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Accompanying Conditions
Today German university studies of Islam and the Muslim world are not only confronted by transformed perspectives as part of interdisciplinary cultural research. The arising of minority societies in Europe also endows such studies with special significance as part of the dialogue between cultures within our society.
That is why in a stocktaking of Oriental Studies in 1999 representatives of the specializations involved emphasized how very necessary it is to give support to this branch of study and the institutes which uphold it. The Federal Republic of Germany - they stated - cannot afford to renounce a broad "long-distance competence" such as bears fruit in a highly-specialized discipline like Islamic Studies.
In a situation of ongoing obstacles to communication both between Western and Islamic societies and also within their frontiers -- and September 11, 2001, was also a turning-point here -- , it has become apparent in recent years that Orientalists are by no means restricted to academic concerns. They also take on public tasks. That is particularly demonstrated by the fact that scholarly analyses and statements increasingly contribute towards furthering more differentiated public perception of Islam and Islamic societies.
Islamic and Oriental Studies in Germany certainly operate at a high scholarly level. In many spheres - such as linguistics and the history of culture and religion - German contributions to research enjoy a high reputation in the Islamic world. That finds expression in a large number of research projects with foreign partner institutions (with Berlin's Wissenschaftskolleg as one of the motors of this development), in translations of important publications, in the appointment of German specialists to eminent positions abroad, and not least in the relatively high number of students or doctorial candidates from Islamic countries in German universities. In addition many German universities have close connections with universities in the Middle East and South-West Asia with regular exchanges of students and scholars.
Experiences make clear that a well-focused package of research and training potentials, aimed at effective interdisciplinary and international co-operation, points the way ahead at selected institutions and maybe beyond. Scholars and politicians concerned with higher education must direct their interest towards adapting existing institutions and those under construction to innovative forms of research and co-operation, and towards longer-term utilization of interdisciplinary programmes.
(ER)
 Lines of Development
Content
Accompanying Conditions
Further Reading
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