Student interest in the Middle East and Islam has soared over the past few years, reflecting an ever-increasing dominance of the region's current state of affairs in American foreign policy and everyday life.
This phenomenon has been highlighted by the rise of the Middle Eastern and Islamic program (MEIS) at Boston College, now among the most popular minors at the University.
In an effort to meet rising demand and offer further opportunities for BC students, the Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies Student Association (MIESSA) today published its first semi-annual research journal called the Journal of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies.
The journal offers a platform for undergraduates to showcase their research in the field and foster an unbiased, research-driven dialogue about the Middle East. Following the recent trend of increasing research opportunities for undergraduates at BC, the journal will be aimed at providing undergraduates with an avenue of publication, which may have otherwise been closed until graduate school.
The first issue, which will be distributed today, includes research ranging from the Formation of Arabic Studies in Russia to minority politics in the Middle East.
The journal also covered the prestigious "Energy, International Security and the Middle East" lecture series hosted by MEIS and MIESSA, which brought prestigious speakers including former Ambassador Barbara Bodine and top Iranian expert Jim Walsh to the BC campus.
MIESSA, which held its elections last week, funds and publishes the journal with guidance from political science professor Kathleen Bailey.
Next year, the student group hopes to integrate the journal into a broader effort to promote the region through the continuance of the lecture series and other cultural events.
The journal will be circulated around campus and will be available to readers on MEIS' Web site.
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