Majid Khadduri
Encyclopedia
Majid Khadduri (September 27, 1909 – January 25, 2007) was an Iraq
i–born founder of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Middle East Studies
program. Internationally, he was recognized as a leading authority on a wide variety of Islamic subjects, modern history and the politics of the Middle East. He was the author of more than 35 books in English and Arabic and hundreds of articles.
, Iraq
in 1909 where he lived until 1928, when he graduated high school. Afterwards he headed to Lebanon
and the American University of Beirut
, where he received his B.A. in 1932. He followed this up with a Ph. D
in International Law and Political Science in 1938. From 1939 to 1947 he worked for the Iraqi Ministry of Education and as a law professor at the Higher Teachers College. In 1946 he was a member of the first Iraqi delegation to the United Nations
and helped draft the organization's charter.
He had two brothers, Khalid, and Dulel, and two sister Mathela and Khairiya. He married Madjia Dawaff, who died in 1972, and had two children: Farid and Shirin, who in turn gave him three grandchildren. He died on January 25, 2007 at a care facility in Potomac, Maryland
.
, where he was a professor at Indiana University
and his alma mater, the University of Chicago, before settling at Johns Hopkins University
, where he founded the SAIS Middle Eastern Studies program and served until 1970. From 1960 to 1980 he served as director of Center for Middle East Studies. It was here that he offered some of the first courses on Islamic law in the nation. His graduates include:
Throughout his tenure, he was also a visiting professor at institutions such as Columbia University
, Harvard University
, the University of Virginia
and Georgetown University
. He also founded the Shaybani Society of International Law, the International Association of Middle East Studies and the University of Libya
where he served as dean in 1957.
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i–born founder of the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies
The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies , a division of Johns Hopkins University based in Washington, D.C., is one of the world's leading and most prestigious graduate schools devoted to the study of international affairs, economics, diplomacy, and policy research and...
Middle East Studies
Middle Eastern studies
Middle Eastern studies is a name given to a number of academic programs associated with the study of the history, culture, politics, economies, and geography of the Middle East, an area that is generally interpreted to cover a range of nations extending from North Africa in the west to the Chinese...
program. Internationally, he was recognized as a leading authority on a wide variety of Islamic subjects, modern history and the politics of the Middle East. He was the author of more than 35 books in English and Arabic and hundreds of articles.
Personal life
Khadduri was born in MosulMosul
Mosul , is a city in northern Iraq and the capital of the Ninawa Governorate, some northwest of Baghdad. The original city stands on the west bank of the Tigris River, opposite the ancient Assyrian city of Nineveh on the east bank, but the metropolitan area has now grown to encompass substantial...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
in 1909 where he lived until 1928, when he graduated high school. Afterwards he headed to Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
and the American University of Beirut
American University of Beirut
The American University of Beirut is a private, independent university in Beirut, Lebanon. It was founded as the Syrian Protestant College by American missionaries in 1866...
, where he received his B.A. in 1932. He followed this up with a Ph. D
Doctorate
A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder to teach in a specific field, A doctorate is an academic degree or professional degree that in most countries refers to a class of degrees which qualify the holder...
in International Law and Political Science in 1938. From 1939 to 1947 he worked for the Iraqi Ministry of Education and as a law professor at the Higher Teachers College. In 1946 he was a member of the first Iraqi delegation to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
and helped draft the organization's charter.
He had two brothers, Khalid, and Dulel, and two sister Mathela and Khairiya. He married Madjia Dawaff, who died in 1972, and had two children: Farid and Shirin, who in turn gave him three grandchildren. He died on January 25, 2007 at a care facility in Potomac, Maryland
Potomac, Maryland
Potomac is a census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland, United States, named for the nearby Potomac River. The population was 44,822 at the 2000 census. The Potomac area is known for its very affluent and highly-educated residents. In 2009 CNNMoney.com listed Potomac as the fourth...
.
