This Blog is intended for use by students in the Islamic Middle East course at Northfield Mount Hermon School and guest students and teachers from other participating schools.
The January 12, 2008 issue of The Economist features a pair of very interesting articles: one addresses the current political, cultural, and social malaise in the Arab world, and, the other takes a look at the relationship between Islam and democracy.
Another bombing in Beirut! Read the story from the BBC. (More on the background of Lebanon’s political and social crisis)
In advance of our screening of Jack Shaheen’s film (based on his book by the same title), you may wish to look at the following review available via the NMH Virtual Desktop and ProQuest: William Booth, “Cast of Villains, The Washington Post, June 23, 2007. (More on the history of polemical attacks on Muslims)
More food [...]
Please read the first of two articles by David Fromkin, “How the Modern Middle East Map Came to be Drawn,” Smithsonian, May, 1991, 132ff., which are located under the “Background and Perspectives” section of the syllabus (follow this link to reach the article directly). Note that the second article by Fromkin - about Ataturk - will be [...]
During his speech in Abu Dhabi, UAE, Bush urged Arab allies to contain Iran’s growing power. He showed skepticism towards Iran’s agreement to answer questions about its past nuclear activities and criticized Iran for inhumanities and injustice while being gentle to the other Arab nations.
(See the New York Times article.)
(See BBC News Article.)
(Read [...]
Click here to reach the links to the readings for our discussion of stereotyping of Arabs and Muslims (the readings are in the “Background and Perspective” section of the syllabus web page). A written response to the Donadio piece is due.
The BBC is reporting that a new law passed by the Iraqi Parliament will allow Baathists, banned by the U.S. Coalition Provisional Authority in 2003, to become eligible again for public service. It was hoped the change would ease sectarian tensions in Iraq. (read the story) (additional background) (Benchmarks in the History of Iraq) Many, however, [...]
I’ve created a special section in the Supplemental Resources section of the course syllabus for articles on Pakistan and added a few from this week’s Economist Magazine as food for thought.
President Bush, meeting with Israeli and Palestinian leaders, has called for an end to Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories captured in the 1967 war.
See the BBC’s post Annapolis conference analysis (12.4.07) to familiarize yourselves with what is at stake in the Arab-Israeli peace conference as President Bush arrives in the region.
BBC Middle East