"Thinking in the Mult-verse: Unraveling the Layers of Islamic Diplomatic History", sponsored by the NYU Abu Dhabi Humanities Research Fellowship for the Study of the Arab World, provides a platform for a historical re-examination of Islamic diplomacy. This two-day event seeks to untangle the complexities of Islamic diplomatic thought and practice throughout the early modern period, highlighting its relevance in our increasingly interconnected global sphere.

With panelists coming from a variety of period and geographic specialities, the conference will explore the roles, methodologies, and influences of Muslim diplomats within a dynamically shifting global context. Our focus encompasses everything from the emergence of patterns and / or divergences in diplomatic thought and practice, to in-depth analyses of textual practices and knowledge production.

The conference is organized around three major themes:

1. The role of tradition in Islamic diplomatic thought, scrutinizing the multi-temporality of diplomatic texts and the evolution of ideas across different historical junctures.

2. The status of Muslim diplomats as Islamic thinkers within their historical context, aiming to extend our understanding of Islamic intellectual activity during the early modern period.

3. The re-conceptualization of New Diplomatic History by introducing the Islamic perspective, thus encouraging a diverse array of epistemologies that reflect multiplicity in thought and practice.

The conference aims to foster dialogue among scholars, academics, and practitioners of diplomacy, leading to a richer understanding of the historical dimensions of diplomatic thought in the Muslim world. In addition to our panels we will also engage with local dignitaries and students of contemporary diplomacy to think about broader trajectories of continuity and change over the centuries and consider how our historical work interacts with contemporary thought and practice.