'Arab Spring,’ three years later, topic of presentation at CSUSB on Jan. 30

Update: Nader Hashemi's presentation has been moved to University Hall room 106 to accommodate the growing interest in his speech. Also, from 3:30-5:30 p.m. on Jan. 30, he will have a book signing at the Coyote Bookstore for his three books, including his most recent, “The Syria Dilemma.”  Copies of his books will be available at the Coyote Bookstore.

It’s been three years since the “Arab Spring,” a name given to the time of civil uprisings in Algeria, Tunisia, Egypt and Libya that led to the ouster long-ruling governments, and when similar protests almost led to the same in other Arab nations.

Nader Hashemi, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Denver, will speak on the aftermath of the uprisings, “The Arab Spring at Year Three: Reflections on the State of Democracy in the Middle East,” on Thursday, Jan. 30, at Cal State San Bernardino.

“Given the immensity of the conflict in Syria and its implications for the long-term stability of the region, this talk is not only timely but will provide great insight into where the Arab Spring is today,” said Kevin Grisham, director of the CSUSB Center for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and an assistant professor of geography and environmental studies.  “Given the topic, this talk is important for all to attend.  The events of the Arab Spring and their aftermath will be dealt with by the entire global community for generations to come.”

The program, scheduled for 6 p.m. at University Hall room 106, is sponsored by the Center for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies and the Global Citizens’ Project at CSUSB. It is free and open to the public; seating is limited. Parking at the university is $5 per vehicle.

Hashemi, a professor at the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, is an expert on Middle East and Islamic affairs, religion and democracy and related issues.

His most recent work, “The Syria Dilemma,” co-edited with Danny Postel, examines the ongoing conflict in Syria between government forces and a civil uprising, and the pros and cons of international intervention. He also edited another book with Postel, “The People Reloaded: The Green Movement and the Struggle for Iran's Future,” in 2011 and wrote “Islam, Secularism, and Liberal Democracy: Toward a Democratic Theory for Muslim Societies,” which was originally published in 2009.

Born and raised in Canada to parents originally from Iran, Hashemi earned his doctorate in political science from the University of Toronto, a master’s in international affairs from Carleton University and his bachelor’s in political science from the University of Western Ontario.

He has taught at Northwestern University and UCLA, and has been a faculty member at the University of Denver since 2008.

Before speaking at CSUSB, Hashemi is scheduled to appear at a Jan. 29 program at UC Riverside on religion and politics in the Muslim world, sponsored by the World Affairs Council of the Inland Empire. That presentation is part of a program of the World Affairs Councils of America, with support provided by a grant from Carnegie Corporation of New York.

For more information on the program, contact contact professor Kevin Grisham, director of the Center for Islamic and Middle Eastern Studies at (909) 537-5522 or kgrisham@csusb.edu.

For more information about Cal State San Bernardino, contact the university’s Office of Public Affairs at (909) 537-5007 and visit news.csusb.edu.