About
Ziad Abu-Rish serves as Associate Professor of Human Rights and Middle Eastern Studies at Bard College and Director of the MA Program in Human Rights & the Arts. He holds leadership roles as co-editor of Arab Studies Journal and Jadaliyya e-zine, co-director of the Lebanese Dissertation Summer Institute and Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative, and board member of the Middle East Studies Association (MESA).
His educational background includes a PhD in History from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA).
Abu-Rish's research centers on state formation, economic development, and popular mobilizations in Lebanon and Jordan, with deep engagement in the political economy of the Middle East and Arab uprisings. His scholarly work examines historical and contemporary Middle Eastern politics through human rights frameworks, emphasizing institutional development and social movements. He connects theoretical political economy with on-the-ground mobilizations while developing pedagogical approaches for Middle Eastern studies.
No scientific awards were mentioned in the source material.
As Director of the MA Program in Human Rights & the Arts, Abu-Rish guides graduate student research and curriculum development. His co-directed initiatives—including the Lebanese Dissertation Summer Institute—provide critical support for emerging scholars through structured research collaboration and pedagogical training in Middle Eastern studies.
Abu-Rish actively contributes to academic collectives including the Lebanese Dissertation Summer Institute which facilitates doctoral research in Lebanon, and the Middle East Studies Pedagogy Initiative that develops innovative teaching frameworks for Middle Eastern studies across institutions.
