Farid Guliyev, "Post-Soviet Azerbaijan: Transition to Sultanistic Semiauthoritarianism? An Attempt at Conceptualization," Demokratizatsiya, Vol. 13, No. 3 (Summer 2005), pp. 393-435. The full text of the article is now available online: http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qa3996/is_200507/ai_n15704837.

For a copy in pdf format, contact: fareedaz@yahoo.com.

Seth G. Jones, Jeremy Wilson, Andrew Rathmell, and K. Jack Riley, "Establishing Law and Order After Conflict." This is a RAND Corporation study which contains the results of research on reconstructing internal security institutions during nation-building missions.

For the full report, visit: http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/2005/RAND_MG374.pdf.

Andrzej Kapiszewski, "Non-Indigenous Citizens and 'Stateless' Residents in the Gulf Monarchies. The Kuwaiti Bidun." Available at: http://www.abydos.com/~andrzejk/.

Suna Kili, "August 30 and the Turkish Army I," Cumhuriyet, August 30, 2005. For further information, contact: levent.cinemre@iskulturyayinlari.com.tr.

Suna Kili, "August 30 and the Turkish Army II," Cumhuriyet, 31 August 2005. For further information, contact: levent.cinemre@iskulturyayinlari.com.tr.

Suna Kili, "Turkish Constitutional Developments: An Evaluation," Essays in Honor of Georgios I. Kassimatis. (Athens, Berlin, Bruxelles: 2004), pp. 121-140. For further information, contact: levent.cinemre@iskulturyayinlari.com.tr.

Suna Kili, "An Evaluation of the Atat?rk Period from the Perspective of Elements of National Power," Dedication to the 80^th Anniversary of the Turkish Republic. For further information, contact: levent.cinemre@iskulturyayinlari.com.tr.

Ahmet T. Kuru, "Globalization and Diversification of Islamic Movements: Three Turkish Cases," Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 120, No. 2 (Summer 2005). To read, visit: http://students.washington.edu/ahmet/.

Michael McFaul, "Chinese Dreams, Persian Realities," The Journal of Democracy, Vol. 16, No. 4 (October 2005). Basic demographic and socioeconomic factors in Iran are favorable to democratization. The mullahs may hope to stave off democratic change by emulating the Chinese model, but this strategy is doomed to fail. For further information, visit: http://www.journalofdemocracy.org.

Jonathan Rynhold, "Behind the Rhetoric: President Bush and U.S. Policy on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict," American Diplomacy. The full text of the article is now available online: http://www.unc.edu/depts/diplomat/.

Lorenzo Vidino, "Iran's Link to Al-Qaeda: The 9-11 Commission's Evidence," Middle East Quarterly, Vol. 11, No. 4 (Fall 2004). For information: http://www.meforum.org/article/670.

Reidar Visser, "Shi'i Separatism in Iraq: Internet Reverie or Real Constitutional Challenge?" NUPI Paper no. 686 (Oslo: Norwegian Institute of International Affairs, August 2005), 18 pages. Full text available at: http://historiae.org/shiseparatism.asp.

Scott Wallsten and Katrina Kosec, "The Economic Costs of the War in Iraq." Working paper (September 2005). AEI-Brookings Joint Center for Regulatory Studies. Available at: http://aei-brookings.org/admin/authorpdfs/page.php?id=1188.

Eyal Zisser, "Embattled Neighbors--Syria, Israel and Lebanon," (Book Review)
Shofar, Vol. 23, No. 3, pp. 202(2), March 22, 2005. For information, contact: Robert G. Rabil at: rgrabil@yahoo.com.

"Islamists at the Ballot Box." Special Report 144 (July 2005), The United States Institute of Peace (USIP). Available online at the USIP website: http://www.usip.org/ or request hard copy by mail (free of charge) from: usip_requests@usip.org.

To see information from the Center for European Reform (CER) on the topic "Why Europe Should Embrace Turkey," visit: http://www.cer.org.uk/pdf/pr_637_eu_turkey.pdf.

To see the results of a RAND Corporation workshop on "Exploring Religious Conflict," visit: http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/2005/RAND_CF211.pdf.

For the summary, visit: http://www.rand.org/pubs/conf_proceedings/2005/RAND_CF211.sum.pdf, or: http://www.rand.org/publications/CF/CF211/index.html.

For a report by the Congressional Research Service (via Federation of American Scientists) on "Islamist Extremism in Europe," visit: http://www.fas.org/sgp/crs/terror/RS22211.pdf.

