Middle East studies in the News

Middle East Studies Group Acquires a New Rival [on the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa, Bernard Lewis, Fouad Ajami]

by John Gravois
The Chronicle of Higher Education
November 16, 2007

http://chronicle.com/weekly/v54/i12/12a01302.htm

http://www.campus-watch.org/article/id/4436

Bernard Lewis and Fouad Ajami, two men closely linked to the Bush administration's Middle East policies and strategies, have started the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa. Middle East studies, they say, has become too "politicized."

The dominant organization for scholars of the region is the Middle East Studies Association, which is often accused of favoring scholarship critical of American and Israeli policies.

Mr. Lewis, a professor emeritus of Near Eastern studies at Princeton University, will be chairman of the new association. Mr. Ajami, a professor of Middle East studies at the Johns Hopkins University, will be vice chairman of its academic council.

"Given the importance of these regions," Mr. Lewis said in a statement, "there is an acute need for objective and accurate scholarship and debate, unhampered by entrenched interests and allegiances."

Note: Articles listed under "Middle East studies in the News" provide information on current developments concerning Middle East studies on North American campuses. These reports do not necessarily reflect the views of Campus Watch and do not necessarily correspond to Campus Watch's critique.

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