Dr Ziba Mir-Hosseini鈥檚 presentation, 鈥淒ebating Women鈥 began the proceedings by discussing her recent fieldwork in Iran. She examined gender participation in the public sphere through the publications of women鈥檚 magazines and journals and how this particular media form has become a forum for discussing ideas of religion and politics in the Islamic Republic. She concluded her presentation by premiering an excerpt from her soon-to-be released documentary Runaway (2001) set in southern Tehran.
Adding to Dr Mir-Hosseini鈥檚 presentation, Dr Farhang Jahanpour, an international media commentator on Iranian affairs, provided his own reflections on Iran鈥檚 recent elections and its future prospects for civil society.
Dr Norani Othman continued the discussion by presenting her observations of the recent history of civil society movements in Southeast Asia and how civil society in its contemporary manifestations is linked with the economic success of the 鈥渢iger economies.鈥 In her presentation, 鈥淚slam and Civil Society in Southeast Asia鈥, she also addressed how the activities of various Muslim organisations in these countries are affecting civil society and in particular family law in the region鈥檚 two Muslim-majority countries: Malaysia and Indonesia.
Professor Filali-Ansary ended the day with 鈥淐ivil Society in the Maghreb鈥. He argued that the concept of 鈥渃ivil society鈥 itself has a variety of meanings and uses that we need to be cautious about 鈥 notably with regards to the phenomenon of NGOs and the debate surrounding their civic role today. He also drew attention to the precursors of civil society in pre-modern聽Maghreb聽and in the wider context of the Muslim world.
