Faculty Scholarship Profile: Ali Abdullatif Ahmida

Ali Ahmida's scholarship on North Africa, in general, and Libya, in particular, challenges Western conceptions about the histories and political cultures of these societies by refocusing attention on the social layers of this region.

Prof. Ahmida's book, The Making of Modern Libya, shows that Libyan society is complex and made up of various social classes, each one influencing the political life of the country.

This book analyzes the social, cultural, and historical background of modern Libya from the early 19th century through the end of the armed anti-colonial resistance. Prof. Ahmida challenges Eurocentric theories of social change that ignore the internal dynamics of native social history. Among other things, he shows that Sufi Islam, tribal military organization, and oral traditions were crucial in the fight against colonialism. He also illustrates that the political and cultural legacy of the resistance has been powerful, strengthening Libyan nationalism and leading to the revival of strong attachments to Islam and the clan.

"Few scholars are able to use Arabic, French, English, and Italian at such a level," writes, Edmund Burke III of the University of California, Santa Cruz. "There is no other work which has this range and ambition, and this will make a useful addition to our knowledge of modern Libyan history," Burke adds.

As editor of the recent, Beyond Colonialism and Nationalism in the Maghrib, Prof. Ahmida brings together a number of scholars to look at a variety of understudied phenomena and practices, such as the politics of dress, the issue of women, or the role of collaborators. Because of his approach, Prof. Ahmida has established himself as a serious voice in this field.

Prof. Ahmida earned his Ph.D. and M.A. in political science at the University of Washington in Seattle, and his B.A. in political science at Cairo University. He is associate professor of political science in the Department of History and Political Science. The courses he teaches range from "Globalization: Origins, Culture, and Politics" to "European Fascism" to "Egypt through the Eyes of Mahfouz."

In addition to his two books, he has published more than 20 scholarly articles and reviews and presented more than 15 papers at scholarly conferences. He also served as chair of the international conference, "The Arabs and America at the Turn of the 21st Century," held in Beirut, Lebanon in June 2000, organized by the Association of Arab American University Graduates.

In addition to his scholarship, Prof. Ahmida has garnered a reputation as a teacher and leader within the University. Last year students named him Faculty Community Builder of the Year, and in 2000, he was a finalist for the Teacher of the Year Award.

He is currently working on two projects: Oral Traditions, Society and Culture in Colonial Libya," commissioned by Greenwood Press, and The Political Economy of Nationalism in North Africa, 1789-1956.    
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