Abdul Aziz Said
Born(1930-09-01)September 1, 1930
DiedJanuary 22, 2021(2021-01-22) (aged 90)
NationalitySyrian-American
Alma materAmerican University
OccupationProfessor
Years active1956–2015
Employer(s)School of International Service, American University
Websitewww.american.edu/sis/faculty/asaid.cfm

Abdul Aziz Said (September 1, 1930 – January 22, 2021)[1] was Professor Emeritus of International Relations in the School of International Service at American University, Washington, D.C., and founding Director of the university's International Peace and Conflict Resolution Division.[2] Said was well known for helping shift the focus of International Relations theory from real politic-based on the concept that the law of power governs states, to new world order-based on cooperation and common security.[3] Starting in the 1990s Said focused his work on peace and conflict resolution and later explored the relationship between spirituality and religion in international politics.[4]

Said was the first occupant of the Mohamed Said Farsi Chair of Islamic Peace and Director Emeritus and Founder of the Center for Global Peace. He was called by the university AU's “Living Legend of Peace”[5] and a singular institution promoting peace by the Washington Post Magazine.[6] He actively engaged in many conflict resolution projects, including the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the Iraq conflict.[7][8] Dr. Said holds the distinction of the longest teaching tenure at AU having started teaching in 1956 until retiring in 2015. He is the author and editor of 25 books and over 100 papers.[9] He developed over a dozen educational and research programs.[10] Said has served as an advisor to numerous US and international agencies, including the Carter and Bush administrations, the United Nations, the US Department of State, and UNESCO. He has also served on numerous Boards, including Human Rights International and The Center for Religion and Diplomacy.[11] He was the recipient of numerous awards, including The International Studies Association's “Distinguished Scholar in Peace Studies and the El-Hibri Peace Education Prize[12]

Editorial boards

Membership on boards of directors and/or advisors

Public service

US Government

Department of State

Defense, Lecturer

  • Army Infantry Academy, Fort Benning
  • Army Sergeant Academy, Fort Bliss
  • Industrial College of the Armed Forces
  • US Marine Corps and Command Academy and Staff College
  • US Air Force Academy
  • US Coast Guard Academy
  • US Naval War College
  • West Point Military Academy
  • US Information Agency (USIA), “Speaker and Specialist Program,” Lecturer throughout the Middle East and Persian Gulf, Europe, Latin and South America, North, East, and Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia (1964-1999)

White House

  • “Committee on the Islamic World,” Member, President Jimmy Carter Administration
  • Executive Office of the President, National Security Council, “Islam and US Foreign Policy,” Presenter, President Bill Clinton Administration
  • White House Annual Conference on Children and Youth, “Youth and Bureaucracy,” Presenter, President Richard Nixon Administration

International Public Service

  • Arab-Israeli Peace Dialogues (various Tunis, US, Austria, Jordan), Participant
  • Omani Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Diplomatic Institute, Committee Member

United Nations

University service

  • Committee on Academic Development, Chair
  • Faculty Relations Committee of the American University, Member and Chair
  • Library Committee of the American University, Chair
  • Presidential Search Committee of The American University, Member
  • School of International Service Term Faculty Action Committee, Member and Chair
  • School of International Service, International Relations Sub-Faculty, Chair
  • School of International Service, President of Faculty
  • School of International Service, Rank and Tenure Committee, Member and Chair
  • The American University Faculty Senate, Member and Chair
  • The American University, The Scholar Diplomat Program, Moderator
  • University Admissions Committee, Member and Chair
  • Various School of International Service Faculty Search Committees, Chair

Programmatic contributions

Contributions include developing the following educational, research and outreach programs and activities:

Honors, awards, and fellowships

Awards

  • Delta Phi Epsilon Pi, “Award for Service and Excellence”
  • “El-Hibri Peace Education Prize,” First Recipient (2007)
  • The Inter-American Defense College, “Diploma Honoris Causa” Continental Defense
  • International Political Science Association, “Teh-Kuang Chang Award for Outstanding Scholar on Asian and Pacific Studies Award” (2018)
  • International Studies Association, “Distinguished Scholar of Peace Studies Award”
  • The Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, Fourth Annual “Fellowship of Peace Award” (2007)
  • Mortar Board, “Outstanding Faculty Award”
  • The National Endowment for Democracy, Grantee
  • Phi Epsilon Pi National Jewish Fraternity, “Living Legend Award” (2004)
  • Search for Common Ground, “Certificate of Appreciation for Extraordinary Service”
  • The Rockefeller Foundation, Grantee
  • The United States Institute of Peace, Grantee
  • United States House of Representatives, “House Speaking Series Award”
  • Young Presidents’ Organization, Named among the “Top 200 YPO Lecturers Internationally”
  • Who’s Who in America, 43rd Edition, Listed

Scholarships and Named Funds

American University Awards

  • African Students’ Association Award
  • “Darrell Randall Award for Outstanding Service to the University”
  • Distinguished Service in the School of International Service: 1957-2015 (2015)
  • Distinguished Service to the University, College of Public Affairs
  • Faculty Excellence Award
  • Golden Eagles Reunion, Honorary Chairman (2009)
  • Graduate Student Association, “Outstanding Service Award”
  • Honors Program, Honors Professor of the Year (2007-2008)
  • Outstanding Contribution to Academic Development
  • Outstanding Scholarship, Research and Professional Contributions (2009)
  • Office of Multicultural Affairs, “Multicultural Award”
  • School of International Service Fall Annual Dinner, Honoree (2006)
  • University Faculty Outstanding Service
  • Washington Semester Program, “Best Speaker Award”

Selected works

See also

References

  1. ↑ "ABDUL AZIZ SAID Obituary - (1930 - 2021) - The Washington Post". Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  2. ↑ "Prof Emeritus". American University. Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  3. ↑ forthcoming book "Abdul Aziz Said Pioneer in Peace Paradigms, Cooperative Global Politics and International Engagement" edited by Dr. Meena Sharify-Funk and Dr. Nathan Funk.
  4. ↑ "Relationship between spirituality and religion in international politics".
  5. ↑ Catania, Katia (May 1, 2005). "Abdul Aziz Said - A Living Legend".
  6. ↑ The Washington Magazine, June 22, 2003 p 12.
  7. ↑ The Washington Post Magazine, June 22, 2003.
  8. ↑ “American” magazine of American University Winter 1997 page 19.
  9. ↑ "American University | The MSFF". Retrieved January 24, 2021.
  10. ↑ "Abdul Aziz Said".
  11. ↑ "Abdul Aziz Said Biography, American University, Washington, D.C."
  12. ↑ "Abdul Aziz Said Biography, American University, Washington, D.C."
  13. ↑ "New State Department Releases on the "Future of Iraq" Project". nsarchive2.gwu.edu. Retrieved January 22, 2021.

American University School of International Service Tribute Article. https://www.american.edu/sis/news/20210215-a-tribute-to-abdul-aziz-said.cfm

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