Ever wondered how long modern humans have traipsed the earth? Hint: it’s been at least 100,000 years. In this video we talk to Professor Nick Conard about his research on that question, and the origins of human culture. He shares experiences in archeological fieldwork, especially in Syria and Iran. Conard’s main areas of research include: Paleolithic archaeology; lithic, taphonomic, faunal and spatial analysis of archaeological sites; Pleistocene chronostratigraphy; evolution and dispersal of modern humans; environmental reconstruction and settlement history of western Eurasia and Africa, as w ..read more

On Thursday, June 16th John Quigley, Professor, Ohio State’s Moritz College of Law spoke about international law and how it has played a role in Jerusalem since the formation of the state of Israel. He discussed the status of Jerusalem, especially how it has evolved since 1947. In addition to this topic, Professor Quigley’s research interests include East European Law, International Law, and Human Rights. His books include, Consular Law and Practice (co-authored with Luke T. Lee), Oxford University Press 2008, Soviet Legal Innovation and the Law of the Western World, Cambridge U Press 2007, Th ..read more

“The Regime Change Consensus” by Ohio State University Mershon Fellow, Joseph Stieb, explains how the post-Cold War U.S. ideas and narratives about containment led to its invasion of #Iraq “a decision that ended in disaster both for Americans and Iraqis.” We discussed this topic, along with other projects he is working on. In the 1990's, after the first Gulf War, the concern was about nuclear weapons, not terrorism. Over the course of that decade, however, and up to the bombings on September 11th 2001, the consensus changed to interpret the Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, as not only a nucle ..read more

Dr. Alam Payind discusses the current troop withdrawal from Afghanistan, Wednesday, July 21 at 10:00am Eastern Daylight Time. Unfortunately, Taliban rule is taking hold and women's rights, minority rights are already under threat. Thousands are fleeing the country due to Taliban brutality. The Taliban promises to bring shar'ia law, to stop drugs, and their propagandistic claims of being the "winner" in the fight against foreign occupation are effective in many areas who are accepting their leadership. Dr. Payind explained this as a case of "the drowning person grasping at foam," a Persian sayi ..read more

Professor Lesley Ferris joined us on July 7th. Distinguished Arts and Humanities Professor of Theatre Emerita, Department of Theatre, Film and Media Arts, director of the On the Front Lines project, Dr. Ferris discussed her international theatre work and highlighted her research on women in theatre. Lesley Ferris co-founded Palindrome Productions, a London based theatre company that simultaneously stages her work in Britain. A truly international scholar, she has brought the voices and creative works of authors from the Middle East to Ohio State University ..read more

What can film teach us about Israeli society and its diversity? How does it position different cultural communities within Israel and the global context? We delve into these questions with Professor Naomi Brenner for a fascinating discussion ..read more

Dr. Alam Payind, Director of the Middle East Studies Center, discusses the implications of the Biden administration's intention to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. The consequences of U.S. troops withdrawing from Afghanistan could be serious, especially with regard to women and minorities. Comparisons between Afghanistan today, and the situation after the Soviet troop withdrawal in 1989 put the country's status as a state (or failed state) into historical perspective ..read more

Professor John Casterline talks about how the Middle East stands out, from a global perspective, in terms of demographic dynamics and various family outcomes (marriage, childbearing). In recent decades the Middle East has followed different demographic paths than other regions, and Professor Casterline has conducted research on this phenomenon. He is Director of OSU’s Institute for Population Research ..read more

On Wednesday, May 12th we spoke with Professor Jane Hathaway about the Ottoman origins of the modern Middle East. We explored the social, cultural, and economic processes that helped form what is now known as the Middle East in all its richness and diversity. Dr. Hathaway addressed some of the prominent historical narratives, such as the idea of steady decline. Such narratives aren't helpful in explaining historical challenges faced by the Ottoman empire. Dr. Hathaway discussed these challenges in terms of crises and adaptations that occurred ..read more

Water and soil are critical components of food security. But their importance to human life is not only enshrined in science, they have also been revered in religion for thousands of years. Both of these elements can be found in religious scriptures as sacred and highly protected. Mediterranean and Asian religious traditions, such as the ancient Greek pantheon, Buddhism, Hinduism, and the Abrahamic religions of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam, emphasize our responsibility to take care of life-sustaining elements of the earth. In "Soil and Sanskriti” (2013) Dr. Lal's explain how the traditions ..read more