Previous News
New Book: What Is Constructivist About Realism?: Constructivist Critiquing of the Realist Paradigm in International Relations Author: Dr. Ahmed Ali Salem, Associate Professor and Assistant Director
This book is an in-depth analysis of the classic works of leading theorists in the realist school of international relations. It criticizes the works of Carr, Morgenthau and Waltz, and their contributions to the continuous building and rebuilding of realism. It highlights their problematic assumptions, internal inconsistencies and failures to address important aspects of international relations. It also criticizes later realist attempts to fix serious problems of Waltz’s theory in order to save the realist paradigm in international relations. Criticisms are based on a constructivist point of view The first argument is that at least some constructivist theories are compatible with realism in spite of a general lack of recognition of this compatibility in the international relations literature. The second argument is that constructivism is embedded in realism. The realist paradigm was founded and developed in part on ideational concepts later claimed by social constructivists. The third argument is that realism also has something to offer constructivism, especially the potential of solving serious constructivist puzzles, notably the insufficiency of the logic of appropriateness.
See the Amazon link: http://www.amazon.com/Constructivist-About-Realism-Ahmed-Salem/dp/3659209724/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1344947596&sr=1-2
************************************
Congratulation for Dr. Hassanein Ali
Hassanein Ali, Professor in the Institute for Islamic World Studies has won the Arab Award in Social Sciences and Humanities for the current academic year (2011-2012), for a paper entitled “Political Aspects of the Human Development Crisis in the Arab Homeland: A Study of the Impacts of Political Authoritarianism on the Development Process.” The Award is granted by Qatar-based Arab Center for Research and Policy Studies, under the patronage of H.H. Sheikh Tamim ben Hamad Al-Thani, Qatar’s Crown Prince, during the Annual Conference for Social Sciences and Humanities held between 24 and 26 March 2012. Video Link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKjVSiLQlxY&feature=BFa&list=PL3DC44613621A793E&lf=plcp
************************************
Principles of Economics: Middle East Edition
Dr.Mohamed Rashwan, Assistant Professor
Mohamed Rashwan , Assistant Professor of Finance & Economics at Institute for Islamic World Studies Co-authoring a new book with Professor Mankiw from Harvard university “Principles of Economics: Middle East Edition” by Cengage Learning EMEA, ©2012. The Book is an essential reading for all students taking introductory Economics modules on undergraduate courses throughout the Middle East and will be of interest to students from the Middle East studying in other parts of the world. It is also ideal for use with the Economics component of MBA courses. It worth mention that the new book feature a whole chapter about Islamic Finance principles and applications. For more information about the book. Link to the publisher:http://edu.cengage.co.uk/catalogue/product.aspx?isbn=1408064308 , Link on Amazon: http://www.amazon.co.uk/Principles-Economics-N-Gregory-Mankiw/dp/toc/1408048574
************************************
Zayed University's Institute for Islamic World Studies introduces new Masters Programs
15 Dec 2011
Under the patronage and presence of His Excellency Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and President of Zayed University, the Institute for Islamic World Studies (IIWS) held an opening ceremony of its four new Masters Programs on Thursday, December 15,2011 at the new Zayed University Abu Dhabi campus at Khalifa City. IIWS launched Masters programs in “Contemporary Islamic Studies”, “Endowment Studies”, “Islamic Economics and Wealth Management” and “Islamic World Studies”. Dr. Ali Gomaa, Grand Mufti of Egypt in addition to specialists, practitioners and prominent figures in Islamic studies, attended the ceremony.
In His Excellency’s welcoming speech, Sheikh Nahayan expressed the great importance of this event as it highlights a major landmark of Zayed University’s continued endeavors in the various fields of specialization in Islamic Studies since the University was first established. The new IIWS Masters Programs aim to promote advanced research on the contribution of Muslims to science and culture to respond positively to the challenges of modernity and globalization. IIWs seeks to advance critical research and original scholarship on theoretical, empirical, and comparative Islamic studies. The new IIWS Masters Programs will be covered in 36 credit hours and will be taught by highly qualified experts and professors well-known nationally and Internationally.more
************************************
Political Violence Phenomenon in the Arab World
Prof. Hassanein Ali
Edition: Third (2011)
This third edition of Political Violence Phenomenon in the Arab World is published at a time of a rising wave of revolutions and uprisings that have been engulfing the Arab region since late 2010. This study is a comparative quantitative analysis of the phenomenon of political violence in Arab countries between 1971 and 2010. It addresses two forms of political violence: first, state violence of ruling regimes against opposing political and social forces, that aims at maintaining the ruling regimes in power; and second, people violence of segments and groups of the citizenry against the ruling regimes. The book also analyzes the structural causes of political violence in the Arab World , which include political authoritarianism, lack of democracy, the aggravation of economic and social problems, spread of corruption, lack of social justice, the array of human rights violation forms, and dependency.
************************************
The Islamic Law of War: Justifications and Regulations
Dr. Ahmed AlDawoody , Assistant Professor
Palgrave Macmillan (New York: March 2011).
Al-Dawoody examines the justifications and regulations for going to war in both international and domestic armed conflicts under Islamic law. Examined are the various kinds of use of force by both state and non-state actors in order to determine the nature of jihad, the Islamic law of war, and specifically whether Islamic law sanctions “holy war,” offensive war, or only defensive war. It also investigates the permissibility under Islamic law of resorting to the use of force to overthrow the governing regime and discusses the Islamic treatment of terrorism and the punishment of terrorists and their accomplices. This timely work answers the questions of why and how Muslims resort to the use of force.more
************************************
Three IIWS professors contributed to a newly released book
Hamdy Hassan, Mohamed Ashour, and Ahmed Salem, all profess ors of political science and African studies at the Institute for Islamic World Studies, are three contributors to “Regional Integration in Africa: Bridging the North – Sub-Saharan Divide” – a book released this month by the Pretoria-based Africa Institute of South Africa. Hamdy Hassan edited and introduced the book. Mohamed Ashour wrote a chapter that discusses critically the foundations of Afro-Arab relations, with emphasis on Libya’s roles. Ahmed Salem wrote another chapter on the myth and realty of the North Africa versus sub-Saharan spilt in the Nile Basin. The book is available in both Arabic and English. For more information,
************************************