The Changing Face of Medieval Near Eastern Studies: Challenges and Strategies

Abstract

As we Embrace the new millennium, the debate concerning the ever-changing role of area studies in the humanities curriculum and in funding and academic policies continues. Middle Eastern Studies is facing a new policy and funding agenda, which is forcing institutions and departments to impose changes in teaching, research and funding and meant to bring Middle Eastern Studies in line with what are perceived as more relevant fields of study. Accordingly, some Near Eastern Studies programs, which have continued to experience a decline in funding levels, have over the past decade placed greater emphasis on interdisciplinary classes in comparative literature, history and religion. Sometimes these changes have led to the marginalization of early and medieval Islamic history, culture and religion at public institutions. Why offer a class in medieval Islamic history, while classes in the modern Middle East, comparative literature, or world history might attract higher undergraduate enrollment? Faculty have not always succeeded in convincing university administration of the need to offer undergraduate seminars on various aspects of Islamic history, or devised ways of making pre-modern Near Eastern history and religion more appealing to undergraduates.