Over the past five decades Middle East studies have had a profound impact on the region. It has long been less an academic field than an ideological battlefield— and here is my report from the front.
Thank you for your incisive article Michael. Unfortunately, my mother who lived in Palestine of the 30s and 40s realized there could never be peace between the Arabs and Jews. Many don’t realize there were pograms against Jews in Palestine. Her conclusion was, that there can never be peace when there is so much hatred still stands. That hatred has grown exponentially since those days.
What we today call the Middle East emerged out of the collapse of Ottoman and European imperialism. The Turks were not the most benevolent or progressive overlords to their vassal territories leaving them backward in impoverished as the Europeans stepped in. Both the British and the French had their own rebuilding and reorganization to attend to following WWII so nation-building in the tumultuous Middle East took a back seat to European domestic affairs.
One aspect your analysis ignores is Soviet influence in the region countering more liberal and capitalistic European influences. I suggest it was the strong influence of Islam in the region that prevented the Soviets from making much progress there. Still, the influence of the Cold War rivalry was felt strongly in the region and added to the confusion of "do-it-yourself" nation-building.
I am not sure of how much academic "influence" Arab "endowments" to elite European and American universities had other than to get preference for acceptance of the children of the elite for enrollment. I am sure the Arab League has lobbied Western institutions in attempts to get their voices heard and recognized. The West certainly does the same (probably less successfully) lobbying the rich oil states for favor.
Scientific deductive reasoning was invented by the West so we should have the skills to test hypotheses and make research-backed analyses. If this failed in Middle East studies, it is probably failing elsewhere. The problem then is bigger than misunderstanding the dynamics of the Middle East but more troubling wide spread than a single academic department. If we're failing in Middle Eastern research, you can bet were are doing as bad or worse elsewhere (economics has my vote). We have a lot of crucial existentials on our plate right now and Middle East studies probably shouldn't have the stature that it does in the overall scheme of things.
Can you name even one living being who possesses the wisdom, integrity, humility and sincerity to unite the entire world in a mutually respectful perception of the “truth”?
I’ve been waiting for the Messiah to reveal this unifying truth but perhaps he’s already arrived.
You offer an elegant solution, but where will the future scholars, free of the current political biases come from? And who will create the curriculum needed to instruct future students especially given the funding sources you cited and the virtual control that MESA currently exerts.
Thank you, Dr. Oren, for your in-depth analysis. Perhaps it's time to rename all Middle East Studies Departments as Edward Said Schools.
I wonder what other key factors can be considered in addition to the influence of Qatari money. After all, a few billion is not that much. Why did the musings of Edward Said and the provocative nonsense of Derrida gain so much influence? I also wonder about the role of American Jews in supporting these anti-Israel intellectual movements. Before October 8, many American Jews joined marches led by the same bigots we see now, such as BLM marches or the women's march with Linda Sarsour at the helm. How many Jewish professors have been teaching Edward Said-based anti-Israel courses all around the country? And how many prominent Jews are sitting on University boards that hire university presidents whose primary goal is to implement bigoted DEI policies? I would guess that American Jews have contributed far more to American universities than Qatar, albeit without the explicit strings attached, in support of the same departments, professors, and ideology. In short, what has been the role of the American Jewish community in incubating the antisemitic pus that finally burst through?
An elegant solution indeed. Difficult as it seems, the only solution is strength in our own values, fidelity with the truth and courage to espouse them. Individuals always show the way. Just like Dr. Oren is.
Thanks, hope this is widely read. I also hope someone takes on the role of examining the influence of Groton in shaping the pre-university mindset of so many of the failed US policymakers over the decades. Be well
for starters, mid east studies has to be purged of Saidism/Orientalism....at least it has be to up for "legitimate criticism" and not a canon that like the Quran was uncreated. But of course was conjured up by someone crafty enough to cobble together this crap based on third worldism....now the Arabs are moved from Caucasian wherre they resided to P O C no matter how fair skin, how European in their looks like the Lebanese and Syrians. The whole matter of Mid east studes has been infused with racism....with "WHITE" Jews as European interlopers with fantasies based on no historic facts. Jews who hate Israel say it is the same and was done without the APPROVAL of Muslim Arabs....or a permanent veto on Jewish rights.
