Newsletter of the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY Spring 2013
Volume 3, Issue 2
“Witnessing Diplomacy.” by Ambassador John Limbert
On February 20, 2013 thirty -five midshipmen from classes in political science (FP 462, The U.S. and Iran) and history (HH367B, the History and Culture of Iran) had a rare first-hand look into the complex world of AmericanIranian relations. They trav-
eled to the Asia Society in New York to hear a public exchange between Ambassador Thomas Pickering, former U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs, and Ambassador Mohammad Khaza’i, current permanent representative of the Islamic Republic of Iran to the United Nations. David Ignatius, author and senior reporter for the Washington Post, moderated the discussion. The very setting of the exchange was unusual. Ambassador Khaza’i, like all members of the Iranian UN Mission, cannot travel outside a 25-mile radius from down-
town New York without permission from the U.S. government. Khaza’i rarely appears at public events and, until this session, has preferred private meetings with small groups of Americans interested in Iranian affairs. Because there are no diplomatic relations between Washington and Tehran, Khaza’i is the highestranking Iranian official resident on U.S. soil. The students immediately understood the symbolism of the occasion. Why, they asked, is an official from one side talking to a retired official (and private citizen) (Continued on page 9)
Midshipmen Participate in “Roads of Arabia” Tour Through the gracious invita-
ogy and History of the King-
Arabian Peninsula’s rich her-
tion of Saudi-Aramco and
dom of Saudi Arabia” exhib-
itage from the Paleolithic
the Sackler Gallery, midship-
it. Considered by many crit-
period to the formation of
men and faculty were able
ics as the most comprehen-
the Kingdom of Saudi Ara-
to participate in a docent-
sive collection of Saudi Ara-
bia in 1932.
led tour of the joint-
bian artifacts to be dis-
Most interesting to the mid-
sponsored Kingdom of Saudi
played at an international
shipmen was the rich, multi-
Arabia and SAUDI-ARAMCO
venue, the exhibit features
“Roads of Arabia: Archaeol-
320 artifacts that trace the
(Continued on page 6)
Kylan Jones-Huffman Memorial Lectures
DR. FRED DONNER— “HOW ISLAM BEGAN.” H.E. AMBASSADOR HOUNONOO—“BAHRAINIUS RELATIONS.”
DA
SAID SAYRAFIEZADEH— “REFLECTIONS ON IRANIAN -AMERICAN LITERATURE.”
Inside this issue: “WITNESSING DIPLOMACY”
1
ROADS OF ARABIA
1
PROF. WHEELER SABBATICAL
2
PROF. BURT SABBATICAL
3
INTERFAITH DIALOGUE
4
WHEELER FULBRIGHT
5
DR. DANIEL ZISENWIINE
6
DR. FRED DONNER
7
H.E. AMB HOUDA NONOO
7
SAID SAYRAFIEZADEH
8
MEIR LITVAK
8
UPCOMING EVENTS
10
AFFILIATED FACULTY
11
JOIN US ON TWITTER!
12
Newsletter of the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies Sacrifice in Islam, pilgrimage and state power in Middle East and South Asia . During January Brannon Wheeler as part of his research sabbatical in the Middle East and South Asia made a brief trip to the Hijaz region of Saudi Arabia. The trip allowed him to visit a number of sites closely linked to current research on places of pilgrimage in Arabia before Islam.
particular region of the Arabian Peninsula.
