Abdul Aziz Said

Abdul Aziz Said 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.[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

Abdul Aziz Said
NationalitySyrian-American
Alma materAmerican University
OccupationProfessor
Years active1956-2015
EmployerSchool of International Service, American University
Websitewww.american.edu/sis/faculty/asaid.cfm

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”[4] and a singular institution promoting peace by the Washington Post Magazine.[5] He actively engaged in many conflict resolution projects, including the Israeli-Palestinian peace talks and the Iraq conflict.[6][7] 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.[8] He developed over a dozen educational and research programs.[9] 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.[10] He was the recipient numerous awards, including The International Studies Association's “Distinguished Scholar in Peace Studies and the El-Hibri Peace Education Prize[11]

Editorial boards

Membership on boards of directors and/or advisors

Public service
  • Advisor, the United States Department of State on the “Future of Iraq” project,  Democratic Principles Group[12]
  • Advisor, Undersecretary of State for Public Diplomacy
  • Member, White House Committee on the Islamic World
  • President, Regional Chapter of the International Studies Association
  • Member, National Council, International Studies Association
  • Consultant to the United Nations Development Program
  • Consultant to UNESCO
  • Participant in Arab-Israeli peace dialogues
  • Consultant to USIA, the Department of State, and the Department of Defense     
  •   Prepared the Report, “Youth and Bureaucracy,” for the White House Youth Conference, February, 1971.

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

Programmatic contributions

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

Honors, awards, and fellowships
  • International Studies Association, Distinguished Scholar of Peace Studies
  • Delta Phi Epsilon Pi Award for Service and Excellence
  • American University Outstanding Contribution to Academic Development Award
  • The University Faculty Award, Outstanding Service to the American University
  • The Annual Award of the College of Public Affairs, Distinguished Service to the University
  • Outstanding Faculty Award Mortar Board
  • Faculty Excellence Award
  • Status of Lecturer at the Foreign Service Institute, Department of State
  • Best Speaker Award by the Washington Semester Program
  • Grantee, The Rockefeller Foundation
  • Grantee, The United States Institutes of Peace
  • Grantee, National Endowment for Democracy
  • Grantee, United States Agency for International Development
  • Phi Epsilon Pi National Jewish Fraternity, “Living Legend” Award (2004)
  • Abdul Aziz Said Phi Epsilon Pi Scholarship (named after)
  • Abdul Aziz Said Scholarship, Peace and Conflict Resolution Studies (named after)
  • African Students Association Award
  • Outstanding Service Award, American University Graduate Student Association
  • Multicultural Award, American University Office of Multicultural Affairs
  • SIS Fall Annual Dinner Honoree, American University (2006)
  • Mahatma Gandhi Foundation Fourth Annual Fellowship of Peace Award (2007)
  • El-Hibri Peace Education Prize (2007)
  • Honors Professor of the Year, American University Honors Program (2007-2008)
  • American University Award for Outstanding Scholarship, Research and Professional Contributions (2009)
  • Honorary Chairman, Golden Eagles Reunion, American University (2009)
  • American University Award for Distinguished Service in the School of International Service 1957-2015 (2015)
  • Recipient International Political Science Association's Teh-Kuang Chang Award for Outstanding Scholar on Asian and Pacific Studies (2018)

Selected works

See also

References
  1. "Prof Emeritus". American University. Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  2. 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.
  3. "Relationship between spirituality and religion in international politics".
  4. Catania, Katia (May 1, 2005). "Abdul Aziz Said - A Living Legend".
  5. The Washington Magazine, June 22, 2003 p 12.
  6. The Washington Post Magazine, June 22, 2003.
  7. “American” magazine of American University Winter 1997 page 19.
  8. "American University | The MSFF". Retrieved 2021-01-24.
  9. "Abdul Aziz Said".
  10. "Abdul Aziz Said Biography, American University, Washington, D.C."
  11. "Abdul Aziz Said Biography, American University, Washington, D.C."
  12. "New State Department Releases on the "Future of Iraq" Project". nsarchive2.gwu.edu. Retrieved 2021-01-22.
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