April 24, 2014 | 1 hour 8 mins | University of Chicago
Henry Laurens, one of France's foremost experts on the Middle East and Chair of History of the Contemporary Arab World at the Collège de France in Paris, explores in-depth the complex and fascinating relationship between France and the Arab world, from colonialism to present-day tensions, on a quest to uncover the “Franco-Arab thing.”
The program begins with an explanation of the origin of the phrase “the Franco-Arab thing” before moving on to an overview of the history of the relations between France and the Arab world. Describing Egypt in the 1820s, policies of assimilation and association, Francophonia, and decolonization, he concludes with what he refers to as the Arab and German dimensions of the history of France and their modern day manifestations. Nadine Moeller (Department of Near Eastern Languages and Civilizations) moderates the discussion following the lecture.
This program made possible with the support of the following UChicago French Club, Center for Middle Eastern Studies, and International House Global Voices Program and part of Marianne Midwest Series organized by the Cultural Services at the Consulate General of France in Chicago, Alliance Française in Chicago, and France Chicago Center at the University of Chicago.
BROADCASTED LIVE IN 3 MIDWEST CITIES: Alliance Française of Minneapolis in partnership with University of Minnesota, Alliance Française of Milwaukee in partnership with University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and Alliance Française of Kansas City in partnership with University of Missouri-Kansas City