du, and Muslim pilgrims. At the top of the mountain is a shrine housing a footprint. Buddhists In addition to his primary work claim the footprint is from the in the Middle East, during the Buddha. Hindus claim it is from first week of April, Prof. Branan Indian deity. Muslims claim non Wheeler made a research it is the footprint left by Adam trip to the South Asian Island of after he was cast out of the Sri Lanka supported by the Garden of Eden before he Center's funds for professional traveled to Mecca to establish development. The research focused on the role of pilgrimage and state support One of the most significant sites is called today Mada’in for pilgrimage in the develSalih. In the Islamic period the opment of social and political structures. site was called al-Hijr and was reportedly visited by the Among the sites visited by prophet Muhammad on his Prof. Wheeler were the way to the northern city of Temple of the Sacred Tooth Tabuk. The classical name in Kandy and Adam's Peak was Hegre. Mada’in Salih is (otherwise known as Sri Paa Nabataean necropolis simida). The Temple of the Salar to the well-known site of cred Tooth is a Buddhist shrine Petra in Jordan. While Petra housing a tooth of the Buddha. the Muslim pilgrimage (Hajj). served as the Nabataean This relic was used, and contincapital, Mada’in Salih is While in Sri Lanka, Prof. ues to be used, as a means for equally impressive with more the state to assert its authority Wheeler was able to visit a than 100 monumental tombs vis-a-vis the religious elite and number of mosques in Columbo cut out of the surrounding the rest of society. The temple and in Kandy. There is a sizemountains. and its relic have been the able Muslim community in Sri subject of a number of studies In the center of Mada’in Salih Lanka. Muslims in Sri Lanka is Jabal Ithlib, the ceremonial but only a few in Western lanbelong to the minority Tamil guages. sanctuary where visitors to group which also includes Hinthe city of the dead would Adam's Peak is one of the dus. Sri Lanka also has a perform sacrifices. Jabal Ithhighest mountains in Sri Lanka. lib contains a number of Christian minority dating priTo reach the summit requires shrines and overlooks the an arduous climb of more than marily from the time of the entire site. The deserts sur8000 steps. The climb takes an Portuguese and British periods. rounding Mada’in Salih are a average of 4 hours and the beautiful example of the sort descent about 3 hours. Most of of environment common to this the climbers are Buddhist, HinPage 2
Volume 3, Issue 2 Prof. Burt of Languages and Cultures: Paths on Mountains and the ShoreOmani Poetry and South Arabian Folklore In September 2011, while in Oman to set up an Arabic language program for her students, Prof. Clarissa Burt of the United States Naval Academy’s Department of Languages and Cultures was able to make contacts and lay the groundwork for research projects related to Oman. She contacted several well-known Omani writers and established the basis for sabbatical work in this strategically important and culturally diverse Gulf state. Her subsequent research took place over a several month period from 2012 to 2013 with extensive field work in Oman. She was able to collect published works of contemporary Omani writers, and discover literary salons which demanded further investigation. Among the notable contacts made by Prof. Burt was Mr. Sayf al-Rahbi, a well-known poet and writer, and the editor-in-chief of Nizwa , an internationally known journal of literature and culture in the Arab World. Through Mr. Rahbi’s deep cultural insight and guidance Prof. Burt was introduced to several poets and authors in the Omani literary field who hail from all strata of society. Prof. Burt, during her time in Oman, was able to “read a broad selection of Omani poetic texts, select from them, translate some, and analyze the Arabic texts in the context of the broader sweep of contemporary Arabic poetry and literature today.”
Of interest to midshipmen who take Prof. Burt’s Arabic Language and Literature courses is her incisive observation: “This [the development of national literatures] is especially interesting as Oman and the Gulf countries begin to assert themselves literarily, producing new literature far from the traditional centers of literary production, and articulating ideas, feelings, and aspirations which are distinct from those which have come out of the cultural capitals that have been historically central to Arabic literary institutions.“ With her background in comparative Semitic studies, Prof. Burt was also able to study ancient inscriptional material related to South Arabian languages. These include languages threatened with extinction and only available for study in the mountainous Omani region of Salalah such as Mehri, Shahri, Jibbali, Harsusi, Hobyot, and Bathari form micro communities that are intent on preserving their language and way of life.
nuanced approach to the study of micro-linguistic communities promises to be a major boon to midshipmen who study standardized Arabic with little understanding of the complex mélange of linguistic influences that help create regional dialects.
Prof. Burt was able to collect samples and materials written in these languages some of which are compromised of only 200 hundred speakers. This novel and Page 3
Newsletter of the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies Joint Special Operations University visits the Center In March, Sean Baggott and
institutional knowledge to our
JSOU, midshipmen will be
Nancy Walbridge Collins of
SOF war-fighter. The Center
able to gain insight into the
Joint Special Operations Uni-
offers a world-class array of
demands of future SOF ca-
versity [JSOU] visited the
affiliated faculty members
reer paths and better devel-
Academy to receive a brief
and lectures series that would
op themselves for those op-
on the Center’s activities.
be of great strategic re-
portunities.