Academic Life
After his experiences at the United Nations, Khadduri returned to the United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, where he was a professor at Indiana University
Indiana University
Indiana University is a multi-campus public university system in the state of Indiana, United States. Indiana University has a combined student body of more than 100,000 students, including approximately 42,000 students enrolled at the Indiana University Bloomington campus and approximately 37,000...
and his alma mater, the University of Chicago, before settling at Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
, where he founded the SAIS Middle Eastern Studies program and served until 1970. From 1960 to 1980 he served as director of Center for Middle East Studies. It was here that he offered some of the first courses on Islamic law in the nation. His graduates include:
- Elie Salem, former foreign minister of Lebanon
- Soliman Solaim, former Saudi ArabiaSaudi ArabiaThe Kingdom of Saudi Arabia , commonly known in British English as Saudi Arabia and in Arabic as as-Sa‘ūdiyyah , is the largest state in Western Asia by land area, constituting the bulk of the Arabian Peninsula, and the second-largest in the Arab World...
n commerce minister - Samuel W. LewisSamuel W. LewisSamuel Winfield Lewis is a retired American diplomat. During his lengthy career with the United States Department of State he served as Assistant Secretary of State for International Organization Affairs , U.S. ambassador to Israel and Director of Policy Planning...
, United States ambassadorAmbassadorAn ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to EgyptEgyptEgypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world... - Hermann EiltsHermann EiltsHermann Frederick Eilts was a United States Foreign Service Officer and diplomat. He served as an American ambassador to Saudi Arabia and Egypt, assisted Henry Kissinger's Mideast shuttle diplomacy effort, worked with Egyptian President Anwar el-Sadat throughout the Camp David Accords, and dodged...
, United States ambassador to IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea... - Malcolm Kerr, assassinated president of the American University of Beirut
Throughout his tenure, he was also a visiting professor at institutions such as Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
and Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
. He also founded the Shaybani Society of International Law, the International Association of Middle East Studies and the University of Libya
University of Libya
The University of Libya was a public university based in Tripoli and Benghazi, Libya. The university was established in 1955 and disestablished in 1973, when its colleges were split into two new universities: the Benghazi University in Benghazi, and the University of Tripoli in Tripoli.-Origins...
where he served as dean in 1957.
Honours and awards
- Philosophical Society grant
- Fellowship from the Ford FoundationFord FoundationThe Ford Foundation is a private foundation incorporated in Michigan and based in New York City created to fund programs that were chartered in 1936 by Edsel Ford and Henry Ford....
- Fulbright ProgramFulbright ProgramThe Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright-Hays Program, is a program of competitive, merit-based grants for international educational exchange for students, scholars, teachers, professionals, scientists and artists, founded by United States Senator J. William Fulbright in 1946. Under the...
grant - Rockefeller FoundationRockefeller FoundationThe Rockefeller Foundation is a prominent philanthropic organization and private foundation based at 420 Fifth Avenue, New York City. The preeminent institution established by the six-generation Rockefeller family, it was founded by John D. Rockefeller , along with his son John D. Rockefeller, Jr...
grant (three times) - Honorary LHDDoctor of Humane LettersThe degree of Doctor of Humane Letters is always conferred as an honorary degree, usually to those who have distinguished themselves in areas other than science, government, literature or religion, which are awarded degrees of Doctor of Science, Doctor of Laws, Doctor of Letters, or Doctor of...
s from John Hopkins and the State University of New YorkState University of New YorkThe State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus... - Egyptian Order of Merit, first class
- Order of Rafidain
- Honorary fellow of the Middle East Studies Association
- Member of the Academy of Arabic Language
- Member of the Iraqi Academy
Published works
- Modern Libya: A Study in Political Development (June 1963)
- Political Trends in the Arab World: The Role of Ideas and Ideals in Politics (January 1970)
- Arab Contemporaries: The Role of Personalities in Politics (June 1973)
- War and Peace in the Law of Islam (June 1977)
- Socialist Iraq: A Study in Iraqi Politics since 1968 (January 1978)
- Independent Iraq, Nineteen Thirty-Two to Nineteen Fifty-Eight: A Study in Iraqi Politics (June 1980)
- Arab Personalities in Politics (April 1981)
- Law in the Middle East: Origin and Development of Islamic Law (editor Herbert J. Liebesny) (October 1982)
- Political Trends in the Arab World: The Role of Ideas and Ideals (June 1983)
- The Arab Gulf States: Steps Toward Political Participation (with John Peterson) (February 1988)
- The Gulf War: The Origins and Implications of the Iraq-Iran Conflict (May 1988)
- War in the Gulf, 1990-91: The Iraq-Kuwait Conflict and Its Implications (with Edmund GhareebEdmund GhareebEdmund Ghareeb is a Lebanese-American Professor of International Studies at the American University in Washington...
) (August 2001) - The Islamic Conception of Justice (February 2002)
Works as Editor
- The Islamic Law of Nations: Shaybani's Siyar (February 2002)
- Al-Shafi'i's Risala: Treatise on the Foundations of Islamic Jurisprudence