Omar Nasser, from Fiep*
Curitiba – The Arab countries and Brazil have to know each other better. With the objective of deepening this knowledge, the Federal University of Paraná (UFPR), a state in the southern region of Brazil, created the Ethnic Identity Processes Study Nucleus in the second semester of 2004. Related to the Psychology Department, the Nucleus is dedicated to the study of migratory movements, with emphasis on the Arab people, and their cultural relations with Brazil.
"The current political and economic situation of the world makes it indispensable to better understand the Arab world and its relations with our country and the West in general," explains professor Dr. Jamil Zugheib Neto, coordinator at the Nucleus.
This is not, however, an initiative restricted to the field of psychology. The group counts on researchers and professionals in many areas, such as philosophy, history, economics, international relations and social communications.
Activities
Created recently, the Nucleus is already fully operational. Last November the nucleus promoted a month long course entitled "Introduction to the Arab Identity and Thinking", at the UFPR. Themes such as the formation of the Arab identity, trade relations, Palestinian literature and the contribution of the Arab-Islamic civilisation to the development of the West were some of the subjects discussed.
Participating as lecturers, amongst others, were the professors Dr. Paulo Farah and Michel Sleiman, from the University of São Paulo (USP), Jamil Ibrahim Isakandar, from the Catholic University of Paraná (PUC), and Claude Fahd Hajjar, researcher on Arab immigration to Brazil. The demand generated gives an idea of the interest the theme generated: 50 people signed up for the course, between them, university students, professors and the general public.
For 2005, the Nucleus is setting up a schedule of research and cultural activities. The periodic publication of the studies carried out is also forecasted.
*Federation of Industries of the State of Paraná
