Joseph A. Massad

About the Author

Joseph A. Massad is a distinguished scholar and professor of Modern Arab Politics and Intellectual History at Columbia University, where he has profoundly influenced the fields of Middle Eastern studies and postcolonial theory. Born in Jordan to Palestinian parents, Massad's academic journey took him from the American University in Cairo to Columbia, where he earned his Ph.D. His work critically examines the intersections of Orientalism, nationalism, and Western representations of the Arab world, challenging dominant narratives with rigorous historical analysis and incisive cultural critique. In his seminal book, Islam in Liberalism, Massad explores how liberal discourses construct and marginalize Islamic identities, offering a compelling framework for understanding global power dynamics. A prolific essayist and public intellectual, Massad continues to engage with pressing issues of identity, sexuality, and imperialism, advocating for a more equitable scholarly lens on the non-Western world.