Review of the Research Institute for History and - Universiteit Utrecht

A 6. Internal evaluation, analysis, perspectives and expectations for the research programme
1. Strengths
The group is very productive and has produced a remarkable number of books during the period under
review. Its publications are, almost by defi nition, generally targeted at an international audience. The Electronic
Journal of Oriental Studies EJOS, founded in 1998, has contributed signifi cantly to the international visibility
of the Utrecht group.
2. Weaknesses
Continuity cannot be taken for granted for this group. There are very few PhD positions.
3. Opportunities
The prominent presence of Muslim communities in the Netherlands and an increasing interest in Islamic
culture and its languages holds out the promise for earmarked funding of research programmes in Islamic
Studies. The recent appointment of Johannes Jansen to the extra ordinary professorship in Contemporary
Islamic Thought in the Faculty of Arts may prove to be instrumental in this connection.
4. Threats
Retirements have somewhat affected the core-components of the programme, i.e. the study of Islamic mysticism,
heterodox Islamic movements, and modernity vs. tradition. Even so, the members of the group expect
to be able to do research in these areas and generate substantial contributions to their fi elds of expertise.
OGC Oriental Studies
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