118 - Regular Session. Arab Refugees and Political Participation

Session Submission Type: Paper Session

Abstract

This session will focus more on the Arab world, highlighting timely issues that reflect current events including refugees from Iraq to the U.S., as well as factors that predict political participation and oppression in the Arab world. Study of the Arab world, especially socio-political analysis, is required for advancing theoretical development and better situating regional experiences within a global context. Yet, space for scholarly discussions and debates about social issues in the Arab world remain scarce. The conditions under which issues in the Arab world emerge in U.S. dialogue often involve U.S. foreign policy and political instabilities in the Arab region, though sociological paradigms applied to these occurrences are needed to advance understanding. Such work will contribute not only to the scholarly enterprise, but also hold special importance for policy directions. As such, separating out issue related to the Arab world from Arab Americans holds significant value. This session will consider the refugee experiences among those from Iraq as well as experiences of political participation in the Arab world.

Sub Unit

• Arabs and Arab Americans

Session Organizer

• Kristine J. Ajrouch, Eastern Michigan University

Presider

• Rita Stephan, U.S. Department of State

Individual Presentations

• A Health Profile of Iraqi Refugees in Michigan - Florence J Dallo, Oakland University; Andrew Kurecka, Oakland Universtiy; Julie Ruterbusch, Wayne State University; Kendra Schwartz, Wayne State University; Madiha Tariq, ACCESS; Melissa Reznar, Oakland Universtiy

• The Politics of Refugee Belonging: Street-level Contested Meanings of “Iraqi Deservingness” in the U.S. - Fatima Sattar, Boston College

• The Arab Spring and Change in Willingness to Participate in Political Action in the Middle East - Anne M. Price, Valdosta State University; Katherine Meyer, The Ohio State University; Helen M. Rizzo, American University-Cairo

• Only God Knows: Family Movement Politics Against State Violence in Libya - Amina Zarrugh, University of Texas-Austin