Middle East and Islamic Studies
New at Brill in Open Access: Encyclopædia Iranica Online
Encyclopaedia Iranica is the most renowned reference work in the field of Iran studies. Founded by the late Professor Ehsan Yarshater and edited at the Ehsan Yarshater Center for Iranian Studies at Columbia University, this monumental international project brings together the scholarship about Iran of thousands of authors around the world.
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Sign upEncyclopædia Iranica Online Now Freely Accessible at Brill
The Ehsan Yarshater Center for Iranian Studies at Columbia University, New York, and Brill are delighted to announce that the Encyclopædia Iranica Online is now freely accessible at Brill’s Reference Works Platform. Encyclopædia Iranica is the comprehensive academic reference work dedicated to the study of Iranian civilization in the Middle East, the Caucasus, Central Asia, and the Indian subcontinent.
Ancient Iran Series Added to Brill’s Publishing Portfolio
As part of their growing portfolio in Middle East and Islamic Studies, Brill has signed an agreement for the take-over of the book series Ancient Iran Series. With its coverage of ancient, pre-, and early-Islamic Iran, this book series complements other book series with a more modern focus on this geographical area, as well as the various other journals and encyclopaedias Brill publishes in this field.
Read an interview with Geert Jan van Gelder
The longstanding series Handbook of Oriental Studies. Section 1: The Near and Middle East recently reached its 150th volume by publishing the special Prominent Murder Victims of the Pre- and Early Islamic Periods Including the Names of Murdered Poets. We caught up with Geert Jan van Gelder, editor and translator of the volume.
Acquisitions Editors
Brill
Maurits van den Boogert
Nicolette van der Hoek
Abdurraouf Oueslati
Teddi Dols
Vandenhoeck & Ruprecht
Jehona Kicaj
Middle East and Islamic Studies
Political life continued its slide towards autocracy, with the leading Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) monopolising political space in parliament and in government organs across the country. Disregarding opinions of the opposition and critiques by experts, commentators, the remaining independent press and donor countries, the government displayed a curious mixture of insecurity, authoritarianism and arrogance in its behaviour, which did not augur well for national politics. The ruling party's intention to fight for survival and complete dominance at all costs was no longer hidden, while for the international community the overriding mantra was ‘economic growth’. The EPRDF was centred on Prime Minister Meles Zenawi, the undisputed leader who took no risks and showed no interest in national compromise or inclusive politics. No observer could claim that Ethiopia was on the right political track, as respect for human rights, civil liberties and equity registered no significant progress. The popular opposition leader Birtukan Mideqsa, released in 2007, was again imprisoned on flimsy grounds, as part of further moves to undermine and fragment the legal opposition.