Bio of Najib Ghadbia
Dr. Najib Ghadbian (ghadbian@islam-democracy.org) is an Assistant Professor of Political Science and Middle East Studies at the University of Arkansas. Ghadbian s book, Democratization and the Islamists Challenge in the Arab World, was published by Westview Press in 1997. A revised and updated Arabic edition was published in Amman and Beirut in 2002.
His research focuses on the struggle between ruling elites and Islamists. In this struggle, what common orientations unite the polity and how can disagreements be addressed? What is the place of Islam in politics? How do Islamists theorize about democracy? While some believe that Islam and democracy are incompatible, the majority of Islamists appear to believe the two are compatible and practice politics accordingly.
Dr. Ghadbian has published articles in English and Arabic in several journals including: Middle East Affairs Journal, New Political Science, Middle East Journal, Middle East Review of International Affairs, and al-Mustaqbal al-`Arabi. He has contributed political commentaries to several media outlets including: Local ABC, NBC, CBS, Abu Dhabi TV and Sharjah TV (UEA), NBN TV& Al-Manar TV (Lebanon), The Arabic Monte Carlo & BBC. He s been a frequent political commentator for al-Jazeera Satellite TV Channel since January 2000. Prior to his joining the University of Arkansas, he worked as a research analyst at the Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi, from 1995-1998, where he headed the media unit and served on the administrative board. Ghadbian s research interests include political currents & democratization in the Arab world, Syrian politics, Islamic movements, US-ME relations, and politics in the Arabian Gulf.
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Last update:
2005-02-03
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