So you were born in Syria? What was it like growing up there?
Well, in the old days of Syria when it was not crowded and chaotic in terms of its politics and regional tensions, the people were quite involved with their lives. There was quite a deal of excitement about the future of the country, especially in the 1950s.
There was a resurgence of nationalism, which was quite secular ideology, which contrasts sharply with today’s religious discourse, which is taking a pervasive grip on the people there.
What inspired you to pursue the field of political science? How were you influenced?
What inspired me was in the old days of Syria, in the larger Arab world of the 1950s, there was so much politicalization among students. There was very much an awareness of what was going on in the world and region, and people were very much politically involved.
Political parties would penetrate high school kids in those days and try to recruit them. They were recruiting future leaders, so to speak. I was politically inclined, but more in terms of the intellectual and academic realm of politics, as an observer.
How important do you consider it to be passionate about teaching and learning?
To me, not only is it being passionate, but teaching and learning is a vocation in life.
I sleep on it, I dream on it, I eat on it. I’m always thinking about the state of the world and the human condition and this is what you deal with when talking about politics,
It is engrained in me, really. I’ve nourished it, nurtured it over time, becoming seasoned in my vocation. I’ve grown to love it all the more. I am meshed with it.
What advice would you give students to be more active and involved in their learning?
The most important thing really is to be aware, truly engaged in what is going on globally. To be enlightened about the issues, to try not to segment their lives by staying within the confines of the classroom. Really trying to combine both the academic, knowledge-based perspective with real world events. You have to know what’s unfolding politically and be involved with the issues, try to give your own stance.
How did you decide to teach at USM? What has kept you here since 1987?
Though I was born in the Middle East, I always had this soft spot in my heart for the New England area. After so many years at Duke University, (when I was) at King Saud University in Saudi Arabia I always longed to come back to the New England area.
The university environment provides a challenging mix of students; traditional, matriculated/non matriculated, part-time, the different age groups and backgrounds, it’s interesting. The campus has an international flavor as of late, so it makes it a nice enclave of all kinds of people.
What do you enjoy doing in your leisure time?
I like to take long, reflective, introspective walks. I love walking! It’s bodily, mentally, spiritually active. I go on a spiritual quest, like the Sufi Order.