Maghrebi Studies Initiative
Maghrebi Studies Initiative supports academic research and public outreach about history, culture, and politics of Maghreb as well as Maghrebi diasporas.
Among the sponsored projects are Dr. Marie-Pierre Ulloa (Stanford Department of French and Italian)’s research entitled “California Dreamin’: Tracing North African American Diaspora in California since 1956”. Focusing on everyday life, cultural politics, social networks and social imaginaries, Dr. Ulloa explores the influence of Maghrebi governments, U.S immigration policies, economic and educational motives, and socio-political developments on the formation of a distinct Maghrebi Californian identity (or identities). The project builds on ethnographic interviews with first, second, and third-generation Californians from North Africa, an analysis of statistical data (e.g. 2010 California Population Totals, American Community Survey) and also an in-depth evaluation of activities and publications of various Californian organizations, newspapers, cable/satellite TV services, and web portals.
Maghrebi Studies Initiative also brings prominent scholars and practitioners to Stanford campus to speak about Maghrebi history, culture, and politics. Selected past speakers include Maurice Samuels (Yale University), Emanuela Trevisan Semi (Ca’ Foscari University, Italy), and Denis Cohen-Tannoudji (Société d’Histoire des Juifs de Tunisie).
Past Events
Ghazi Ben Ahmed: The Tunisian Transition and The Challenge of Youth Alienation
The Wedding Song (France & Tunisia, Directed by Karin Albou, 2008) with Q&A with Marie-Pierre Ulloa
Moroccan Sufism:
Musical Performance by Yassir Chadly
Lecture By Touria Boumehdi, “Sidi Abdel Rahman al Majdoub”
Sufi Poerty Recitation by Stanford Students of Darija
Marie-Pierre Ulloa (Stanford University), “The Maghrebi Diaspora’s Embrace of America: Negotiating North-African & Francophone identities in the U.S.”