Explains the unrealistic nature of much of America's largely failed Middle East policy of recent times.
Thank you for your incisive article Michael. Unfortunately, my mother who lived in Palestine of the 30s and 40s realized there could never be peace between the Arabs and Jews. Many don’t realize there were pograms against Jews in Palestine. Her conclusion was, that there can never be peace when there is so much hatred still stands. That hatred has grown exponentially since those days.
What we today call the Middle East emerged out of the collapse of Ottoman and European imperialism. The Turks were not the most benevolent or progressive overlords to their vassal territories leaving them backward in impoverished as the Europeans stepped in. Both the British and the French had their own rebuilding and reorganization to attend to following WWII so nation-building in the tumultuous Middle East took a back seat to European domestic affairs.
One aspect your analysis ignores is Soviet influence in the region countering more liberal and capitalistic European influences. I suggest it was the strong influence of Islam in the region that prevented the Soviets from making much progress there. Still, the influence of the Cold War rivalry was felt strongly in the region and added to the confusion of "do-it-yourself" nation-building.
I am not sure of how much academic "influence" Arab "endowments" to elite European and American universities had other than to get preference for acceptance of the children of the elite for enrollment. I am sure the Arab League has lobbied Western institutions in attempts to get their voices heard and recognized. The West certainly does the same (probably less successfully) lobbying the rich oil states for favor.
Scientific deductive reasoning was invented by the West so we should have the skills to test hypotheses and make research-backed analyses. If this failed in Middle East studies, it is probably failing elsewhere. The problem then is bigger than misunderstanding the dynamics of the Middle East but more troubling wide spread than a single academic department. If we're failing in Middle Eastern research, you can bet were are doing as bad or worse elsewhere (economics has my vote). We have a lot of crucial existentials on our plate right now and Middle East studies probably shouldn't have the stature that it does in the overall scheme of things.
Can you name even one living being who possesses the wisdom, integrity, humility and sincerity to unite the entire world in a mutually respectful perception of the “truth”?
I’ve been waiting for the Messiah to reveal this unifying truth but perhaps he’s already arrived.
You offer an elegant solution, but where will the future scholars, free of the current political biases come from? And who will create the curriculum needed to instruct future students especially given the funding sources you cited and the virtual control that MESA currently exerts.
Thank you, Dr. Oren, for your in-depth analysis. Perhaps it's time to rename all Middle East Studies Departments as Edward Said Schools.
I wonder what other key factors can be considered in addition to the influence of Qatari money. After all, a few billion is not that much. Why did the musings of Edward Said and the provocative nonsense of Derrida gain so much influence? I also wonder about the role of American Jews in supporting these anti-Israel intellectual movements. Before October 8, many American Jews joined marches led by the same bigots we see now, such as BLM marches or the women's march with Linda Sarsour at the helm. How many Jewish professors have been teaching Edward Said-based anti-Israel courses all around the country? And how many prominent Jews are sitting on University boards that hire university presidents whose primary goal is to implement bigoted DEI policies? I would guess that American Jews have contributed far more to American universities than Qatar, albeit without the explicit strings attached, in support of the same departments, professors, and ideology. In short, what has been the role of the American Jewish community in incubating the antisemitic pus that finally burst through?
An elegant solution indeed. Difficult as it seems, the only solution is strength in our own values, fidelity with the truth and courage to espouse them. Individuals always show the way. Just like Dr. Oren is.
Thanks, hope this is widely read. I also hope someone takes on the role of examining the influence of Groton in shaping the pre-university mindset of so many of the failed US policymakers over the decades. Be well
for starters, mid east studies has to be purged of Saidism/Orientalism....at least it has be to up for "legitimate criticism" and not a canon that like the Quran was uncreated. But of course was conjured up by someone crafty enough to cobble together this crap based on third worldism....now the Arabs are moved from Caucasian wherre they resided to P O C no matter how fair skin, how European in their looks like the Lebanese and Syrians. The whole matter of Mid east studes has been infused with racism....with "WHITE" Jews as European interlopers with fantasies based on no historic facts. Jews who hate Israel say it is the same and was done without the APPROVAL of Muslim Arabs....or a permanent veto on Jewish rights.
Thoughtful, thank you
Outstanding observations.
Wisdom and experience personified.
Very clear-eyed.