2. WEBSITES/GROUPS ONLINE

The Middle East Quarterly has just made available several hundred reviews of books about Middle Eastern studies and Islam, linked alphabetically by book author,
at: http://www.meforum.org/meq/reviews.php.

The Mehlis Report on the Hariri Assassination originally released on October 21, 2005, is available at: http://www.un.org/News/dh/docs/mehlisreport/ or http://www.mideastweb.org/mehlis_report.htm.

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) has launched a website, including news releases, speeches, and information on national intelligence strategy and about the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004. Visit: http://www.odni.gov.

To read the latest statements, briefings, and hearings on regional security issues, from United States Embassy in Tel Aviv and The American Center in Jerusalem, visit: http://israel.usembassy.gov.

To see Martin Kramer's Virtual Lecture Series on issues related to policy and politics in the Middle East, and on the predicament of Middle Eastern studies in America, visit: http://www.graphicmail.com/

sendlink.asp?HitID=1123169472000&SiteID=1215&EmailID
=579358&Link=

http://www.geocities.com/martinkramerorg/2005_08_04.htm.

The Television News Archive collection at Vanderbilt University is one of the most extensive and complete archive of television news, holding more than 30,000 individual network evening news broadcasts from the major U.S. national broadcast networks and more than 9,000 hours of special news-related programming. This resource serves as a unique reference tool for studying historical and political events. For further information, visit: http://tvnews.vanderbilt.edu.

To see a letter from Ayman al-Zawahiri to Abu Musab al-Zarqawi regarding a strategic vision for al-Qa'ida's direction for Iraq and beyond, and al Qa'ida's senior leadership's isolation and dependence, visit 'The office of the Director of National Intelligence' (ODNI) site at: http://www.dni.gov/release_letter_101105.html.

For an analysis of Egypt's presidential election, visit: http://www.washingtoninstitute.org/templateC05.php?CID=2367.

C. Iraq:
To see a translation of Iraq's draft constitution, visit: www.iraqigovernment.org.

To see the U.S. Department of Defense report to the Congress on "Measuring Security and Stability in Iraq," visit: http://www.defenselink.mil/news/Jul2005/d20050721secstab.pdf.

To see the National Security Archive Update, "Saddam's Iron Grip," Intelligence Reports on Saddam Hussein's Reign, October 18, 2005, visit: http://www.nsarchive.org.

D. Iran:
"In the Name of the God of Mercy, Compassion, Peace, Freedom and Justice," speech by Dr. Mahmood Ahmadinejad's, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran, at the Sixtieth Session of the United Nations General Assembly, New York, September 17, 2005. Available at: http://www.un.org/webcast/ga/60/statements/iran050917eng.pdf.

To see an ABC news report of U.S. Energy Department Briefing on "Iran's Nuclear Fuel Cycle Facilities: A Pattern of Peaceful Intent?," visit: http://abcnews.go.com/WNT/International/story?id=1127021,

or for the briefing itself, visit: http://abcnews.go.com/images/International/iran_nuclear_report.pd.

To see the latest U.S. Department of State report on arms control compliance on Iranian nuclear program, visit: http://www.state.gov/t/vc/rls/rpt/51977.htm.

E. Saudi Arabia
To see Middle East Report, No. 45 on "The Shiite Question in Saudi Arabia," visit: http://www.crisisgroup.org/home/index.cfm?l=1&id=3678.

3. FREE SUBSCRIPTIONS TO E-MAIL PUBLICATIONS

The Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center is the educational and documentary center of the national memorial site of the Israeli intelligence community. It releases regularly, exclusive information on its Internet site. The information, a large percentage of which is based on original Palestinian documents captured by Israeli forces, is available in both in Hebrew and English. In addition, the Center now sends out information in an electronic newsletter.

To subscribe, visit: http://www.intelligence.org.il/eng/default.htm.

To subscribe to Mideast Wire's Middle East daily news summary service, visit: http://www.mideastwire.com.

To receive The American Iranian Council (AIC) electronic newsletter, contact or visit: www.american-iranian.org.

4. FUNDING/GRANTS/FELLOWSHIPS/WRITING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

The Center for the Study of Islam at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem is granting scholarships to Hebrew University graduate students (both M.A. in course of research & Ph.D.) studying Islamic religion and culture. Deadline: 15/12/2005.

For further information, contact: islamic@mscc.huji.ac.il,

or visit: http://islam-center.huji.ac.il.

