Conference of Arabists «I.M. Smilyanskaya Readings»

Since 2006, Center for Arab and Islamic Studies of the Institute of Oriental Studies RAS organizes annual Conferences of Arabists. In 2019, the event was subtitled "I.M. Smilyanskaya Readings" in memory of our late colleague Prof. Irina Smilyanskaya. 

Over the last few years, the Conference has transformed from a local academic conference into a large international event and the most extensive forum on the Arab Studies in Russia. It brings together scholars and experts from all key national centers for Oriental Studies and more than 20 foreign countries. 

Every year, the Conference’s proceedings become a basis for several collective monographs.

The following sections have become traditional features of the event:

• Philological Section (since 2020 – in memory of E.A. Ali-zade)
• Section “Classic History of the Arab Countries”
• Section “Economy of the Arab Countries”
• Section of Young Researchers

As well as thematic sections, the Conference includes methodological sessions, varying in form every year. In 2018, the session was comprised of three classic plenary papers; in 2019 it was organized as methodological debate; in 2020 an extensive report “Arab Studies in Our Difficult Times” was presented. Later, this block was represented by a round table “How to Teach the History of the Arab Countries: Methodology, Technology, Experience” (2021; a continuation to a 2020 round table “How to Write the Contemporary History of the Arab World”); public lecture by Director of the Institute Prof. Alikber Alikberov “System Communicational Approach to the Issue of Multidimensionality of History and Humanity (Case Study of the Eastern Societies)” (2022); discussion “Russian Oriental Studies: Challenges and Prospects of Development in the New Reality” (2023); discussion “Oriental Studies in Central Eurasia: Eight Paths of Development” (2024).

• Russian International Affairs Council;
• State Academic University for the Humanities (GAUGN);
• Kazan Federal University;
• Centre for Security and Development Studies (CSDS), Faculty of World Politics, Lomonosov Moscow State University;
• Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation;
• Tunisian and Algerian universities;
• DERASAT, etc.

Every year, the Conference broadens its scope both in regard to the geography of participants and work formats, as well as issues and topics discussed. For instance, the 15^thConference (2020) included a new section “Problems of Contemporary Culture of the Arab Countries” (renamed “Culturology and Anthropology of the Contemporary Arab Societies” in 2023).

In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 15^th Conference of Arabists was held in a brand new, highly accessible online format, becoming the largest Arab Studies forum in Russia. The online discussion has become a part of the Conference ever since, being featured along with traditional offline events.

Program of the 15^th Conference (2020) 

Program of the 16^th Conference (2021)

Program of the 17^th Conference (2022)

Program of the 18^th Conference (2023)

Program of the 19^th Conference (2024)