JSOU, located in Tampa,
source for the new JSOU
Florida, will undergo a series
initiative.
of renovations and curriculum development activities to bring a fresh perspective and
Through a creation of a symbiotic relationship between the service academies and
TOLERANCE AND INTERFAITH DIALOGUE IN THE U.S. Delegation Visits the United States Naval Academy The Center briefed nine Afri-
service, education, and
ance and understanding of
can delegates from countries
electoral politics. The partic-
other cultures into future na-
ranging from Burkino Faso to
ipants also have the oppor-
val officers.
Niger on CMEIS activities and
tunity to learn about the
mission on January 31. The
role of faith in American
guests were religious leaders,
secular society and inter-
NGO directors, and heads of
faith programs that contrib-
educational departments invit-
ute to social cohesion. The
ed to the United States under
project is designed for cler-
the auspices of the Depart-
gy, educators, and lay
ment of State's International
leaders of national or local
Visitor Leadership Program.
religious groups of all
The project provides an over-
faiths.
view of religious freedom and
The delegates were inter-
tolerance amid diverse popu-
ested in how the United
lations in the U.S., as well as
States Naval Academy in-
the role of religious and faith-
corporates Islamic studies
based organizations in various
into its course material as
arenas including community
well as how we instill toler-
Page 4
Volume 3, Issue 2 Deborah Wheeler on Sabbatical Research Professor Deborah L. Wheeler received a Fulbright Multi Country Middle East and North Africa research grant to study “Food Security Strategies in the Arabian Gulf: A View from Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates and Qatar.” She is the only Senior Fulbright scholar in the United States to receive a grant to Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates for the 2012-2013 year. She left Annapolis in December, and will return to USNA in August. Her research will contribute to our understanding of international politics and the Middle East on a number of levels. First of all, food security is a growing topic of concern globally due to climate change, population growth, a rising middle class demanding more meat and dairy, more energy to run electronics and cars, shrinking fresh water supplies, rising sea levels, reduced yield from field crops due to atypical weather patterns, volatile prices and supplies of food, bio-fuels diverting crops to energy rather than human nourishment, and the need to produce 70% more food by 2050 just to meet growing global demand. All of these variables—climate, population, food, energy, water, environment—are linked, and disentangling how states should respond to secure their food and water supplies within this context of complexity (especially for water poor countries like those in the Arabian Gulf) is one of the most significant 21st
century challenges examined by Prof. Wheeler’s research. In the Middle East more than anywhere else, food security is national security at its most fundamental level. The Middle East is one of the most food import dependent regions in the world. The region’s population growth is among the highest in the world, resulting in an everwidening food gap, estimated to cost $89 billion by 2020. A recent study by NASA shows that water resources in the region are shrinking faster than ever due to unsustainable agricultural practices. More than 70% of the region’s water is used on agriculture. The region, while the most water poor globally, ironically has the highest water use rate per capita, mostly due to an overexploitation of water resources to grow food. Taken together the lack of sustainable water access and arable land, harsh weather conditions, poor soil, intense strain on existing resources because of population growth and rising incomes, the partial break down of government subsidy regimes for providing low cost food to foster citizen loyalty and poverty alleviation, matched with global food inflation and supply shocks, make the issue of food security a matter of much greater concern in the
Middle East than ever before. Prof. Wheeler is finding that even in oil exporting countries—despite being rated as relatively food secure today based upon the low ratio of food import costs to GDP— food security is a regular topic in the press, in policy circles, and on the street. Billions of dollars are being invested in strategies to grow, import, secure, and store food to feed growing populations at stable prices. Strikes, riots across the region (even in the Gulf) linked with food inflation suggest that no country in the region is immune. While oil wealth enables some countries in the Middle East to buy themselves short-term solutions to food security challenges, long term sustainability questions loom and form the core of Prof. Wheeler’s research agenda. Professor Wheeler has used the data and insights she has gained during her sabbatical to develop a new senior Political Science Capstone course called “Natural Security” which will be offered for the first time in the Fall 20132014 academic year. In this seminar, students will examine the ways in which abundance and scarcity of natural resources like food, water, arable land, precious metals, and energy will increasingly shape the future of power and purpose in the global commons.
