My language and research skills will allow me to use the archive to the fullest extent possible. My research project will be the first to combine extensive use of these archives with oral history and fieldwork in Iraq. During two preliminary research trips to Iraq I made important contacts that will facilitate my fieldwork. I have identified possible interviewees, some of whom I will interview outside of Iraq. The return period at Venice will allow me to bring my new skills back to Europe and focus on writing up and disseminating my research findings.

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

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MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019

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Coordinator

UNIVERSITA CA' FOSCARI VENEZIA
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 251 002,56
Address
DORSODURO 3246
30123 VENEZIA
Italy

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Region
Nord-Est Veneto Venezia
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
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Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 251 002,56

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