The United States of America is a global superpower, and the new American generation should not confine its knowledge to the American continent.
Hank Withington signed up for an introductory course in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) studies hoping to learn about a region with which he was unfamiliar.
The MENA course took on much deeper meaning when he met instructor Tahir Albakaa, who played a key role in the establishment of the Iraqi government.
“It’s amazing to see how integral he was in the history of the country,” said Hank, who is a philosophy major. “He was in the middle of it.”
Albakaa, a part-time BSU professor and former president of Al-Mustansiriya University in Baghdad, served as Iraq’s minister of higher education during the interim government that followed the U.S.-led invasion and the overthrow of Saddam Hussein. During that time, he worked to reconstruct the country’s universities while ensuring they were free from political and militia influence. He also restored international educational opportunities for students and rehired professors who had been forced from their jobs.
“My mission was extremely challenging due to the chaos, the proliferation of weapons, and the emergence of militias attempting to exert control over universities,” he recalled.
Al-Qaeda terrorists killed hundreds of professors and Albakaa faced assassination attempts.
As Iraq developed a permanent government, Albakaa became a lawmaker and member of the committee that wrote the country’s constitution. He sought to create a document that guaranteed public freedoms; established independent legislative, executive and judicial branches; and upheld equality for all citizens.
“I never imagined that one day I would be entrusted with such a significant national mission, which is a great honor for anyone,” he said.
Albakaa initially came to BSU to teach Arabic language courses. He grew to appreciate Bridgewater’s desire to forge collaborations in the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere.
He now teaches classes in the MENA program, which has benefitted from a $542,092 grant from the U.S. Department of Education to develop curriculum, expand study abroad opportunities and international partnerships, support faculty research, and raise community awareness.
“The United States of America is a global superpower, and the new American generation should not confine its knowledge to the American continent,” Albakaa said. “Instead, they should strive to gain a broad understanding of various regions worldwide, particularly the MENA region, given its strategic importance and abundant energy resources.”
For Hank, taking a class with Albakaa dispelled stereotypes while helping him understand the region’s demographics and the factors that affect politics and foreign relations.
“He’s a fantastic professor. I can’t say that enough,” Hank said of Albakaa. “I don’t think there’s anyone more qualified.”
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