Page 5
Newsletter of the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies “Roads”, from Page One standing of the region. Mov-
Islam Began” was also pre-
ing past traditional compart-
sented at the Sackler Gallery
mentalization of epochs, the
on January 26.
tour revealed to guests how pre-Islamic cultures, such as
If interested in further infor-
the Greek and the Roman,
mation on the exhibit please
intermingled with indigenous
follow the below link:
societies thus informing one layered cultural milieu of the
another through trade, edu-
http://
Arabian Peninsula demon-
cation, and statecraft. The
www.saudiaramcoworld.com/
strated through the items on
visit coincided with Dr. Fred
issue/201102/
display—a fact formerly
Donner’s visit to the USNA on
roads.of.arabia.htm
incongruent with their under-
January 24. His lecture, “How
Daniel Zisenwine, Tel Aviv University Visiting Scholar appointment is made possible
demic Year the Center for
by a grant from the American- publication Contemporary
Middle East and Islamic Stud-
Israeli Cooperative Enterprise
Morocco: State, Politics, and
ies is hosting a visiting Israeli
(AICE) and a generous gift
Society under Mohammed VI is
scholar, Professor Daniel Zis-
from the Naval Academy’s
available through Routledge
enwine.
Friends of the Jewish Chapel.
Press.
His regular position is at the
AICE implements the Schuster-
University of Tel Aviv. Prof.
man Visiting Israel Professors
Zisenwine is a specialist in
program that places approxi-
North African history and
mately 20 scholars annually at
politics whose most recent
various U.S. universities with
publications focus on contem-
the goal of presenting Ameri-
porary Morocco. While at the
can students with a broad un-
Center, Prof. Zisenwine is
derstanding of Israel’s history,
teaching two courses in Mid-
society, politics, cultures, and
dle East politics for the Politi-
relations with its neighbors and
cal Science department and
the broader international com-
two courses in the history of
munity.
the Arab-Israeli Conflict for the History department. This Page 6
Prof. Zisenwine’s most recent
During the 2012-2013 Aca-
Volume 3, Issue 2 KJH Lecture: Dr. Fred Donner Dr. Fred M. Donner visited the United States Naval Academy as the first installment of the spring semester’s Kylan Jones Huffman Memorial Lecture series. Considered one of the world's foremost experts on Islam, Dr. Donner recently published Muhammad and the Believers (Belknap, 2012), a book that has helped redefine our un-
derstanding of the early
Islam. Dr. Donner proposed
Muslim community during the
that the community that arose
time of the prophet Muham-
around the prophet Muham-
mad. During his lecture “How
mad was ecumenical in na-
Islam Began” Dr. Donner un-
ture and primarily concerned
derscored for midshipmen
with accepting monotheists
that little evidence exists to
who were prepared to live
support the widely accepted
piously. The image we have
claims represented in an ar-
of an Islamic past was not
ray of seemingly omnipresent
widely promulgated until a
and hackneyed opinions
hundred years after the
about the history of early
death of the Prophet.
KJH Lecture: H.E. AMB Houda Nonoo On March 21 the Center host-
Iran. The lecture was attend-
Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa in
ed H.E. Ambassador Houda
ed by members of the An-
July 2008. H.E. is also Ambas-
Nonoo, the Kingdom of Bah-
napolis Jewish community as
sador of the Kingdom of Bah-
rain’s Ambassador to the Unit-
well as Retired Rear Admiral
rain to Canada (non-resident).
ed States. During her visit she
Katz and USNA Superinten-
toured the Levy Center, ate
dent Vice Admiral Miller.
