Rashid Khalidi
Biography
Rashid Ismail Khalidi is a preeminent American historian specializing in the modern Middle East, with a particular focus on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and Arab history. Born in New York City in 1948 to a distinguished Palestinian family from Jerusalem, he earned his B.A. from Yale University and his D.Phil. from Oxford University. Khalidi has held prestigious academic positions at institutions including the American University of Beirut, the University of Chicago, and Columbia University, where he currently serves as the Edward Said Professor of Modern Arab Studies and director of the Middle East Institute. His scholarship is characterized by its rigorous analysis, critical examination of Western involvement in the region, and emphasis on Palestinian perspectives. He is the author of several influential books that challenge conventional narratives, making him a leading voice in contemporary discussions about the Middle East.
Selected Thoughts
«The hundred years' war on Palestine is not over; it is ongoing. And it is a war that has been waged by various external powers, along with their local allies, against the indigenous people of Palestine.»
«The refusal to recognize Palestinian national rights has been the central obstacle to peace.»
«To understand the present, one must confront the past, no matter how uncomfortable it might be.»
Writing Style
Khalidi's writing style is academic, meticulous, and analytical, yet designed to be accessible to a broader intellectual audience. He combines rigorous historical research, often drawing on multilingual primary sources, with sharp critical analysis. His prose is clear, precise, and persuasive, presenting arguments with compelling evidence. He challenges dominant historical and political narratives, employing a polemical but intellectually sound approach to illuminate complex issues and empower subaltern voices in Middle Eastern history.