Middle East Strategy at Harvard

From Mark T. Clark

As some of you may know, I am currently serving as president of a new, interdisciplinary academic association that promotes the highest standards of research and teaching in the fields of Middle Eastern studies, African studies and their related disciplines.

The Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa (ASMEA)—a non-profit, non-partisan academic society—was formed under the leadership of Bernard Lewis and Fouad Ajami to advance research and discourse through programs, publications and services that support its members and the international community of scholars.

Our membership—which spans 180 campuses around the globe—is comprised of professors and students in a wide array of academic disciplines related to Middle Eastern and African studies. This new coalition of scholars encourages a robust exchange of ideas and promotes new research in both regional issues (politics, conflict, history, cultures, etc.) and functional issues (terrorism, crime, strategic issues, etc.)

ASMEA will protect academic freedom and promote the search for truth by challenging scholars to reach new heights in inquiry and providing them with some of the tools necessary to achieve these goals. Through our annual conference, journal, newsletter, and website, ASMEA hopes to become the professional association of choice for discerning scholars and will strive for excellence in all of its many pursuits.

ASMEA’s first major event to showcase our members’ research will be our inaugural conference this spring. Set for April 24-26, 2008 at the Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C., ASMEA’s first annual conference is entitled: “The Evolution of Islamic Politics, Philosophy, and Culture in the Middle East and Africa: From Traditional Limits to Modern Extremes.” It will feature a combination of panels and roundtables with academics and policymakers focused on the profound Islamic influence in these regions. We will also host a keynote speech from Bernard Lewis, entitled “Studying the Other: Different Ways of Looking at the Middle East and Africa.”

Information on membership (which is free for the remainder of the 2008 academic year), our services, and our upcoming conference can be found at our website.

It is my hope that you will consider joining us in this new endeavor.