[Andalusi Studies] Arabism and democracy

Fri Aug 14 10:26:16 PDT 2020

Dear colleague, for your reply I guess we should consider that, in your opinion, sharing public information is not part of the 'democratic habits' that we as academics should stand for. I also assume that we must understand that sharing public information about certain statements of certain scholars represents 'unethical behavior'. 

All of this leads me to wonder what kind of concept of democracy do you have and what kind of 'ethical behaviors' you carry out in your work as an academic. On the other hand, I found it extremely funny that, after accusing me without any argument of 'attacking' a 'colleague' and making fun of him you invoke 'ethical behavior'. 

I think you have made it very clear what your ethics are and what your values are as an academic. For this reason, I thank you very much for your participation in this debate. I've learned a lot from you. 

Kind regards, 
Alejandro 

De: "Cristina de la Puente" <cristina.delapuente at cchs.csic.es> 
Para: "Alejandro Garcia Sanjuan" <sanjuan at dhis2.uhu.es> 
CC: "Andalusi Studies" <Andalusi_Studies at lists.uoregon.edu> 
Enviados: Viernes, 14 de Agosto 2020 17:33:59 
Asunto: Re: [Andalusi Studies] Arabism and democracy 

Alejandro, anyone who can read, has understood that I have not defended any far-right party, and I do not share the idea expressed by Ramírez del Río in his tweet, as you suggest. I have not come out in defense of any party, nor do I speak for anyone, except in the name of simple democratic habits. I have only referred to using an academic list to scoff at colleagues for their political or religious ideas, whether I share it or not. If we take into account that these colleagues are also academic competitors, it is also unethical behavior. 
As I think this list is not for this, I will not respond to accusations, insinuations, or insults because I have defended a colleague. By the way, I would have done it too if he had been attacked for being a communist. I am not going to discuss this topic anymore because it is explaining what democracy is, and it is not the place to do it. 
Regarding the recommendation of reading an article of yours, I prefer not to comment either. 

Cristina 

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El vie., 14 ago. 2020 a las 16:51, Alejandro Garcia Sanjuan (< [ mailto:sanjuan at dhis2.uhu.es | sanjuan at dhis2.uhu.es ] >) escribió: 

Dear colleague, I've just shared some public information, I cannot see what kind of attack or mockery are you referring to. You should be a little more specific in your accusations, otherwise, it would seem that it bothers you that information is shared concerning academics holding high-ranking positions in far-right political organizations. 

As you probably know, the denigration of al-Andalus has been going on for centuries in certain academic outlets as an expression of racist and Islamophobic ideas. One of the most usual arguments in this approach has been the denigration of the Berber dynasties, the savage 'African tribes' mentioned by Ramírez del Río. Maybe taking a look at my recent article 'Nubes de langosta africana. Prejuicios historiográficos sobre las dinastías beréberes (almorávides, almohades y meriníes)' [ https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ELEM/article/view/68638, | https://revistas.ucm.es/index.php/ELEM/article/view/68638, ] would be helpful for you. 

By the way, Ramírez del Río makes reference to his academic position on his Twitter feed to justify his political opinions: [ https://twitter.com/joseramirezdel2/status/1271114378688040963 | https://twitter.com/joseramirezdel2/status/1271114378688040963 ] . I don't see why, in that case, his social networks cannot be shared in academic forums. 

On the other hand, and since you are apparently the mouthpiece for Ramírez del Río, I wonder whether you could explain to us what exactly the expression 'más salvaje e inhumano que cualquier tribu africana' means. I'm sure you will. 

Cheers, 
Alejandro 

De: "Cristina de la Puente" < [ mailto:cristina.delapuente at cchs.csic.es | cristina.delapuente at cchs.csic.es ] > 
Para: "Andalusi Studies" < [ mailto:Andalusi_Studies at lists.uoregon.edu | Andalusi_Studies at lists.uoregon.edu ] > 
Enviados: Viernes, 14 de Agosto 2020 16:07:53 
Asunto: [Andalusi Studies] Arabism and democracy 

Dear colleagues, 

I am writing in response to Alejandro García Sanjuán's last message. 
I thought this mailing list is academic and is intended to expose issues related to Arabism and Andalusian studies. I don't see the relationship between Arabic teaching and membership in a political party. In Spain, since the 1978 Constitution, no one can be singled out for their political or religious ideas. Pillorying colleagues for their ideology is typical of totalitarian regimes and anti-democratic personalities. There are university professors in parties like Podemos, Vox, and even Bildu, and as long as those parties are legal, no one has the right to attack them for it or make, as in this case, public derision. 
I have nothing more to say, and I am not going to enter into any discussion about what are the correct democratic behaviors, I have only tried to ask for respect towards others, even more so when they are our colleagues. 

Best wishes, 

Cristina 

-- 
Dra. Cristina de la Puente 
Grupo de Investigación Judíos y Musulmanes en la trama social mediterránea 
Instituto de Lenguas y Culturas del Mediterráneo 
Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales 
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) 
Albasanz 26-28 
28037 Madrid 
Tel. [ callto:34-916022433 | 34-916022433 ] 

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-- 
Dra. Cristina de la Puente 
Grupo de Investigación Judíos y Musulmanes en la trama social mediterránea 
Instituto de Lenguas y Culturas del Mediterráneo 
Centro de Ciencias Humanas y Sociales 
Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC) 
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