Bernard Lewis
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| - | '''Bernard Lewis''', [[Fellow of the British Academy|FBA]] (born May 31, 1916) is a British-American historian specializing in [[oriental studies]] who is also known as a [[public intellectual]] and [[pundit (expert)|political commentator]]. He is the Cleveland E. Dodge [[Emeritus|Professor Emeritus]] of Near Eastern Studies at [[Princeton University]]. Lewis' expertise is in the [[history of Islam]] and the interaction between Islam and the West, and is especially famous in academic circles for his works on the history of the [[Ottoman Empire]]. | + | '''Bernard Lewis''', [[Fellow of the British Academy|FBA]] (31 May 1916 – 19 May 2018) was a [[British American]] historian specializing in [[oriental studies]]. He was also known as a [[public intellectual]] and [[pundit (expert)|political commentator]]. Lewis was the Cleveland E. Dodge [[Emeritus|Professor Emeritus]] of Near Eastern Studies at [[Princeton University]]. Lewis' expertise was in the [[history of Islam]] and the interaction between Islam and the West. He was also noted in academic circles for his works on the [[history of the Ottoman Empire]]. |
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| + | Lewis served as a soldier in the British Army in the [[Royal Armoured Corps]] and [[Intelligence Corps (United Kingdom)|Intelligence Corps]] during the [[Second World War]] before being seconded to the [[Foreign Office]]. After the war, he returned to the [[School of Oriental and African Studies]] at the [[University of London]] and was appointed to the new chair in [[Near East|Near]] and Middle Eastern History. | ||
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| + | In 2007 and 1999, respectively, Lewis was called "the West’s leading interpreter of the Middle East" and "the most influential postwar historian of Islam and the Middle East." His advice was frequently sought by [[neoconservative]] policymakers, including the [[Presidency of George W. Bush|Bush administration]]. However, his support of the [[Iraq War]] and [[neoconservative]] ideals have since come under scrutiny. | ||
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| + | Lewis was also notable for his public debates with [[Edward Said]], who accused Lewis and other [[orientalists]] of misrepresenting Islam and serving the purposes of imperialist domination, to which Lewis responded by defending Orientalism as a facet of humanism and accusing Said of politicizing the subject. Lewis argued that the deaths of the [[Armenian Genocide]] resulted from a struggle between two nationalistic movements These views prompted a number of scholars to accuse Lewis of [[genocide denial]] and resulted in a successful civil lawsuit against him in a French court. | ||
| ==See also== | ==See also== | ||
Revision as of 09:34, 20 May 2018
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Bernard Lewis, FBA (31 May 1916 – 19 May 2018) was a British American historian specializing in oriental studies. He was also known as a public intellectual and political commentator. Lewis was the Cleveland E. Dodge Professor Emeritus of Near Eastern Studies at Princeton University. Lewis' expertise was in the history of Islam and the interaction between Islam and the West. He was also noted in academic circles for his works on the history of the Ottoman Empire.
Lewis served as a soldier in the British Army in the Royal Armoured Corps and Intelligence Corps during the Second World War before being seconded to the Foreign Office. After the war, he returned to the School of Oriental and African Studies at the University of London and was appointed to the new chair in Near and Middle Eastern History.
In 2007 and 1999, respectively, Lewis was called "the West’s leading interpreter of the Middle East" and "the most influential postwar historian of Islam and the Middle East." His advice was frequently sought by neoconservative policymakers, including the Bush administration. However, his support of the Iraq War and neoconservative ideals have since come under scrutiny.
Lewis was also notable for his public debates with Edward Said, who accused Lewis and other orientalists of misrepresenting Islam and serving the purposes of imperialist domination, to which Lewis responded by defending Orientalism as a facet of humanism and accusing Said of politicizing the subject. Lewis argued that the deaths of the Armenian Genocide resulted from a struggle between two nationalistic movements These views prompted a number of scholars to accuse Lewis of genocide denial and resulted in a successful civil lawsuit against him in a French court.
See also
- “The Return of Islam,” published in Commentary magazine in January 1976.
- “The Roots of Muslim Rage"
