Release date: Dec. 5, 2006
Contact: Elaine Justice at 404-727-0643 or elaine.justice@emory.edu

'Risking Face to Face in Age of Terror' Explored in Emory Lecture

WHO
Social anthropologist Cynthia Mahmood, senior fellow, Joan B. Kroc Institute for International Peace Studies and associate professor, University of Notre Dame

WHAT
"Risking the Face to Face in an Age of Terror: Dialogues with Religious Militants," part of Emory University's Initiative in Religion, Conflict and Peacebuilding inaugural "Humanity at the Crossroads" lecture series

WHEN
4:30-6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2006

WHERE
Jones Room, Woodruff Library, 540 Asbury Circle, Emory

PARKING
Fishburne Parking Deck, 1672 N. Decatur Rd., Emory

INFORMATION
Contact Tom Flores at 404-727-7394 or tvflore@emory.edu

The ethnic and religious violence that characterizes contemporary life calls for new ways of thinking and writing. As a response, Emory University has begun a major new initiative in Religion, Conflict, and Peacebuilding. To help inaugurate this effort, the university is holding a series of public lectures related to these themes. The series includes a distinguished lineup of scholar-practitioners, each of whom has made significant contributions worldwide in the field of religion, conflict and peacebuilding.

Cynthia Mahmood is a thought-provoking social anthropologist whose research focuses on war and peace, conflict resolution, and the cultural contexts of violence, especially in Punjab, Kashmir and Cyprus. She has written four books, the best-known of which is "Fighting for Faith and Nation: Dialogues with Sikh Militants" and is the founder and director of the book series "The Ethnography of Political Violence."

Mahmood's courageous approach of listening to the voices of people who experience political violence—either as victims or perpetrators—gives new insights into both the sources of violence conflict and the potential for its resolution. Mahmood also brings the voices of women to the fore in ways unparalleled in these fields.

"Our goal is to invite these experts to share their insights with the Emory and Atlanta community as we embark on a new phase of scholarship, research and outreach," says Laurie Patton, Winship Distinguished Research Professor of Religion. "As an institution deeply concerned with the growing challenges related to religious conflict and violence, Emory is proud to host these scholars as the first phase of marshalling its resources for exploring and fostering new possibilities for sustained peacebuilding.

"In this series, we're focusing on the pragmatics of peacebuilding in situations of religion and conflict — the challenges on the ground where theory translates into practice," says Patton. "Once we know how successful peacebuilding happens in everyday situations, we can create better theory around it."

Emory University is one of the nation's leading private research universities and a member of the Association of American Universities. Known for its demanding academics, outstanding undergraduate college of arts and sciences, highly ranked professional schools and state-of-the-art research facilities, Emory is ranked as one of the country's top 20 national universities by U.S. News & World Report. In addition to its nine schools, the university encompasses The Carter Center, Yerkes National Primate Research Center and Emory Healthcare, the state's largest and most comprehensive health care system.

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