“Islam and the Modern World” will be the topic of a guest lecture given by Akbar Ahmed, holder of the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies at American University in Washington, D.C., Thursday, Nov. 6, at 3 p.m. at the David M. Kennedy Center for International Studies conference room, 238 Herald R. Clark Building, at Brigham Young University.
Ahmed is conducting a cross-country study of American society through the experiences of its Muslim community. During the year-long study, Ahmed and four student assistants will also research perceptions of Americans regarding their Muslim neighbors. Information on their research is available at journeyintoamerica.wordpress.com and will eventually be published in the book, “Journey into America.”
Called “the world’s leading authority on contemporary Islam” by the BBC, Ahmed appears regularly on national broadcast news in the U.S., Canada, U.K. and Pakistan.
Ahmed previously served as high commissioner of Pakistan to Great Britain and has advised Prince Charles and met with President George W. Bush. In September 2008, he was appointed the first Distinguished Chair for Middle East/Islamic Studies at the U.S. Naval Academy.
Ahmed's most recent book, “Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization,” is published by the Brookings Institution Press. He is currently a visiting fellow at the Brookings Institution in addition to his tenured appointment at American University.
This lecture will be archived online. Visit kennedy.byu.edu for a full schedule of David M. Kennedy Center events. For more information, contact Lee Simons at (801) 422-2652 or lee_simons@byu.edu.
Writer: Brady Toone
