Background

According to philosopher John Henry Newman, the role of the university is to discover, disseminate and preserve knowledge for humanity. This includes embracing controversial ideas and opinions. Clark Kerr coined the term “multiversity” to describe this role in a modern university, which he argued has a unique responsibility to explore the “untold,” the “rejected” and the “unspoken.”

However, this tradition of embracing dialogue has been diminishing across the nation, including at Duke. This project seeks to address this deficit by creating a space where students with different perspectives are invited to engage in discussion and problem-solving about the Middle East. This includes presenting varying views on the political and humanitarian crises and encouraging members to consider hidden ethical dilemmas in political actions. 

Project Description

The project aims to increase tolerance for opposing viewpoints and mitigate suffering by engaging students in civil discourse around humanitarian crises in the Middle East and beyond, with a particular focus on the ongoing Palestine-Israel conflict and the conflict in Sudan. 

Team members will examine three central questions:

1. How can we increase Duke students’ tolerance of diverse opinions, ideas and attitudes regarding Middle East matters within the framework of understanding the complex historical, political, social, economic and environmental factors that underlie these geopolitical conflicts?
2. How do we grapple with the ethical dilemmas inherent to geopolitical conflict in the Middle East and Sudan, such as human rights violations and political and religious extremism, and how can interdisciplinary research contribute to effective strategies for delivering humanitarian assistance in these conflict zones?
3. What can we do to address the psychological and educational needs of communities impacted by the violence in the Middle East and Sudan, and how can these strategies be integrated into broader humanitarian responses to ensure the well-being of victim communities?

To tackle these questions, team members will learn the history of the region and engage in dialogue and reflection aimed at fostering immersion, engagement and discussion on the ethical dimensions of human actions. They will then develop student-led research proposals to address an ethical dilemma associated with the conflict and its humanitarian implications. 

Anticipated Outputs

Research proposals; dialogue sessions; reflective discussion; speaker series; partnerships with community organizations/NGOs committed to humanitarian efforts in the Middle East and Sudan

Student Opportunities

Ideally, this project team will include 2 graduate students and 16 undergraduate students with interests in the Middle East and/or Sudan, humanitarian crises and aid, and ethics. All applicants should be committed to collaboration, discussion and engaging perspectives different from their own. 

The team will break into four subteams, each addressing a specific ethical question related to the conflict in the Middle East (e.g., human rights, extremism). Team members will have the opportunity to learn from and engage with guest speakers and team up with community partners to develop a work plan to address their chosen topic. 

All students will gain skills in communication and diplomacy, cross-cultural understanding, and research and analysis. 

In Fall 2024, this team will meet on Thursdays from 6:00 to 7:15 p.m.

Timing

Fall 2024 – Summer 2025

• Fall 2024: Develop group work plans; conduct literature review; compile and analyze resources; engage in dialogue through meetings with guest speakers; identify subteam projects; establish community partnerships
• Spring 2025: Finalize research proposals; organize reflective discussions; assess impact; document and share project outcomes
• Summer 2025 (optional): Finalize outputs as needed

Crediting

Academic credit available for fall and spring semesters; summer funding available