dinner with the Commandant’s staff and midshipmen, and delivered an excellent lecture on the security concerns that Bahrain holds—primarily from
Her Excellency was appointed Ambassador of the Kingdom of Bahrain to the United States by His Majesty the King of Bahrain, Shaikh
She holds the distinction as the first person of Jewish origin and the third woman to be appointed Ambassador of Bahrain. Prior to her appointment she was president of the Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society and she held a posi-
Continued on page 10
In Memoriam: LT Kylan Jones-Huffman, USNR, died 21 Aug., 2003, in Al Hillah, Iraq while o voluntary TAD from US Naval Forces Central Command in Bahrain to brief the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force. He was 31 years old. LT Jones-Huffman was born 20 April, 1972 in Santa Cruz, CA, the son of James and Dagmar Huffman. In 1990 he graduated from the York School in Monterey, CA, and entered the Naval Academy. He was 26th Co. and graduated in 1994, having already begun work on his MA in History at the University of Maryland. He was an honors graduate in History from USNA, and one of his undergraduate papers won the Phi Alpha Theta prize for the regional and an Honorable Mention in national competition. After LT Jones-Huffman’s graduation from USNA he returned to California to marry his high school sweetheart, Heidi Jones. After completing his MA at Maryland, he reported to the USS Ingham out of Everett, WA. In 1997, he joined the pre-commissioning crew of the USS Raven inspired some his best Haiku. He returned to USNA in 1999 for two years as an instructor in the History Dept. He taught a course on the Persian Wars, and worked on preparing his prize winning Phi Alpha Theta paper and his Haiku for publication. His poetry reached print in two prominent Haiku journals and a number of on-line collections. It has since inspired a suite by a Romanian composer. LT Jones-Huffman was broadly interested in cultures around the world and had a spectacular ability to learn languages. He spoke fluent German, Persian, and Arabic, along with some Turkish and Japanese. He had been admitted to George Washington University’s Ph.D. program in Near Eastern Studies, where he planned to study Turkish history, shortly before his death. Page 7
Newsletter of the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies KJH Lecture: Said Sayrafiezadeh Said Sayrafiezadeh visited the Academy on April 18 delivering a lecture on the multiple layers of identity that are often at odds with common stereotypes we hold regarding those of Iranian origin. Born in Brooklyn in 1968 to an Iranian father and a Jewish American mother he grew up most of his life in Pittsburgh and in New York City. Both of parents were active members of the Socialist Workers Party and his father holds the distinction of having run for President of Iran not long after the Iranian Revolution. Midshipmen
were able to see that we make many assumptions regarding Iran and Iranians which often do not hold up to the reality of life. Through Mr. Sayrafiezadeh’s literature, readers can see how he has confronted his past and the individual characters that represent the different influences in his life. Mr. Sayrafiezadeh is an award-winning fiction writer, memoirist, and playwright. He is the recipient of a 20122013 fiction fellowship from the Cullman Center for Scholars and Writers, and the au-
thor of the critically acclaimed memoir When Skate Boards Will Be Free (Dial Press, 2010) for which he received a Whiting Writer’s Award. It was selected as one of the ten best books of the year by Dwight Garner of the New York Times. Brief Encounters with the Enemy will be published by The Dial Press in August 2013. Mr. Sayrafiezadeh lives on New York City’s Lower East Side with his wife, the artist and designer Karen Mainenti, and teaches creative writing at New York University.
Dr. Meir Litvak Dr. Meir Litvak of Tel Aviv
Press, 1998); co-author
doctorate from Harvard
University visited USNA to
of From Empathy to Denial:
University in 1991.
lecture on Iran and the Arab
Arab Responses to the Holo-
Spring on February 11. Dr.
caust (Columbia University
Litvak currently serves as an
Press, 2009) and of the forth-
associate professor in the De-
coming book Iran: from a Per-
partment of Middle Eastern
sian Empire to an Islamic Repub-
History and as the director of
lic (Open University of Israel
the Alliance Center for Iranian
Press). In addition, he is the co-
Studies. Dr. Litvak has written
editor of Religious Fanati-
numerous articles and books
cism (Zalman Shazar Center,
on modern Shi‘i and Iranian
2007); Palestinian Collective
history, as well as on modern
Memory and National Identi-
Islamic movements. He is the
ty (Palgrave-McMillan);
author of Shi'a Scholars of
and The Sunna and Shi‘a in
Nineteenth Century Iraq: The
History Division and Ecumenism
‘Ulama’ of Najaf and Karba-
in Islam (Palgrave-McMillan,
la’ (Cambridge University
2011). Dr. Litvak received his
Page 8
