Ibrahim Abu-Lughod of International Studies at Birzeit University convened its Annual Conference entitled “Ibrahim Abu Lughod and the Engaged Intellectual: Resurrecting a Model”

Ibrahim Abu-Lughod of International Studies convened its annual conference entitled “Ibrahim Abu-Lughod and the Engaged Intellectual: Resurrecting a model.” The conference took place on Tuesday 12th of April, 2011, to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the passing of Professor Ibrahim Abu-Lughod.

The conference conveyed the original meaning of the engaged intellectual that existed in the 20th century, while substituted in the current century in a caricature entertain showing off and media polishing.  

The sessions of the conference revolved around Ibrahim Abu-Lughod, addressing his personal, professional and intellectual life, in which he perfectly reflected the original meaning of the engaged intellectual. The speakers emphasized on Abu-Lughod's capabilities, sacrifice and great engagement throughout his work at Birzeit University, which has been recorded as a significant contribution towards building the Palestinian society and preparing it for rough circumstances witnessed later. Moreover, the conference in some of its papers, analyzed some of the publications of Abu-Lughod from different perspectives, namely psychology, politics, discourse analysis and history. 

In his opening speech, Dr. Khalil Hindi, president of Birzeit University welcomed the audience as well as the speakers. Dr. Hindi praised the role of Abu-Lughod in enriching the universal and Palestinian academic life, and his distinguished contributions at Birzeit University.

The director of Ibrahim Abu lughod Institute of International Studies; Dr. Asem Khalil offered tribute to the life of Abu-Lughod; his achievements, and publications. Dr. Khalil stressed on the great efforts and contributions in establishing the league of Arab graduates in U.S, and in the planning process of developing the first Palestinian curriculum.  

Mecalla Dive Natavar, Princeton University inaugurated the second session. During this session, several papers presented reflecting a wide intellectual field, Lila Abu-Lughod presented a paper entitled “Forced Entry: My Father’s Education into Politics.” She offered a personal reflection on her father’s experiences and history of politicization, she also examined his dual commitment to education and to Palestine. Lila also presented the insights of his friends and colleagues based on interviews with Hisham Ahmad Fararjeh and others. And what she witnessed when she and her siblings came to Ramallah in the spring of 2001 to be with him as he was dying, she tried to convey some of what returning to live in Palestine after 40 years in exile, and what teaching at Birzeit University, meant to him.

During this session, Roger Heacock, presented a paper that illustrates the line drawn by Michel Foucalt between two archetypes, “the line that separates a philosophy of experience, of sense and of subject and a philosophy of knowledge, of rationality and of concept." By the end of the sessions Alain Gresh presented a paper on the "Western intellectuals against their society: In praise of fitna."

Abu-Lughod’s late Palestine was the main scope of the third session which has been reflected in several papers. Namely, Hassan Khader his paper is “Ibrahim Abu-Lughod in Palestine: Late cultural encounters,” Abdel Karim Barghouthi, Birzeit University: "Misery of enlightened awareness: The first Palestinian curriculum." Lourdes Habash from Birzeit University presented a paper on: “A Refugee Responds by Writing.” By the end of this session, a paper presented by Rashad Twam discussing the personal library of Ibrahim Abu-Lughod.

A comparison between Abu-Lughod and other intellectual such as Edward Said, Ward Churchill and Fadwa Touqan, was the topic of the fourth session. Those comparisons have been done through different papers, notably; Abdul-Rahim Al-Shaikh, Birzeit University: “Palestinians at the Golden Gate: Abu Lughod vs. Said.” Sameeh Hamoudeh, Birzeit University: "Indigenous intellectuals confront hegemony: Ibrahim Abu-Lughod and Ward Churchill." Rasha Tuffaha, Independent Researcher: "Fadwa Tuqan: Above the lines." Finally Khaled Odetallah, Birzeit University: "Four theses on the Epistemology of Commitment."

The final session of the conference was dedicated for those who closely know Abu-Lughod, who enriched the conference in narrating their experiences, incidents, and stories with Abu-Lughod. This was presented through written and video messages. Raed Bader read those messages on behalf of Naseer Aruri, Saed Chedid, Elaine C. Hagopian Elaine Hagopian, Rashid Khalidi, Fouad Mughrabi, Jamal Nassar, and James Zoghbi.

The conference was attended by a variety of people representing universities’ lecturers and students, researchers and intellectuals.

As the number of graduates exceeded 300, Ibrahim Abu-Lughod Institute of International Studies announced that it is planned to establish the International Studies Alumni Group.