The Eurasia Program of the Social Science Research Council (SSRC) is offering teaching fellowships at both the pre-doctoral and postdoctoral levels for the 2006-2007 academic year to support research, writing, training, and curriculum development on or related to the New States of Eurasia, the Soviet Union, and/or the Russian Empire. Applicants in all disciplines of the social sciences or humanities are welcome. The fellowships are funded by the U.S. Department of State under the Program for Research and Training on Eastern Europe and the Independent States of the Former Soviet Union (Title VIII). To apply & for additional information, visit: www.ssrc.org/fellowships/eurasia. Deadline: January 24, 2006 at 9:00 p.m.

The American Center of Oriental Research (ACOR) in Amman, Jordan is granting fellowships for 2006-2007. Deadline for applications: February 1, 2006.

For further info, contact: acor@bu.edu), or visit: http://www.bu.edu/acor.

Insight Turkey journal is calling for papers on the following topics: Georgia after the Revolution: Where to Now?; The Azerbaijani Election of November 6; Turkey and Armenia; Turkey, Russia and the Caucasus; A Nuclear Iran: Implications for the Caucasus; Frozen Conflicts in the Black Sea/Caucasus; The Domestic Dimension of Turkey's Caucasus Policy; An American view of developments in the Caucasus; A European View on Developments in the Caucasus; European Neighborhood Policy and the Black Sea/Caucasus; A Russian Perspective of the Caucasus; A Larger NATO Role in the Black Sea?; The Role of Multinational Organizations in the Caucasus; The Politics of Development Work in the Caucasus. Articles on sub-regions: Abkhazia, Karabagh, Ossetia, Adjaria, Ahiska. Any other paper ideas, including book reviews, will be considered. Deadline for submissions: December 10, 2005.

For further information or for format and referencing questions, contact: editor@insightturkey.com, or visit: www.insightturkey.com.

January 20-21, 2006. Philadelphia, PA, USA. The University of Pennsylvania and The University of Oxford are co-sponsoring a conference entitled, "Commemorating the Constitution, 1906-2006. State Building & Global Responses to Iranian Constitutionalism." Panelists are invited to submit abstracts of approximately 250 words assessing the process of nation formation, the development of a civic culture, or the international ramifications of this broad-based constitutional movement in the Middle East.

For further information, contact: conference-1906@history.upenn.edu.

May 28-30, 2006. Banff, Alberta, Canada. The Association for Israel Studies (AIS) invites participants to its 22nd Annual Conference, sponsored by the University of Calgary. AIS is calling for proposals for organized panels and/or individual papers in any field of Israel studies for its upcoming annual meeting. Panels may consist of three or four papers, or may be organized as round-table discussions or "meet the author" sessions; panel organizers should provide a title as well as names, affiliations, and e-mail addresses of all participants, brief abstracts of their papers, and any requests for audio-visual equipment. Proposals for individual papers should include the same information. Proposals should be submitted electronically to the most appropriate member of the Program Committee. Deadline: February 15, 2006. For more information, visit: www.aisisraelstudies.com.

On all other matters pertaining to arrangements for the annual meeting, contact: skeren@ucalgary.ca.

Columbia University Prof. Judy Kuriansky calls for papers for book, Psychotherapy in a Turmoil Region: Reconciliation between Palestinians and Israelis from a Psychological Perspective. Content: papers/manuscripts from both Palestinian and Israeli professionals in the field of psychology, social work, and social sciences, describing their work dealing with the psychological issues in their culture, therapeutic approaches they use, or collaborations they have been involved with-- bringing Palestinians and Israelis together with the aim of mutual psychological understanding. Deadline: as soon as possible.

For any questions or clarifications, contact: DrJudyKuri@aol.com.

April 28-29, 2006. Washington, DC, USA. The Center for the Study of Islam and Democracy calls for papers to its 7th Annual Conference, "The Challenge of Democracy in the Muslim World." The possible paper topics include (but are not restricted to): The state of democracy in the Muslim societies/countries; critical evaluation of the theoretical discourse on democratization; domestic and external challenges to democracy in the Muslim world; prospects for democracy in the Muslim world; The challenge of anti-democratic Islamist discourses; gender equality, the rights of minorities, and democratization in the Muslim world; developing new and just interpretations of Islamic principles in the 21^st century. Proposals must demonstrate the relevance of their topic in general to the challenges of democracy in Muslim societies. E-mail proposals (between 200- 400 words) by January 1, 2006: conference@islam-democracy.org.

For updates on the conference, visit: http://csidonline.org/.

