Religion, Center and Periphery: The Orient in Europe, Europe in the Orient

This collaborative research project directed by Prof. Dr. Simeon Evstatiev is dedicated to the center – periphery relationships from the perspective of religious communities and identities, with a focus on Islam, but in a comparative and transregional perspective. The project aims to promote the integration of interdisciplinary efforts to understand specific aspects of the interactions between the cultures of the East (including what used to be conceptualized as the Orient) and the West, subscribing to some major ongoing scholarly discussions seeking to reconsider the previously prevailing modernization theories.

The research team commences from the hypothesis that processes in the "periphery" can be no less significant than those in the "center", and in many cases, these processes may even acquire "central" importance due to their innovation and reform potential. From the perspective of its geographical scope, the project focuses on interactions between two "classic" Western peripheries – the Middle East (including North Africa) and Eastern Europe. These are highlighted for their newfound significance, considering both their interactions and relationships with their own peripheries.

The project brings to the fore the idea of synergy between the individual studies of the core team members – four established scholars and two doctoral students. For this purpose, research activities and efforts are distributed along three work packages: (1) Religion and History; (2) Literature and Culture; (3) Contemporary Politics and the Public Sphere. Through internal and public discussions within the Religion and Culture Seminar (sessions 3, 4, and 5) and through the concluding Conference "Еast-West: Religions, Centers, and Peripheries" (19 – 20 October 2023), more than 30 other researchers from Bulgaria and abroad, including established and young scholars, doctoral students, and master’s students, have been involved.

Among the results and scholarly products of the core team members are: one chapter of a monograph in English to be submitted to an internationally renowned academic publisher, as well as five research articles for refereed journals and volumes. Participants in the sessions of the Religion and Culture Seminar, as well as some of those in the National Conference under the project, have also submitted their reports to peer-reviewed journals and volumes.

^{The project "Religion, Center, and Periphery: The Orient in Europe, Europe in the Orient" is carried out by the Center for the Study of Religions at Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski with the support of the Sofia University’s Fund for Scientific Research (contract No. 80-10-55/25.4.2023).}