ARABIC LITERATURE AND WORLD: TOWARDS A UNIVERSAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN SELF AND OTHER

The Moroccan Comparative Literature Association (MCLA)

Organizes, in collaboration with

The Faculty of Letters & Human Sciences, Ibn-Zohr University,

An International Conference

ON

Arabic Literature and World: Towards a Universal Dialogue between Self and Other

In Partnership with

ICLA Research Committee on Arabic Comparative Literature;

AWEJ for Translation and Literary Studies (AWEJTLS);

And

The Comparative Literature & Society Research Group (CL@S) of the Comparative Humanities and Applied Language Studies Lab (CHALS) 

Space of Humanities, Faculty of Letters & Human Sciences,

Ibn-Zohr University – Agadir, Morocco

16–18 April, 2026

CALL FOR PAPERS

ARABIC LITERATURE AND WORLD: TOWARDS A UNIVERSAL DIALOGUE BETWEEN SELF AND OTHER

A vibrant literature can hardly exist without its place within the broader global literary landscape. “In the life of the mind, as in that of politics” said George Steiner (1995), “isolationism and nationalist arrogance are the road to brutal ruin”. Notwithstanding the specific geographical context and distinctive features of any one literature, the latter’s claim to universality does not necessitate forsaking these traits. Rather, it requires openness to new horizons of human dialogue and cultural exchange. In this light, the question of Arabic literature’s recognition as part of World Literature becomes increasingly urgent. Has Arabic literature — classical and modern — forged meaningful pathways toward universality? What avenues can empower it to serve as an active, influential force on the global cultural stage, without being subservient or marginal? How could we address shortcomings in the theorization of Arabic literature and create intellectual concepts stemming from the Arabic language and literature? How could translations from Arabic into other languages be better managed? There is, indeed, a temporal and cognitive gap between Classical Western Literature and Ancient Arabic literature, whether at the level of publication or at the level of academic research. How could this gap be reduced and, in the long haul, be overcome?  This International conference on the Worldliness of Arabic Literature will examine this ambitious topic from various perspectives. Our aim is to develop a set of shared conceptualisations, to raise recommendations, and to advance practical measures that position Arabic literature as a global cultural actor; one capable of engaging with major human concerns and reclaiming its role in shaping global consciousness.

Arabic Literature and the Paths of Universalism in the Past
Since the Abbasid Era, Arabic literature has exhibited initial signs of interaction with other world cultures, particularly through the Translation Movement at Bayt al-Hikma (the House of Wisdom) and through the reception and influence of texts such as Kalila wa Dimna and One Thousand and One Nights. These texts found their way into European literary cultures in the Middle Ages and beyond, significantly shaping the emergence of modern Western narratives. However, this interaction remained, for the most part, ungrounded in a strategic vision that recognizes the need to build a lasting Arab cultural presence in global forums, and it now raises concern as to the vital importance of developing a sustainable world Arabic literary tradition.

Translation as a Gateway to the Other
Translation has so far represented the first and fundamental key to Arabic literature’s global reach. Translations of works by Naguib Mahfouz, Tayeb Salih, Adonis, Mahmoud Darwish, and others have helped global readers discover another facet of Arab culture. However, Translation has received limited support, lacking genuine institutions to embrace it as a comprehensive strategic project.  This Conference inquiries into the role that Translation have fulfilled in the diffusion of Arabic literature, what the limits of the Translation Paradigm are, and how to generate a shift in paradigm.

How to Make Arabic Literature World Literature
For Arabic literature to occupy a valuable position on the global scene, it is necessary to undertake the following: Support quality translation projects into the most widely spoken languages (English, French, Spanish, Chinese etc.) while ensuring quality and professionalism; Encourage the writing of literary texts with a universal vision that does not compromise their specificities, but rather addresses major human issues; Integrate the Arabic language into Technology and Digital Spaces, and build multilingual digital platforms that provide interactive access to contemporary and classical Arabic literature; Encourage international literary and intellectual meetings in which “a level playing field” (Spivak) would see that Arab writers participate in two-way traffic dialogues; And lastly, integrate the subject of “comparative literature” into academic projects and research centres that cooperate internationally and produce shared critical knowledge.

