Paul Anderson

PhD student (Social Anthropology)

School of Humanities and Social Sciences,

University of Edinburgh

Contact Details:

s0676880@sms.ed.ac.uk

Address:

43 Bittacy Rise,

London

NW7 2HH,

UK

Tel: 00963 945 808 455 (Syria, until September 2009)

Current Activities:

Supervisors: Dr Tobias Kelly and Professor Francesca Bray

I am researching economic reform, trade and industrial development in contemporary Syria. I am particularly interested in the interconnection between economic liberalisation, class formation and notions of the moral person. My PhD fieldwork focuses on networks of trust, modes of dispute resolution, and financing mechanisms among Syrian traders and industrialists.

Available for collaboration/comment on: Economic reform and class formation in the Arab world, Islamic finance, markets and moral discourses, trust and conflict resolution, language (Syrian dialect and language of trade).

Teaching:

Fieldwork 2008–2009:

Associate Researcher, Institut Francais du Proche Orient, Aleppo, Syria

Qualifications:

• MSc (Distinction) Social Anthropology, University of Edinburgh (2007)
• BA Hons (1st Class) Arabic and Islamic Studies, University of Oxford (2000)

Publications/Papers:

2009  

• "Arabic on Campus", British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies 36(1)
• “Arabic on Campus and Beyond”, with Professor Yasir Suleiman

2008

• “Conducting Fieldwork in the Middle East”, British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies 35(2), with Professor Yasir Suleiman

2007  

• “The Egyptian Piety Movement and Paradigms of Agency”, paper given at Centre for Advanced Study of the Arab World annual graduate conference in Edinburgh in September, published as part of proceedings 
• “The Transmission of Knowledge in Islam: Can Words be Gifts?”, paper given in Cairo at conference in July sponsored by Supreme Council for Culture in Egypt, being published as part of proceedings
• “Islamic Cassette Sermons and the Anthropology of Exchange”, paper given at University of Manchester in June at a graduate conference sponsored by Centre for Advanced Study of Arab World

Conferences Organised:

2008

Organised conference entitled “Arabic on Campus and Beyond” at the University of Edinburgh to explore methodologies and objectives of Arabic language teaching within the UK

2007  

Organised conference entitled “Conducting Fieldwork in the Middle East”, at the University of Edinburgh to explore opportunities and obstacles facing researchers in the Middle East

2007  

Wrote report on “Islam on Campus”, a conference held at University of Edinburgh to explore current issues facing the teaching of Islamic Studies at UK higher education institutions

Academic Awards: