Many have criticized the term for a number of reasons, often due to its loose definition. The United Nations avoids the phrase entirely and officially refers to the region as "Southwest Asia," while other critics advise using the more general "West Asia.” For centuries, scholars and experts have debated the meaning of “Middle East,” and whether the term can be intelligently employed to describe the rich history and heritage of the region. As we are approaching the twenty-first century, should we re-evaluate our thinking about the “Middle East”? If it is defined as a cultural area, what are some of the distinct qualities that make this region different, as opposed to other “cultural areas?” What is the meaning of “Middle East” for Middle Easterners? What is the impact of interdependence and globalization, and how does it change our definition of Middle East? What is the impact of U.S. military intervention in Iraq on U.S. and European perceptions of Middle East?

The editors welcome submissions from students, professors, and specialists alike, in fields including, but not limited to, anthropology, archeology, economics, history, linguistics, literature, political science, and sociology. In addition to scholarly papers, Middle East Panorama publishes book reviews. Books reviewed may be of your choosing, but must be less than three years old and pertain to the Middle East.

Please email submissions by July 14 to: panorama_mec@utah.edu