Structural and Cultural Barriers
Several key obstacles continue to hinder Arabic literature from attaining World Literature status. Among these are: Insufficient institutional support for both literary production and authors; The absence of clear national cultural strategies; The dominance of stereotypical representations of Arab culture in Western media; The declining status of reading and literary interest within Arab societies themselves; And the excessive politicization of culture, which empties it of its free, creative dimension.

Institutional and State support may take various forms: Creating national and Arab awards for the Translation of Arabic- speaking literature; Funding international conferences and opening up to major book fairs; Promoting an active cultural diplomacy that integrates literature into the State’s foreign policy; And supporting artistic productions adapted from literature (films, theatre, cartoons…etc.) as tools for translingual influence.

The Role of Comparatist Scholars
Comparatist scholars represent a vital link between different literatures. They are theoretically and methodologically qualified to build genuine bridges between texts and cultures. Their contributions can bear on the following:  Study forms of cultural representation between Arabs and the world; Work on translating and analysing texts exchanged between cultures; Propose joint research and training projects with foreign institutions; Contribute to the construction of an Arab critical discourse capable of engaging in dialogue with other world critical discourses on an equal footing.

In accordance with our conviction that literature can only flourish in the context of dialogue and openness, and that researchers in the fields of Comparative Literature, Literary Criticism, Translation, and Cultural Studies  in general are the primary actors in building bridges between Arabic literature and various world literatures, we invite all interested scholars to actively contribute to the proceedings of this international conference by submitting academic papers, comparative studies, or professional testimonials that reflect their experiences in  cultural translation,  literary studies , cross-cultural interactions and inter-disciplinary research .

Conference themes:
Proposals may address, but are not limited to, the following themes:

• Moroccan Literature and World
• Representations of Arabic Literature in the West (Orientalism, Globalisation)
• Translation Issues and Challenges
• Theorizing Arabic Literature and the History of Arab Literary Tradition
• Arabic Literature and the Sacred
• Arabic Calligraphy, Islamic Architecture, and Comparative Criticism
• Experiences of Interaction between Arabic Literature and Other Literatures (French, Spanish, English, Chinese…etc.), and between these and the Fine Arts (visual culture, plastic art, cinema).
• Intermediality and the Arabic literary text (interconnection of various Arabic modes of communication and/or various literary genres with Mass Media, virtual reality, hyper-text fiction or electronic literature)
• Experiences of Interaction between Arabic Literature in the Humanities and in the Other Sciences (Design, Music, Environment)
• Integration of the Arabic Language in Technology and Digital Spaces
• Arabic Literature and Artificial Intelligence (AI and Arabic Literary Translation; Machine Creativity and Authorship; Arabic Poetics and Aesthetics in the Age of AI; Ethics of AI and Arabic Literary Thought).
• The Digitalization of Arabic-speaking Poetics and Comparative Critical Research.
• The Role of Academic and Cultural Institutions in promoting the Arabic presence on the global scene

 Calendar and Submission Modalities

• December 15th: Abstract Submission deadline
• December 30th:  Notification of acceptance
• May 16th 2026, Full paper submission
• Abstracts should be sent to the following emails:

arabliteratureworld@gmail.com ; tls@awej.org

• The conference is presented in Arabic and in English; Papers are accepted in English, Arabic, French, Spanish and Amazighi.
• April 16-18, 2026: Conference date
• Online presentations will be granted to participants whose circumstances hinder their mobility.

