04.04.2025«Research in Saudia Arabia – A Kingdom in Transition»

Speaker

Prof. Dr. Nora Derbal (University of Hamburg)

Date and Time

April 4, 2025, 11 am - 2 pm

11 am - 12 noon Lecture

12 noon - 2 pm Workshop "Saudi Arabia in Transition: The Politics of Heritage and History Making in a Season of Change"

Please register for the workshophere.

Venue

Rämistrasse 59, CH-8001 Zürich, Room RAA-E-27

Abstract

Perhaps no country in the Arab world has undergone a more startling transition during the last decades than Saudi Arabia – from a “closed Kingdom” to a fancy tourist destination. However, the long-term impact of these transformations for Saudi citizens and society are yet to be assessed.

This event is divided into two parts. First (11:00-12:00), Prof. Nora Derbal will give a talk on what it means to conduct field research on Saudi Arabian civil society in a “season of change”. During the second, more interactive part (12:00-2:00 p.m.), we will have a closer look at recent transformations in the field of Saudi cultural heritage.

Organization

Institute of Asian and Oriental Studies - Islamic Studies