Middle Eastern Studies

Middle Eastern Studies is an area of study anchored in the four major languages of the Middle East. Arabic (the Arab countries and North Africa), Hebrew (Israel), Persian (Iran) and Turkish (Turkey).

The research area has roots in the early history of the University of Copenhagen with the establishment of a chair in Hebrew in 1536. From the 17th Century Arabic was taught from the 20th Century Turkish and Persian were added. In the 1990s, the areas merged. Since then, Middle Eastern Languages and Societies have covered a broad range of humanistic and social-scientific approaches to studying the modern Middle East in particular. Geographically the area covers a region spanning North Africa and West and Central Asia also known as the MENA region.

Scholars connected to the research area contribute to international scholarship on the Middle East in history and the present day with a particular focus on media, politics, religion, literature and societal dynamics.

In addition, researchers cater research-based knowledge to public and private actors in Denmark and abroad. In particular, scholars excel in providing knowledge for Danish and international media coverage of politics and society in the Middle East.