The First Plenary Session of IAS Project
at Sanjo Kaikan Hall (14 July 1997)
SATO Tsugitaka:
Main Objectives and Executive Principles of the IAS Project
I. What is "Islamic Area Studies"?
Islam as religion and civilization
Total understanding of Islam through multidisciplinary studies
Historical and contemporary studies
Muslim societies in China, Southeast Asia, South Asia, Central
Asia, Africa, Europe and the United States as well as the Middle
East and North Africa
II. Characteristics of IASP compared to Scientific Research on
Priority Areas
Systematic research by six sections intending to work as a
whole
Research project open to all interested scholars in Japan and
abroad
Publication of research products in Japanese and English in
addition to
annual reports submitted to the Ministry of Education, Culture
and Sciences
Unique roles of the research members
III. Main objectives of the IAS Project
Creation of new Area Studies through combining several
areas
The year of finding research subjects (1997) →Comprehensive study
of areas
A & B and comparative study between areas A & B (1998-)
Development of a computer system suitable for multilateral
Islamic Area Studies
Encouragement of the formation of a new generation of scholars
to be entrusted with the future development of Islamic Area
Studies
Research members are requested to contact researchers
to cooperate. They will become registered scholars of the project.
The term of cooperation should be flexible.