Volume 3, Issue 2 AMB Limbert from Page One “This discussion was an eyeopening experience in foreign relations for me. It was quite interesting to see how Iran thinks of the U.S. and how they believe that things Although Pickering did not chal- should be in the world. It seemed as though the two lenge Khaza’i directly on his omission, he gently reminded the countries are a long way Both the tone and content of Iranian representative that recit- from solving any issues.” the presentations gave the ing lists of historical grievances “The Asia Society forum was students insight into the com- was not necessarily the most plex world of Iranianproductive way to deal with the my first taste of live diplomacy. I expected it to be American relations. Picker- present impasse. In these excongenial meeting between ing— the United States’ most changes, the students saw for experienced and respected themselves just how difficult the two diplomats who spoke with political correctness and professional diplomat— relationship has become and tried their best to avoid any made some brief suggestions how each side appears to incontroversy. This, however, for a path forward on U.S.habit a separate universe in was not the case. The Iranian relations in general which the concerns of the other discussion was at times and on the difficult issue of are of no importance. Iran’s nuclear program. He Here are some selected student intense and demonstrated to the audience the spoke without blaming anycomments: hostility and lack of one and with obvious respect understanding that exfor his Iranian counterpart. “It seemed that according to Khaza’I —while returning Khaza’I, while Iran keeps saying ists between the United Pickering’s respect and cour- it wants to negotiate, Iran at the States and Iran.” tesy—recited a list of Iran’s same time is refusing to negotigrievances against the Unit- ate under the pretense that the “I thought that [Khaza’I’s] ‘gun to the head’ ed States going back to the U.S. is pressuring them.” analogy was very interestCIA-sponsored coup against ing…I can understand how Prime Minister Mohammad “..the ambiguousness of Mosaddegh in 1953. Khaza’i’s answers and his inabil- any nation would view one or more U.S. aircraft carriers Khaza’i’s list was a long one, ity to answer some questions sitting near their coast at all and in addition to the usual directly allowed me to truly complaints included some understand the predicament that times as a ‘gun to the head.’ I don’t think we need to stop, oddities, such as the stateIran is currently in. While this but it would help if we didn’t ment that “the United States talk did not make me more unilaterally broke diplomatic hopeful of future U.S.-Iran rela- get offended when another nation calls it what it is.” relations in April 1980 and a tions, it allowed me an opporfew days later violated Ira- tunity to see bilateral relations “Thus we are at a stalemate. nian sovereignty with its mili- in Iran’s perspective.” Should the U.S. remove its tary forces.” There was no from the other? Why are officials from the two countries not speaking to each other? And why have Iranian and American officials been unable to converse— except on the rarest of occasions—for over thirty years?
mention of the U.S. Embassy takeover and detention of American diplomatic personnel several months before that had led to those events.
Page 9
Newsletter of the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies H.E. Houda Nonoo KJH Lecture Continued from Page 7 tion within the Kingdom’s Shura council appointed by His Majesty the King, Shaikh Hamad Bin Salman Al Khalifa in 2006. Ambassador Nonoo is one of the founding members of Bahrain Human Rights Watch Society (BHRWS) established in November, 2004, elected General Secretary in September 2005. On October 10, 2008 Ambassador Nonoo
was officially welcomed as an honorary member of the Board of Directors of the U.S.-Bahrain Business Council. Throughout her career she has worked to improve working conditions in factories, raise awareness of the rights of women and children, campaigned for family and domestic law, and raised awareness of the plight of domestic workers.
Academic Year, 2013-2014: Fall Events During Fall semester Academic Year 2013, the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies will continue its Kylan Jones Huffman Memorial Lecture Series. While still under development we hope to have the following worldrenowned academics visit during the months of August and September: Dr. Amy Singer: Prof. Singer hails from the Department of Middle Eastern and African History, Tel Aviv University and is a wellregarded specialist on Ottoman Studies. Currently she is writing a book on charity in Islamic societies, which is intended as an introduction to the subject. It includes discussions of the religious basis and textual discussions of charity, particularly as they appear in the Qur’an and the hadith, the sayings of the Prophet Muhammad, together with historical examples of how these ideas were transPage 10
lated into practice at various times and places. The book is intended as an introduction to the subject both for people interested in Middle Eastern and Islamic history, and for those interested in the study of charity and philanthropy who wish to broaden their understanding of their different expressions in human societies. Dr. Amir Hussain: Prof. Amir Hussain’s areas of scholarly interest include the study of Islam and comparative religions. He is the author of Oil and Water: Two Faiths, One God (Wood Lake Books). He is editor of the third edition of the textbook World Religions: Western Traditions (Oxford University Press), and coeditor-in-chief (along with Rick Talbott) of Cascade's History of Religions Series (Wipf and Stock). He also serves on the editorial boards of the Springer book series Global Networks: Contemporary
Studies in Muslim Communities and of three journals: Comparative Islamic Studies, the Journal of Religion, Conflict, and Peace, and Contemporary Islam: Dynamics of Muslim Life. Professor Hussain has been an active member of the AAR, having served on the Research Grants Jury and the Centennial Advisory Committee.
