TRANSECT · Transnational Maghreb and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction: Pluralism, inclusiveness, and peaceful coexistence in the contemporary Maghrebi novel

Transnational Maghreb and the International Prize for Arabic Fiction: Pluralism, inclusiveness, and peaceful coexistence in the contemporary Maghrebi novel

TRANSECT aims to explore how the cultural and religious pluralism of the Maghreb is represented in the contemporary Maghrebi novel in Arabic and disseminated globally by means of the International Prize of Arabic Fiction (IPAF). TRANSECT addresses two clusters of questions: a) Which idea of the Maghreb is shaped by the novels longlisted at IPAF and sold by Abu Dhabi? How is the “Maghreb pluriel” appropriated and marketed by the Emirati cultural policymakers? Which purposes of cultural diplomacy does it serve? b) To what extent and how do these novels address national issues before aspiring to become pieces of World literature? How do they contribute to reposition the image of the Maghreb within the Arab region? How does this literature dialogue with national reconciliation processes, contributing to cultural peacebuilding through the construction of a non-exclusionary national identity? TRANSECT has a double relevance relating to: a) The content of the research. TRANSECT addresses the themes of plurality and pluralism from a materialistic perspective. It explores the cultural policies and politics of the circulation of Arabic literature between the Gulf and North Africa (and beyond, via translations). Knowing the dynamics regulating the literary market in the Global South (and in the Arab region in particular) is useful for the implementation of cultural initiatives (such as the establishment of literary prizes, the funding of translation programmes, the cooperation between state actors on cultural actions, and so on). b) The broader results achieved in terms of development of Maghreb studies and Global North-Global South cooperation. The Maghreb is seldom an object of study within the Western academia, especially in English-language publications. The field, in fact, is still dominated by French-speaking institutions, both within and without the region. My project contributes to the growth of Maghreb studies in English, which is perceived by many as a decolonial step, as a growing number of studies about the spread of the English language in North Africa highlight. Moreover, the cooperation between European universities and universities of the Global South is of vital importance because it leads to a progressive standardization of administrative procedures and scientific benchmarks, which is key to the democratization of the academia and the achievement of global equality.

Текст от CORDIS, на английски · Данни: CORDIS, © Европейски съюз