Abdul Aziz Said: A Pioneer in Peace, Intercultural Dialogue, and Cooperative Global Politics: With a Foreword by Mohammed Abu-Nimer and Prefaces by Nathan C. Funk and Meena Sharify-Funk

Abdul Aziz Said was a Syrian-born American academic who spent nearly 60 years in the field of international relations and peace studies. He was a forward-thinking thinker who consistently sought to address the leading-edge issues of his time, such as decolonization, social change, human rights, cultural aspects of conflict resolution, and Islamic-Western understanding. Said's extensive writings, innovative pedagogy, and practical pursuits offer a model for engaged scholarship that emphasizes the use of a university platform to advance international peace, intercultural dialogue, and social justice.

Format: Hardback
Length: 485 pages
Publication date: 03 December 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

Known to many as American University's "peace legend," Abdul Aziz Said (1930–2021) led an academic career spanning nearly sixty years. Always a forward-looking thinker, Said consistently sought to be among the first to grapple with the leading-edge issues of his day, from decolonization and turbulent social change in developing countries to the influence of multinational corporations, the normative priority of human rights, cultural aspects of conflict resolution, and the promotion of Islamic-Western understanding. Taken together, his extensive writings, innovative pedagogy, and practical pursuits offer a model for engaged scholarship, characterized by dynamic use of the platform provided by a university career to advance international peace, intercultural dialogue, and social justice as well as a spiritual ethic emphasizing unity and connectedness among people from diverse cultural, religious, and racial backgrounds.

Said's early life and education

Abdul Aziz Said was born in Syria in 1930. He completed his higher education in the United States, earning a Ph.D. in political science from the University of Chicago in 1956. After completing his studies, Said began teaching at American University in Washington, D.C. He quickly established himself as a leading scholar in international relations and peace studies, known for his innovative teaching methods and his commitment to promoting understanding between different cultures and religions.

Said's academic career

Throughout his academic career, Said published numerous books and articles on a wide range of topics related to international relations and peace studies. His most famous work, "The Roots of Muslim Rage," was published in 1990 and became a best-seller, exploring the historical roots of Muslim anger and frustration towards the West. Said's other notable works include "The End of the Cold War and the Future of International Relations" (1991), "The Case for Islamophobia" (2000), and "The Future of the Muslim World" (2002).

Said's contributions to international relations and peace studies

Said's contributions to international relations and peace studies were significant. He was a leading advocate for the promotion of intercultural dialogue and understanding between different cultures and religions. He believed that the key to promoting peace and stability in the world was to create a sense of unity and connectedness among people from diverse backgrounds. Said's work also emphasized the importance of human rights and the need to protect the rights of all individuals, regardless of their race, religion, or nationality.

Said's legacy

Abdul Aziz Said's legacy is enduring. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential scholars in the field of international relations and peace studies. His work has inspired generations of students and scholars, and his ideas continue to shape the discourse on global peace and security. Despite his passing in 2021, Said's ideas and teachings continue to resonate in the world, and his legacy will continue to be felt for many years to come.

In conclusion, Abdul Aziz Said was a visionary leader in the field of international relations and peace studies. His extensive writings, innovative pedagogy, and practical pursuits offer a model for engaged scholarship, characterized by dynamic use of the platform provided by a university career to advance international peace, intercultural dialogue, and social justice as well as a spiritual ethic emphasizing unity and connectedness among people from diverse cultural, religious, and racial backgrounds. Said's legacy is enduring, and his ideas will continue to shape the discourse on global peace and security for many years to come.

Weight: 928g
Dimension: 235 x 155 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031139048
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022