What is MECAM?
The Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) is a research centre for interdisciplinary research and academic exchange based in Tunis. MECAM promotes the internationalization of research in the humanities and social sciences across the Mediterranean. Under its guiding theme “Imagining Futures –Dealing with Disparity”, MECAM aims to discuss the (re)negotiation of complex social and political conditions and expectations, norms and legacies in the wake of the “Arab Spring” in the Maghreb, the Middle East, Europe and beyond. The necessary backdrop to these processes are the disparities and inequalities that divide the Maghreb and its neighbouring regions – both historically and nowadays. The centre invites scholars at different stages of their career. Fellows work within five Interdisciplinary Fellow Groups (IFGs) along MECAM’s thematic research clusters. Furthermore, MECAM organizes various events, such as seminars, lectures, public debates and traveling academies that connect researchers and discuss research outcomes. MECAM is a joint initiative of seven German and Tunisian universities and research institutions and is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF).
Key Objectives
The major objective of MECAM is “Imagining Futures – Dealing with Disparity.” MECAM studies the complex processes of the negotiations of future social models in the present-day Maghreb societies, more specifically processes sparked by the “Arab Spring”. It addresses the diverse, and sometimes competing, cultural, social, political, and economic stakes in relation to the future of the Maghreb. In order to do so, it focuses on the different actors operating at different levels in society. In addition, it examines the respective contexts of time and space that define the initially disparate conditions of future models. The mentioned disparities exist both within the Maghreb region and also between the Maghreb and its geographic neighbors. MECAM is committed to promoting young researchers. The Centre involves doctoral and post-doctoral students in interdisciplinary fellowship programs, which contribute to increase the diversity of perspectives and approaches to research.
Partners
Apart from Philipps-Universität Marburg, MECAM consortium partners in Germany also include Universität Leipzig, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) in Hamburg, and Forum Transregionale Studien in Berlin. In addition to Université de Tunis, regional partners include Université de Sfax and Institut Tunisien des Études Stratégiques (ITES) as well as other partners from Morocco and Lebanon. Find out more
Structure and Organization
MECAM is led by two directors, Khaled Kchir, on the Tunisian side, and Rachid Ouaissa, on the German one. They are supported by MECAM’s main partners, Philipps-Universität Marburg and Université de Tunis. The two directors, Rachid Ouaissa and Khaled Kchir, are voting members of the Executive Board and hold MECAM’s primary and final authority. They play an active role between the Executive Board and the Coordination Office in Tunis. In addition, Rachid Ouaissa and Khaled Kchir’s main tasks include the development, monitoring and supervision of MECAM’s event organization, infrastructure and management. Besides, they oversee MECAM’s networking and academic activities.
Main phase
International Advisory Board
Dr. Isabelle Werenfels (Research Fellow, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Berlin/Germany)
Prof. Dr. Karima Dirèche (Professor of Contemporary History, CNRS, Aix-en-Provence/France)
Prof. Dr. Emma Murphy (Professor of Political Economy, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University/Great Britain)
Prof. Dr. Ben Achour, Sana (Professor Emeritus ofGeneral Law, Faculty of Legal, Social and Political Sciences of Tunis, University of Carthage, Tunis/Tunisia)
Prof. Dr. Najar, Sihem (Professor of Sociology, Department of Political Science, Institute of Press and Information Science, University of Mannouba/Tunisia)
Dr. Obeidi, Amal (Associate Professor of Comparative Politics, Department of Political Science, Faculty of Economics, University of Benghazi/Libya)
Prof. Dr. Oussedik, Fatma (Professor of Sociology andAnthropology, University of Algiers, Algeria)
Prof. Dr. Dübgen, Franziska (Professor of philosophy with a focus on political philosophy and philosophy of law, Philosophy Department, University of Münster/Germany)
Executive Council
Director: Prof. Dr. Khaled Kchir (Université de Tunis)
Prof. Dr. Rachid Ouaissa (Philipps-Universität Marburg)
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ali Ben Zina (Université de Tunis)
Prof. Dr. Anissa Ben Hassinel (Université de Tunis)
Prof. Dr. Fadma Aït Mous (Université Hassan II de Casablanca, Representative of the secondary site in Morocco)
Dr. André Bank (GIGA Hamburg, GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies)
Prof. Dr. Faiez GARGOURI (Université de Sfax)
Prof. Dr. Friederike Pannewick (Philipps-Universität Marburg)
Georges Khalil (Forum Transregionale Studien, Berlin)
Dr. Ganseforth, Sonja (Research Associate, Economic Geography and Labour Market Research, Institute for Geography)
Prof. Dr. Nessim Znaien (Postcolonial und colonial Studies/ Maghreb, The Philipps-Universität Marburg, Institute of History)
Prof. Dr. Jens Hansen (Director, Orient-Institut Beirut (OIB))
Preliminary phase
International Advisory Board
Prof. Dr. Raja Ben Slama (Director of the National Library of Tunisia, Université de la Manouba, Tunis/Tunisia)
Prof. Dr. Karima Dirèche (Professor of Contemporary History, CNRS, Aix-en-Provence/France)
Prof. Dr. Farid El Asri (Associate Professor of Anthropology of Religion, Department of Political Science, International University of Rabat/Morocco)
Prof. Dr. Zeina Halabi (Associate Professor of Arabic Literature, American University of Beirut/Lebanon)
Prof. Dr. Imed Melliti (Professor of Sociology, Department of Sociology, Institut supérieur des sciences humaines de Tunis/Tunisia)
Prof. Dr. Christoph Menke (Professor of Applied Philosophy, Johann Wolfgang Goethe-Universität, Frankfurt/Germany)
Prof. Dr. Emma Murphy (Professor of Political Economy, School of Government and International Affairs, Durham University/Great Britain)
Dr. Isabelle Werenfels (Research Fellow, Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Berlin/Germany)
Executive Council
Director: Prof. Dr. Khaled Kchir (Université de Tunis)
Prof. Dr. Rachid Ouaissa (Philipps-Universität Marburg)
Prof. Dr. Fadma Aït Mous (Université Hassan II de Casablanca, Representative of the secondary site in Morocco)
Dr. André Bank (GIGA Hamburg, GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies)
Prof. Dr. Faiez GARGOURI (Université de Sfax)
Prof. Dr. Friederike Pannewick (Philipps-Universität Marburg)
Georges Khalil (Forum Transregionale Studien, Berlin)
Prof. Dr. Anika Oettler (Philipps-Universität Marburg)
Prof. Dr. Jörg Gertel (Universität Leipzig)
Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ali Ben Zina (Université de Tunis)
Prof. Dr. Anissa Ben Hassinel (Université de Tunis)
Coordination Office
MECAM established a coordination office based in Tunis. The office provides operational support in four related work areas, namely management, infrastructure and administration, network and communication, and academic activities. It is comprised of an academic coordinator, a research coordinator, a project coordinator and a student assistant.
