November 29, 2001

Colloquium Topic: Why Bin Laden?

The speaker will discuss the rise of militant Islamic movements in the Middle East since the late 1970s leading to Usamah Bin Laden's al-Qa'idah organization. He will also discuss in tandem the use by these organizations, of violence against the United States and the West in general reaching the crescendo of September 11, 2001.

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Colloquium Speaker: Marius Deeb

Professor Marius Deeb received his B.A. and M.A. from the American University of Beirut, and his D. Phil in Politics from Oxford University where he studied under the eminent Arabist and Islamist Professor Albert Hourani. He is currently a professor at Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies teaching courses on the Politics and History of the Middle East and in particular on Islam and Politics. He has previously taught at Indiana University, Kent State University, American University of Beirut, and Georgetown University and was a visiting professor at Princeton University and Oxford University. Dr. Deeb has published several books and numerous articles. The books include, Party Politics in Egypt, The Lebanese Civil War, Libya Since the Revolution co-authored with Mary-Jane Deeb, and the forthcoming Syria's War on Lebanon and the Peace Process 1974-2001.