Sat Jan 17 09:20:00 UTC 2026: ### MECAM Announces Fellowships Focused on Disparity in the Maghreb and Beyond

The Story:
The Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) has announced a call for applications for eight residential fellowships for the academic year September 2026 to April 2027. These fellowships are targeted at postdoctoral and advanced scholars in the humanities and social sciences from all countries, including Tunisia. The program centers on the theme “Imagining Futures: Dealing with Disparity,” aiming to explore how societies confront inequality, transformation, and competing visions of the future, specifically within the Maghreb, Europe, and other regions.

The fellowships, based at the Université de Tunis, encourage interdisciplinary dialogue and comparative perspectives, requiring fellows to reside in Tunis for the duration of the program and actively participate in the Centre’s academic life. MECAM is supported by a consortium of Tunisian and German institutions and funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space.

Key Points:

  • MECAM is offering eight residential fellowships for the 2026-2027 academic year.
  • The fellowship theme is “Imagining Futures: Dealing with Disparity.”
  • The program is open to postdoctoral and advanced scholars in the humanities and social sciences from all countries, including Tunisia.
  • Fellows are required to reside in Tunis for up to eight months.
  • The application deadline is March 2, 2026.
  • MECAM is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space and supported by Tunisian and German institutions.

Critical Analysis:
Given the simultaneous news events, we can infer a few things. First, the call for applications comes at a time of potentially heightened global tension, considering the news about Iran’s leader criticizing Trump. Secondly, Iran’s social unrest context might add relevance to the MECAM Fellowship’s theme of addressing inequality, transformation, and competing visions. However, a definite link between the other news and the Fellowship announcement is not clear.

Key Takeaways:

  • MECAM’s focus on disparity is timely, given potential global tensions and unrest.
  • The fellowships provide an opportunity for scholars to engage with critical social and political issues.
  • The location in Tunis offers a unique vantage point for studying the Maghreb region.

Impact Analysis:

The MECAM fellowships are likely to contribute to a deeper understanding of societal challenges and potential futures within the Maghreb and beyond. By fostering interdisciplinary dialogue and comparative research, the program may lead to new insights and policy recommendations. The creation of a MECAM network further amplifies the long-term impact of the program by connecting scholars and institutions and promoting sustained collaboration. These are the first group of MECAM fellows for this research theme that will work within the context of Tunisia following the social events occurring there.

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