Volume 3, Issue 2 Faculty Affiliated with CMEIS Affiliated Faculty ۞Dr. Hayden Bellenoit, History
South Asia
۞Dr. Hezi Brosh, Language Studies
Arabic and Hebrew Language
۞Dr. Thomas Burgess, History
Africa
۞Dr. Clarissa Burt, Language Studies
Arabic Language and Literature
۞Dr. Salwa Elgebaly, Language Studies
Arabic Language
۞CAPT Mark Hagerott, History
South Asia
۞Dr. Wayne Hsieh, History
Military History
۞Dr. Gabriel N. Karpouzian, Aerospace Eng
Contemporary Middle East
۞Dr. Elizabeth Knutson, Language Studies
Franco-Arab Studies
۞AMB John Limbert, Class of 1955 Chair
Iran and Middle East
۞CAPT Jeff Macris, History
Gulf and Middle East
۞LTJG Ayman, Mottaleb, Language Studies
Arabic Language
۞Ms. Jocelyn Owens, Language Studies
Arabic Language
۞Dr. Helen Purkitt, Political Science
Africa Studies
۞Mr. Mark Reese, DepDir, CMEIS
Central Asia
۞CDR Thomas Robertson, History
COIN, Irregular Warfare
۞Dr. Sanaa Sadek, Language Studies
Arabic Language
۞Dr. Thomas Sanders, History
Russia and Central Asia
۞Dr. Ermin Sinanovic, Political Science
Southeast Asia and Islam
۞Dr. Joseph Thomas, Leadership
Military Ethics
۞Dr. Ernest Tucker, History
Islamic Civilization and History
۞Dr. Brian VanDeMark
US Diplomatic and Political History
۞Mr. Steve Ward, Leadership
Contemporary Middle East
۞Dr. Brannon Wheeler, Director, CMEIS
Islam and History of Religions
۞Dr. Deborah Wheeler, Political Science
Contemporary Middle East
Recent Faculty Curriculum Development ۞Mark Reese– Currently developing course material on the Caucuses and Central Asia ۞Ernie Tucker– Middle East History textbook ۞Brian VanDeMark– Recent publication of American Sheikhs ۞Deborah Wheeler– Continues research on Food Security issues through a Fulbright in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE ۞Ermin Sinanovic– Turkish and Israeli investment in Bosnia, and Islamist politics in Malaysia ۞Clarissa Burt– Research on pre-Islamic Arabic in Oman ۞Brannon Wheeler– Buddhism in Russia and History of Judaism course in Korea, Cambodia and China
Page 11
Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies U.S. NAVAL ACADEMY 106 Maryland Avenue Annapolis, MD 21402 Phone 410-293-2993 Fax 410-293-2994 Email: cmeis@usna.edu
In its seventh year the Center for Middle East and Islamic Studies con nues to enhance the educaonal opportuni es of midshipmen through suppor ng interna onal and regional study, curricular innova on, fleet ac vi es, and as a center for resources on all aspects of the Middle East and the cultures historically related to the region. Since its incep on, the Center has hosted close to 150 lectures reaching an es mated 25,000 midshipmen. Faculty affilia on with the Center has grown to more than 24, from six academic departments, who have developed more than 50 new courses and traveled to dozens of countries in the region and around the world in support of their teaching.
AMB Limbert, from Page 9
boot from the snake’s neck and risk it turning around and biting us? Should Iran trust that if it gives way in even the slightest, the U.S. simply won’t use its boot to squash it completely?” What the students heard from the Iranian side they did not always like or accept. But they received a CENTER FOR MIDDLE new appreciation that international relations often involves contradictory views of the world – views that we need to understand even if we do not agree with them.
EAST AND ISLAMIC STUDIES Director Brannon Wheeler 410-293-6307 bwheeler@usna.edu Deputy Director Mark Reese 410-293-2990 reese@usna.edu Administrative Manager Christopher Simpson 410-293-2993 csimpson@usna.edu
www.usna.edu/MiddleEast