The "Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb" (MECAM), founded in 2020, is a platform for regional and international scientific exchange in Tunisia based on the central theme "Imagining Futures - Dealing with Disparity". The centre is located at the renowned Université de Tunis in the Tunisian capital. Its research work focuses on the effects of multidimensional disparity on models, visions and ideas about political, social, economic, and cultural futures.
BMFTR, 2020-2023

Team

Dr. Alyssa Miller

Research Fellow

Kooperationspartner

Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien, Philipps-Universität Marburg (CNMS)German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA)Universität Leipzig Forum Transregionale Studien e.V.Université de Tunis Institut Tunisien des Études Stratégiques (ITES)Université de Sfax

Leitung

Dr. André Bank

Senior Research Fellow

Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

Forschungsfragen

The research programme of the Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb encompasses the five thematic clusters "Inequality & Mobility", "Memory & Justice", "Aesthetics & Cultural Practice", "Resources & Sustainability", "Identities & Beliefs" (the latter one under GIGA's coordination) as well as two transversal axes "Comparative Historical and Regional Perspectives" and "Digital Methods".

Beitrag zu internationaler Forschung

MECAM's contributes to international research excellence in a number of ways: First, it strengthens the perception of the Maghreb as a geopolitical interface of different world regions, among them Africa, Europe, and the Middle East (Mashriq). Second and related, it thereby aims to overcome the often-held, limited perspective of the Maghreb as a "triple periphery". This is done, third, by connecting with a long tradition of Maghrebi theorizing in different fields. Fourth, MECAM substantially enhances German scholarly engagement with the Maghreb. Fifth and more generally, it contributes to tackling persisting asymmetries in knowledge production.

Forschungsdesign und Methoden

The Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) considers itself an interdisciplinary, interregional and intergenerational research platform on the Maghreb, the Middle East and beyond. Under the guiding theme "Imagining Futures - Dealing with Disparity", MECAM examines the complex processes of (re-)negotiating future models of society ('imagining futures’) in the region about a decade after the beginning of the "Arab Spring", all within the context of unequal starting conditions ('disparity').

The German Institute for Global and Area Studies is a partner within the MECAM consortium, along with the University of Marburg, the University of Leipzig and the Forum Transregional Studies in Berlin. In addition to the Université de Tunis, the regional partners are the University of Sfax and the Institut Tunisien des Études Stratégiques (ITES) in Tunisia, as well as other partners from Morocco and Lebanon.

MECAM Papers English | 04.2026

Haunting and Alternative Realities in Contemporary Tunisian Film

Haunting is usually thought of in relation to horror films. However, haunting can also act as a decolonial tool in helping expose past injuries incurred at the hands of colonial apparatuses. Selected films and a novel offer a reading of hauntological instances permeating Tunisia’s postcolonial realities in the post–Arab Spring era.

Ph.D. Sanabel Abdel Rahman

Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb

MECAM Papers English | 02.2026

The (In)Visibility of Female Saints in Tunisian Sufi Literature

Analysing a litany about a woman reveals the function of Sufi literature in documenting and transmitting Sufi values, historical events, and regional customs. It especially sheds light on how Tunisian Sufi literature conceptualises women’s spiritual roles in Maghrebi society, setting the spaces and boundaries within which they exist.

Cyrine Kortas

Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb

GIGA Focus Nahost | 1/2026

Ten Things to Watch in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026

Europa bleibt für Golfstaaten bei Investitionen und geopolitischen Überlegungen zweitrangig. In Gaza und im Sudan ist internationale Vermittlung nötig. Der Libanon und Syrien drohen zu zerfallen. Wir stellen zehn zentrale Themen vor, die im Jahr 2026 die Entwicklungen im Nahen Osten und Nordafrika prägen werden.

Dima Abu Alkheir

Hager Ali

Dr. André Bank

Ardahan Özkan Gedikli

Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz

MECAM Papers English | 11.2025

Ghannouchi’s Concept of Ḥurriyya and Its Realisation in Transitional Tunisia

The ḥurriyya framework offers Muslim societies a way to overcome ideological divides by linking universal values with Islamic ethics. It provides an alternative to rigid secularism and literalist traditions while respecting modern values developed outside Islam.

Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff

Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien, Philipps-Universität Marburg

Dr. Imad Alsoos

Max-Planck-Institut für ethnologische Forschung

MECAM Papers English | 10.2025

The Executioner’s Office in Algeria and Tunisia (1842–1962)

Nowadays, the profession of executioner is still relevant. Concerning Algeria and Tunisia, once they gained independence the new rulers kept their own executioners on duty. They simply replaced French executioners with “local” ones. Today the abolition of the death penalty is not in prospect.

