​The Christian communities of the Arab East are today at a turning point. Following 2,000 years of recorded history, during which they defined the region and coexisted with other communities, as well as made extensive contributions to Islamic civilization, the continued existence of the Christian Arab community is now under question. The main threat is the slow trickle of demographic shifts, and particularly the mass emigration of Christian Arabs to Western countries.  Some projections suggest that the Christian Arab community may number as few as six million in less than a decade—they number 14 million today. These seismic changes to the population invite deep, deliberate enquiry into the factors driving Christian mass emigration.

An upcoming ACRPS Conference, "Christian Arabs in the Greater Mashreq: Permanence, Emigration and Forced Migration" will attempt to offer academic insights into the present-day reality facing the indigenous Christian communities of the Arab East. The meeting will be held on October 21 and 22, and will bring together an array of scholars from across the region and beyond to discuss the political and economic drivers of Christian emigration.

N.B. Simultaneous translation between Arabic and English will be aviailable throughout this conference.