Maktaba مكتبة

A public educational foundation dedicated to scholarly research and informed debate on US interests in the Middle East.

Since its founding in 1922, Foreign Affairs has been the leading forum for serious discussion of American foreign policy and international affairs. It is published by the Council on Foreign Relations, a non-profit and nonpartisan membership organization dedicated to improving the understanding of U.S. foreign policy and international affairs through the free exchange of ideas.

CSIS provides strategic insights and policy solutions to decision makers in government, international institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

Several CERIS sponsored lectures that have been given at the University of Pittsburgh with topics relating to Islamic Studies are now available online, thanks to the University Center for International Studies' Portable International Lecture System (PILS). Go to link provided to download the following lectures:

* The Hysterical Road from 9-11 to Fallujah by Rami Khouri, Executive Editor of the Daily Star in Beirut (October 4, 2004)

America at a Crossroads was a major public television event premiering on PBS in April 2007 that explored the challenges confronting the post-9/11 world — including the war on terrorism, the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the experience of American troops serving abroad, the struggle for balance within the Muslim world, and global perspectives on America’s role overseas. For the eleven documentary episodes the Web site offers previews, interview clips, bios, and authors' writings, video diaries, a timeline, and valuable discussion guides and resource links related to content.

A recent broadcast by the American Public Media seeking fresh insight into the history and the human and religious dynamics of Islam's Sunni-Shia divide. Our guest says that it is not so different from dynamics in periods of Western Christian history. But he says that by bringing the majority Shia to power in Iraq, the U.S. has changed the religions dynamics of the Middle East. Available for download at link provided.

Founded in 1983, the National Council on U.S.-Arab Relations is an American non-profit, non-governmental, educational organization dedicated to improving American knowledge and understanding of the Arab world.

Part two of this documentary looks at the Nation of Islam's relationship in Pittsburgh, including frequent visits by Malcolm X, and the nation's evolution toward a more traditional Islam.

Finally, the film moves to the 70's and early 80's, when immigrant Muslims began to intermingle with indigenous Muslims and form their own communities. Also, time is spent to look at Muslims' current situation in Pittsburgh and search for solutions to improve the Muslim community.

Higher quality downloadable versions of the film are available at the following links:

Part One of "An Oral History of Islam in Pittsburgh" examines the evolution of Islam in Pittsburgh beginning with migrant ex-slaves in the post Civil War era, to the early twentieth century, when indigenous Muslims began collecting pieces of Islam to form their own communities. The film looks at pseudo-Islamic movements such as the Moorish Science Temple and the Nation of Islam, in addition to off-shoots of traditional Islam such as the Ahmadiyah movement, which were all part of Islam's evolution in the city's indigenous Muslim population.