Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies
Encyclopedia
The Moshe Dayan Center for Middle Eastern and African Studies is an interdisciplinary research center based in Israel
and devoted to the study of the modern history and contemporary affairs of Africa
and the Middle East
.
The Center seeks to impart an understanding of Middle Eastern past and present to academic and general audiences, in Israel and abroad.
It is part of the School of History and the Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities at Tel Aviv University
.
The Moshe Dayan Center is the eldest, and so far largest, institution of its kind in Israel.
Over the years, it has played a renowned role in illuminating the Middle East
, through research, publications, conferences, documentary collections, and public service. Its mission has been to bring scholarly objectivity to the analysis of subjects that often stir passions. The Moshe Dayan Center does not take positions or recommend policies. It seeks to inform the academic community, policy makers, journalists, and the general public about the complexities of the Middle East, and so advance peace through understanding.
Some of its programs are in partnership with the Council of Higher Education of the Republic of Turkey and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
. Its other foreign connections include Council on Foreign Relations
in New York
, the Turkish Foreign Policy Institute in Ankara
, Royal Institute of International Affairs in London
, Emory University
, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
, and Middle East Technical University
(METU) in Ankara.
in 1959. In 1965, the Institute was incorporated into Tel Aviv University
. The university in turn established the Moshe Dayan Center in 1983, combining the Shiloah Institute and documentation units that concerned themselves with the Middle East. The Ungerleider family, among other generous friends of the late Moshe Dayan
, provided the Center's endowment.
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
and devoted to the study of the modern history and contemporary affairs of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
and the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
The Center seeks to impart an understanding of Middle Eastern past and present to academic and general audiences, in Israel and abroad.
It is part of the School of History and the Lester and Sally Entin Faculty of Humanities at Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
.
Overview
The Moshe Dayan Center is governed by an Israeli Board of Governors, on the advice of an International Advisory Council. It is administered by an academic director. The Center is funded by the University, an endowment, research grants, and contributions.The Moshe Dayan Center is the eldest, and so far largest, institution of its kind in Israel.
Over the years, it has played a renowned role in illuminating the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, through research, publications, conferences, documentary collections, and public service. Its mission has been to bring scholarly objectivity to the analysis of subjects that often stir passions. The Moshe Dayan Center does not take positions or recommend policies. It seeks to inform the academic community, policy makers, journalists, and the general public about the complexities of the Middle East, and so advance peace through understanding.
Some of its programs are in partnership with the Council of Higher Education of the Republic of Turkey and the Konrad Adenauer Foundation
Konrad Adenauer Foundation
The Konrad Adenauer Foundation is a German political party foundation associated with the centre-right Christian Democratic Union . The foundation's headquarters are located in Saint Augustine and Berlin. Globally, the KAS has 78 offices and runs programs in over 100 countries...
. Its other foreign connections include Council on Foreign Relations
Council on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, the Turkish Foreign Policy Institute in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, Royal Institute of International Affairs in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Emory University
Emory University
Emory University is a private research university in metropolitan Atlanta, located in the Druid Hills section of unincorporated DeKalb County, Georgia, United States. The university was founded as Emory College in 1836 in Oxford, Georgia by a small group of Methodists and was named in honor of...
, Washington Institute for Near East Policy
Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The Washington Institute for Near East Policy is a think tank based in Washington, D.C. focused on United States foreign policy in the Middle East. It was established by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee in 1985...
, and Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University
Middle East Technical University is a public technical university located in Ankara, Turkey...
(METU) in Ankara.
History
The Israel Oriental Society established the Reuven Shiloah InstituteReuven Shiloah
Reuven Shiloah was the first Director of the Mossad from 1949 to 1952. Born in Ottoman ruled Jerusalem as Reuven Zaslanski, he would later shorten his last name to Zaslani and use the codeword Shiloah. From an Orthodox Jewish family and with a rabbi for a father, Shiloah abandoned the religious...
in 1959. In 1965, the Institute was incorporated into Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University
Tel Aviv University is a public university located in Ramat Aviv, Tel Aviv, Israel. With nearly 30,000 students, TAU is Israel's largest university.-History:...
. The university in turn established the Moshe Dayan Center in 1983, combining the Shiloah Institute and documentation units that concerned themselves with the Middle East. The Ungerleider family, among other generous friends of the late Moshe Dayan
Moshe Dayan
Moshe Dayan was an Israeli military leader and politician. The fourth Chief of Staff of the Israel Defense Forces , he became a fighting symbol to the world of the new State of Israel...
, provided the Center's endowment.