Professor Akbar S. Ahmed is the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies and professor of International Relations at American University in Washington, D.C.
Born in Allahabad, a small town on the Ganges River in what was then British India, Dr. Ahmed is a distinguished anthropologist, writer and filmmaker. He has been actively involved in inter-faith dialogue — and his work to bring understanding between Islam and the West has included three appearances on Oprah and a BBC news series called "Living Islam" — broadcast for the first time in 1993.
Dr. Ahmed first became interested in Muslim leadership and its impact on Muslim society in the 1980s — when he was Pakistani Commissioner in Baluchistan. The study of global Islam and its impact on contemporary society has been the major focus of his work since.
From 1999 to 2000, Dr. Ahmed was the Pakistani High Commissioner (Ambassador) to the United Kingdom. He has also held many other senior positions in Pakistan.
His many award-winning books include: Discovering Islam: Making Sense of Muslim History and Society, Postmodernism and Islam: Predicament and Promise, Islam Today: A Short Introduction to the Muslim World and Jinnah Quartet.
Dr. Akbar Ahmed is a also a member of The Globalist's Global Advisory Board.