Dr. Hend Guirat

Université de Tunis

Startseite
Forschung & Transfer
Forschungsprojekte
Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM): Imagining Futures - Dealing with Disparity, Phase I

Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM): Imagining Futures - Dealing with Disparity, Phase I

Team

Dr. Alyssa Miller

Research Fellow

Kooperationspartner

Leitung

Dr. André Bank

Senior Research Fellow

Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

Forschungsfragen

Beitrag zu internationaler Forschung

Forschungsdesign und Methoden

MECAM Papers English | 04.2026

Haunting and Alternative Realities in Contemporary Tunisian Film

Ph.D. Sanabel Abdel Rahman

Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb

MECAM Papers English | 02.2026

The (In)Visibility of Female Saints in Tunisian Sufi Literature

Cyrine Kortas

Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb

GIGA Focus Nahost | 1/2026

Ten Things to Watch in the Middle East and North Africa in 2026

Dima Abu Alkheir

Hager Ali

Dr. André Bank

Ardahan Özkan Gedikli

Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz

MECAM Papers English | 11.2025

Ghannouchi’s Concept of Ḥurriyya and Its Realisation in Transitional Tunisia

Dr. Julius Dihstelhoff

Centrum für Nah- und Mittelost-Studien, Philipps-Universität Marburg

Dr. Imad Alsoos

Max-Planck-Institut für ethnologische Forschung

MECAM Papers English | 10.2025

The Executioner’s Office in Algeria and Tunisia (1842–1962)

Dr. Hend Guirat

Université de Tunis

Workshop | 20.02.2023 - 24.02.2023

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”, Orient Institut Beirut, Beirut Organisation: Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter (Panelbeitragende:r)

Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

Kooperation | 20.04.2020

Neues Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in Tunis

Das GIGA beteiligt sich am Aufbau eines Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM) in der Hauptstadt Tunesiens. Das geistes- und sozialwissenschaftliche Forschungszentrum soll sich der Untersuchung gesellschaftlicher Wandlungsprozesse widmen, die sich infolge der Arabischen Protestbewegungen von 2011 ergeben haben.

Workshop | 27.02.2024 - 29.02.2024

Understanding the Life Cycle of Academic Publishing: From Journal Targeting to Decision Letters and Response Memos

Atelier de publication au Centre Merian pour les études avancées au Maghreb (MECAM), Centre Merian pour les études avancées au Maghreb, Tunis Organisation: Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb, German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA) Prof. Dr. Julia Grauvogel (Vortragende:r)

This presentation is designed to demystify the submission and review process of journals and discuss publication strategies with the participants. It covers key aspects of publishing scholarly work from journal targeting to understanding decisions letters and writing response memos.

Prof. Dr. Julia Grauvogel

Lead Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Workshop | 20.02.2023 - 24.02.2023

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

Kooperation | 20.04.2020

Neues Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in Tunis

Workshop | 27.02.2024 - 29.02.2024

Understanding the Life Cycle of Academic Publishing: From Journal Targeting to Decision Letters and Response Memos

Prof. Dr. Julia Grauvogel

Lead Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Workshop | 20.02.2023 - 24.02.2023

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

Kooperation | 20.04.2020

Neues Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in Tunis

Workshop | 20.02.2023 - 24.02.2023

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

Kooperation | 20.04.2020

Neues Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in Tunis

Workshop | 27.02.2024 - 29.02.2024

Understanding the Life Cycle of Academic Publishing: From Journal Targeting to Decision Letters and Response Memos

Prof. Dr. Julia Grauvogel

Lead Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Workshop | 20.02.2023 - 24.02.2023

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

Kooperation | 20.04.2020

Neues Merian Centre for Advanced Studies in Tunis

Workshop | 27.02.2024 - 29.02.2024

Understanding the Life Cycle of Academic Publishing: From Journal Targeting to Decision Letters and Response Memos

Prof. Dr. Julia Grauvogel

Lead Research Fellow / Research Team Spokesperson

Workshop | 20.02.2023 - 24.02.2023

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”

Prof. Dr. Thomas Richter

Lead Research Fellow / Head of Research Programme "Accountability and Participation"

Kooperation | 20.04.2020

Team

Kooperationspartner

Leitung

Forschungsfragen

Beitrag zu internationaler Forschung

Forschungsdesign und Methoden

Projektbezogene Publikationen

Benachrichtigungen

Soziale Medien

Merian Center for Advanced Studies in the Maghreb (MECAM): Imagining Futures - Dealing with Disparity, Phase I

Team

Kooperationspartner

Leitung

Forschungsfragen

Beitrag zu internationaler Forschung

Forschungsdesign und Methoden

Projektbezogene Publikationen

Weitere Inhalte zum Thema

Understanding the Life Cycle of Academic Publishing: From Journal Targeting to Decision Letters and Response Memos

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East &amp; North Africa”

Weitere Inhalte zum Thema

Understanding the Life Cycle of Academic Publishing: From Journal Targeting to Decision Letters and Response Memos

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East &amp; North Africa”

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”

MECAM Travelling Academy "Solidarities in/between the Middle East & North Africa”