Keynote Speakers: Dr. Ipshita Chanda (President of the ICLA); Dr Said Allouch (First Founder of the MCLA; Professor Emeritus, the ICLA Arab Comparative Literature Committee); Prof. Khairi Alzubaidi (Editor-in-Chief of the Arab World in English Journal for Translation & Literary Studies)

Publication:

Some selected papers of the conference will be published in AWEJ for Translation and Literary Studies (https://www.awej-tls.org/ ). The paper should be in the English language. We kindly ask the authors to read and submit their paper according to the submission guidelines https://www.awej-tls.org/paper-submission/.  Please send the final paper in a Word file as an attachment to tls@awej.org  by January 15, 2026.   Each paper should include: full name, full affiliation, Email address, ORCID ID, and an abstract (150-250 words).
For authors whose conference paper has been selected for publication in the special issue, they should adhere to all the submission details and guidelines of AWEJ for Translation and Literary Studies.

Accommodation Options for participants
Participants may choose one of the hotel options to be announced soon, and which collaborate with Ibn-Zohr University; or they can arrange accommodation at any other hotel at their convenience.

 

Registration Fees:
For Locals
Full-time doctoring students: 250dh
Employed participants:700dh
For Internationals: 150 USD
International Online: 75 USD

Conference fees cover conference documentation (including attendance certificates), coffee breaks, and three lunches, but they do not include the publication processing fee.

Conference Coordinators

Prof Touria Nakkouch (t.nakkouch@uiz.ac.ma )

Prof Hassan Taleb ((hassan22taleb@yahoo.fr)

Scientific Board

Dr Ipshita Chanda, ICLA President

Dr Mohamed Naji, Dean of Faculty of Letters & Human Sciences

Said Allouch, Professor Emeritus (Mohamed V University, Rabat); Honorary Member of the ICLA Research Committee on Arabic Comparative Literature

Mary -Therese Abdemessih, Professor of Comparative Literature, Cairo University, Egypt; Honorary Member, Research Committee on Arabic Comparative Literature, ICLA

Dr. Khairi Alzubaidi, Editor-in-Chief of AWEJ for Translation & Literary Studies

Dr. Fatiha Taib, Professor of Arabic and Comparative Literature (Mohammed V University, Morocco) Co- Chair, the ICLA Research Committee on Arabic Comparative Literature

Dr. Lobna Ismail, Associate Professor of English and Comparative Literature, Cairo University, Egypt) Co-Chair, the ICLA Research Committee on Arabic Comparative Literature

Dr. Touria Nakkouch, Ex-Lecturer of English and Comparative Literature; Honorary Member of CHALS, President of MCLA

Dr. Hassan Taleb, Professor of Arabic Poetics and Translation, FLSH, Ibn-Zohr, Founding member of the MCLA

Dr. Slimane Behari, Professor of   Arabic Comparative Criticism, FLSH, Ibn-Zohr, Ex- Director of Linguistic & Cultural Patterns Lab, FLSH, Vice-President of the MCLA

Dr. Hanan Bennoudi, Professor of Translation, Director of CHALS, FLSH, Ibn-Zohr University, Founding member of the MCLA

Dr. Youssef Tamer, Professor of Applied Languages and Education, Co-Founder of CHALS, FLSH, Ibn-Zohr University

Dr Monir Birouk, Professor of English and Literary Theory, FLSH, Ibn-Zohr University, Head of English Studies Department, Member of the MCLA

Dr Latifa Safoui, Professor of English, FSC, Ibn-Zohr University, Member of CHALS.

Organizing Commettee 

Faculty Members

Prof Mohsine Wahib

Prof Latifa Alahyane

Prof Fatim-Zahra Rafali

Prof Omar Hansali

Prof Hassan Laloua

Pro Elhabib Louai

Prof Rachid Agliz

Prof Rahmoun Milou

Doctoring Student Board:

Mouna Bahri

Omar Marrouk

Hassan Sellami

Rania Ghrib

Ebdelhakk Seddiq

Erragab El Jenhaoui

 Assistant Faculty Members

Hanane Raji Ra

Fatiha Gramiz

Mohamed Idyassine

Malika Afilal