MJ. Akbar, Editor-in-Chief of The Asian Age, Joins Brookings as a Visiting Fellow

M.J. Akbar, editor-in-chief of The Asian Age, joined the Brookings Institution as its newest visiting fellow. Akbar will work with the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World, researching the historical evolution of relations between the United States and the Islamic World since World War I. The announcement was made by Carlos Pascual, vice president and director of the Foreign Policy Studies program at Brookings.

In 1994, Akbar launched The Asian Age, India’s first global newspaper, with editions in New Delhi, Bombay, Calcutta, Bangalore, Bhubaneswar, Ahmedabad, and London. After taking the helm as editor-in-chief, Akbar’s columns now appear weekly across the Middle East and South Asia, including Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Saudi Arabia. Under his leadership, The Asian Age has expanded to eight editions and has a major media presence both nationally and internationally. Akbar has also written seven books. The most recent, The Shade of Swords: Jihad and the Conflict between Islam and Christianity, received critical acclaim in the Indian, British, and American press. Akbar received his B.A. in English (Honors) from Presidency College, Calcutta.

“We are very excited to have M.J. join us at the Saban Center,” said Pascual. “M.J. is one of the most respected journalists in the world, an accomplished author, and an astute examiner of South Asian and Middle Eastern politics.”

During his time at the Brookings Institution, Akbar will trace the experience of the successor states of the Ottoman Empire in their relations with the United States. The scope of the eventual book will include the evolution of the polity in Muslim nations from Morocco to Indonesia.

“As we continue to examine various avenues of dialogue between the United States and the Islamic World, M.J.’s experience and expertise will provide a valuable perspective,” said Peter Singer, Director of the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World. “He is an excellent addition to our research team.”