5. RESEARCH QUERIES-PLEASE HELP

Seeking information on the culture and politics of the Arabs in Iran, both in Khuzistan/Arabistan and in the Gulf provinces. In particular, seeking information regarding their relationship with pan-Arabism and their attitudes toward the Islamic Republic. Please contact Ariel I. Ahram, at: aia4@georgetown.edu.

6. SCHOLAR'S AND AUTHOR'S ALERTS

Andrew G. Bostom (ed.), foreword by Ibn Warraq, The Legacy of Jihad: Islamic Holy War and the Fate of Non-Muslims (Prometheus Books, October 2005). 600 pages. HB: $18.48. ISBN 1591023076. The Legacy of Jihad is a comprehensive, meticulously documented compilation which includes Muslim theological and juridical texts, eyewitness historical accounts by both Muslim and non-Muslim chroniclers, and essays by preeminent scholars analyzing jihad war and the ruling conditions imposed upon the non-Muslim peoples conquered by jihad campaigns.

For further information, visit: http://www.andrewbostom.org/.

Frederic Tellier, L'heure de l'Iran (Ellipses, 2005). For further info, contact: Ftellier1@aol.com.

Ilan Berman, Tehran Rising: Iran's Challenge to the United States (Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, September 2005). 224 pages. Price: $24.95. ISBN 0-7425-4904-6. For further info, contact: berman@afpc.org.

James Ker-Lindsay, EU Accession and UN Peacemaking in Cyprus (Palgrave Macmillan, August 2005). 224 pages. HB: £45.00. ISBN 1-4039-9690-3. This work traces the attempts by the United Nations to bring about the reunification of Cyprus prior to the island's accession to the European Union on May 1, 2004.

For more information, visit: http://www.palgrave.com/products/Catalogue.aspx?is=1403996903.

Reidar Visser, Basra, the Failed Gulf State: Separatism and Nationalism in Southern Iraq (Berlin: LIT Verlag, October 2005). 256 pages, Price: 29.90 EURO. ISBN 3-8258-8799-5. The first case-study ever published on an actual occurrence of southern Iraqi separatism.

For information and to order, visit: http://historiae.org/basra.asp.

Robert G. Rabil, Syria, the United States, and the War on Terror in the Middle East
(Praeger Publication, forthcoming in 2006).

For information, contact: rgrabil@yahoo.com.

Suna Kili, History of the Turkish Revolution (September, 2005). 445 pages. PB: $17 + postage. ISBN 975-458-259-9. For further information, contact: levent.cinemre@iskulturyayinlari.com.tr.

7. ANNOUNCEMENTS OF MEETINGS, CONFERENCES, LECTURES

November 18, 2005. The Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) for Defense and Security Studies invites participants to its upcoming Conference, "Alliance and Sacrifice: Counter-Terror and Radicalism in Pakistan."

For booking information contact Ms. Mamoona Shah at: mamoonas@rusi.org.

For information: http://www.rusi.org/events.

November 19-22, 2005. Washington, DC, USA. The Association for Israel Studies (AIS) and The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) invite participants to the upcoming "Israeli Foreign Policy after Arafat" conference, to be held at the Wardman Park Marriott Hotel Washington, DC.

For further information on the MESA program, contact Bob Freedman at: rofreedman@comcast.net.

Tuesdays. London, England. The London Middle East Institute invites participants to its upcoming Tuesday lectures program 2005-6, entitled "The Contemporary Middle East."

For further information contact: lmei@soas.ac.uk, or visit: www.lmei.soas.ac.uk.

December 7, 2005. London, England. The School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), a college of the University of London, invites participants to a lecture by Suseela C Yesudian-Storfjell, on "The Representation of Jews, Israel, and Zionism in Indian Muslim and Pakistani Discourse." The lecture is open to the public and will take place from 1-2 p.m. in Room B102 in the Brunei Gallery building at SOAS.

For information, visit: http://www.soas.ac.uk/centres/centreinfo.cfm?navid=995.

February 2006. Tehran, Iran. The Institute for Research and Development in Humanities, Center for Research on Russia, Central Asia, and Caucasus (IRAS), and the Central Eurasia Program of the Center for Graduate International Studies of the University of Tehran invite participants to the symposium on "Central Asia, Past, Present and Future."

MERIA is indexed in the SOAS Library in London's

Index Islamicus and CSA Worldwide Political Science Abstracts.

MERIA NEWS Volume 9, Issue 7 (November 2005)

*Serving Readers throughout the Middle East and in 100 Countries*
Publisher and Editor: Prof. Barry Rubin
Assistant Editors: Cameron Brown , Keren Ribo, Yeru Aharoni

MERIA is a project of the Global Research in International Affairs