The Breaking Down the Headlines:Understanding the Levant is a five part series beginning with a historical overview of the late 19th and 20th centuries; a time period which witnessed the demise of the Ottoman Empire, colonial land grabs, the rise of nation states and their struggles for power. With over one-third of the population now living as refugees, our readings and presentations will cover conflicts, power grabs, identity and citizenship. The series concludes with a literary perspective.

On April 3-4, 2014, the University of Pittsburgh will host a workshop entitled Living with Difference in a Global Society with past program directors of CEDAR—Communities Engaging with Difference and Religion, a global educational network dedicated to enabling members of disparate communities to recognize and accept their differences as they work toward a civil society. The aim of the workshop is to connect to Pittsburgh and advance CEDAR’s more than 10 years of experience in advancing a pedagogy of living with difference as a response to the challenges of conflict and globalization.

Jean-Luc Robert was previously a political advisor for Justice and Home Affairs and is now the First Counselor at the European Parliament’s Liaison Office in Washington DC in charge of public diplomacy and university outreach. He will present his viewpoints on the issues and risks that surround the upcoming European Parliament elections. With the Euro Area Crisis, anti-EU populism and the rise of far right parties as part of the current political landscape and public debate, the elections have the potential to create significant changes for the EU and European politics.

The University of Pittsburgh Department of History presents the 20th annual E.P. Thompson Memorial Lecture. Joe William Trotter Jr. is Giant Eagle Professor of History and Social Justice at Carnegie Mellon University and Director of the Center for African American Urban Studies and the Economy (CAUSE).

As the world faces unprecedented challenges caused by financial and ecological crises, social movements have been advancing alternatives to the programs and policies of elites. Nevertheless, they remain plagued by persistent challenges to building global solidarity. This conference looks at emerging alternatives to the capitalist world-system and considers their strengths and limitations, uncovering the factors affecting their prospects for realization.

The public is invited to attend a presentation by authors of the book Going to Tehran: Why the United States Must Come to Terms with the Islamic Republic of Iran, by Flynt Leverett and Hillary Mann Leverett. Certainly a timely topic with negotiations taking place in Vienna. The authors challenge the saber rattling by many and present the Islamic Republic as a rational actor on the international stage, and that continued efforts to isolate Iran will negatively impact America’s superpower status.

Public reading, Q&A and book signing.
Free and Open to the public

On April 4-6, 2014, the University of Pittsburgh will host the second of two
conferences that constitute the Voices of Asian Modernities Project (VAMP), a
consortium between the University of Pittsburgh, Leiden University, and the Royal
Netherlands Institute of Southeast Asian and Caribbean Studies (KITLV). The aim of
the conference is to properly historicize the artistic sounds, lyrical texts, visual
images, and social lives of female performers in Asian popular music of the 20th and
21st centuries.

Expressing her muse through ghazals and Punjabi folk songs, Kiran Ahluwalia explores the language of the heart with beautiful artistry and smoldering intensity. Born in India, raised in Canada, and now living in New York City, her enchanting and seductive music has garnered glowing praise from critics around the world. Kiran Ahluwalia is the winner of Canada’s Juno Award for World Music Album of the Year in 2004 (Beyond Boundaries) and 2012 (Common Ground). She will be accompanied by her band (guitar, bass, accordion, and tabla).

Tickets :
GENERAL ADMISSION $10
Seniors $8
Students $5

Ms. Radomski will present her scholarly research to her BPHIL faculty committee and guests.

The University Center for International Studies & the Global Studies Center will be hosting three short research presentations by Global Heinz Scholars. Come and hear three related "snapshot talks". The forty-five-minute panel will be followed by a discussion and a reception for our Heinz Fellows. Free and open to the public.

At What Cost: Drugs, Dollars, Global Health
Scholar: Nicholas Wambua Ngumbi (School of Law)
How does drug pricing affect health in developing countries? What legal steps could be taken to make drugs cheaper, available, and linked to better health outcomes?