Maurus Reinkowski

Prof. Dr. Maurus Reinkowski is a full Professor in the Department of Middle Eastern Studies at the Faculty of Humanities, University of Basel, Switzerland, a position he has held since 2010. He is based at Maiengasse 51, Basel, and can be reached at maurus.reinkowski@unibas.ch. He is also the holder of the Reinkowski Professorship and contributes significantly to the research and academic community in Middle Eastern studies.

• Education: Studied at LMU Munich, Bogazici University Istanbul, and University of Vienna.
• Academic Experience: Research fellow at Van Leer Jerusalem Institute (1995–1996), Orient-Institut Istanbul (1996–1998), Assistant at University of Bamberg (1998–2004), Research and Senior Fellow at University of Freiburg (2004–2010).
• Honors: Corresponding member, Heidelberg Academy of Sciences (since 2010).
• Visiting Position: Visiting Professor, Sabanci University Istanbul (Fall 2015).

Reinkowski's research is deeply rooted in the history of the Ottoman Empire and its post-Ottoman legacies, with a particular focus on the Republic of Türkiye, Palestine in the late Ottoman period, nationalism, and minority communities. His work also investigates conversion phenomena, crypto-religiosity, customary law, and the role of conspiracy theories in Middle Eastern societies. His interdisciplinary approach combines historical analysis with insights from social sciences, contributing to a nuanced understanding of identity, governance, and cultural transformation in the region. He emphasizes the interconnectedness of Southeast Europe, Anatolia, the Levant, and the Arab world within the Ottoman framework.

His recent publications reveal a sustained engagement with modern Turkish historiography, Ottoman intellectual and social history, and critical analysis of scholarly works in the field. The articles from 2023–2024 demonstrate his role as a leading commentator on contemporary scholarship about the Ottoman Empire and the Middle East, particularly focusing on nation-building, imperial legacies, and historiographical methods. His work bridges the gap between historical research and current socio-political discourses in the region.

Scientific Recognition:

• Corresponding Member, Heidelberg Academy of Sciences (since 2010)

He is actively involved in supervising doctoral research and is a principal investigator for the ongoing project Militancy in Exile: Tracking the Trajectories of Socialist Political Migrants from Turkey. He supports doctoral candidates in the Graduate School of Social Sciences and contributes to the MUBIT Doctoral Workshop, fostering the next generation of scholars in Late and Post-Ottoman Studies. While specific grant details are not listed, his position as a professor and project leader indicates sustained research funding, likely including institutional and national sources such as the Swiss National Science Foundation.

Prof. Reinkowski is affiliated with the Switzerland-Türkiye Study and Research Centre and participates in the foki (Research Colloquium on Islamic Studies in Switzerland), playing a key role in national and international academic networks focused on Middle Eastern and Islamic studies.