media releases - Media invitation to a seminar on the uprising of the Arabic worl

"The Arabic world extends over 10 countries in Africa and 12 countries in Asia. The main common features of these countries give rise to concerns on governance, democracy, rule of law, transition of power, and radicalism. Some of countries have regimes that have remained in power for more than four decades."

It is thus opportune to hold an academic debate on the uprisings in the Arabic World, especially in so far as they affect African countries, African-Arabic relations, and South African - Arabic relations. These key issues to be addressed by way of brief discussion papers;

• Constitutionalism and stability in the North of Africa (Prof André Mangu, Unisa)
• Post-uprising democracy in Egypt (his Excellency Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary - HE Dr MBEM Zayed)
• Uprisings and security issues (Prof Hussein Solomon, University of the Free State)
• The end of "the end of history"? (Prof NL Mahao, Executive Dean of the College of Law, Unisa)
• The relationship between the Arabic world and the African Union (Dr Siphamandla Zondi, Institute for Global Dialogue)
• Republicanism in the Arabic world (Khaled Qasaymeh, Unisa)
• The failure of popular uprisings in Africa (Prof Shadrack BO Gutto, IARS Unisa)
• The role of the (post-liberation) army in second liberation revolutions and wars, with emphases on Egypt (Prof Tinyiko Sam Maluleke, Unisa) 
• Chance or risk of contagion from the North of Africa to sub-Saharan countries (Prof André Thomashausen, Unisa)

Organised by Unisa's College of Law and the Institute of Foreign and Comparative Law (IFCOL) & Institute for African Renaissance Studies (IARS)

Date:   2 March 2011
Time:   9:00-13:30
Venue: Institute for African Renaissance Studies (IARS), 287 Skinner Street, Pretoria
RSVP:  Khaled Qasaymeh (qasaykai@unisa.ac.za)

Click here for more information, click here for the invitation and click here for the programme.