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The Institute Letter a Larger Pattern of Institutional Racism MICHAEL HANCHARD

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The Institute Letter a Larger Pattern of Institutional Racism MICHAEL HANCHARD FREED . Campaign Summer 2015 Summer DANIEL S and and a Record-Setting How Topology Detects How Topology Certain Phases of Matter Imagination, Imagination, Knowledge, Ancient City Studying Graffiti in an ANGELOS CHANIOTIS The Institute Letter A Larger Pattern of Institutional Racism MICHAEL HANCHARD Have you moved? Non-Profit Org. Please notify us of your change of address. U.S. Postage PAID Send changes to: Permit #49 Communications, Institute for Advanced Study Princeton, NJ Einstein Drive, Princeton, NJ 08540 Summer 2015 or email [email protected] The Institute Letter IAS BRUCE M. WHITE Robbert Dijkgraaf, Director Giles Constable Nancy B. Peretsman and Leon Levy Professor Pierre Deligne Sandra E. Peterson Freeman J. Dyson Martin Rees Faculty Peter Goldreich David M. Rubenstein Nima Arkani-Hamed Phillip A. Griffiths Eric E. Schmidt Yve-Alain Bois Christian Habicht James H. Simons Jean Bourgain Robert P. Langlands Peter Svennilson Angelos Chaniotis Irving Lavin Shirley M. Tilghman Nicola Di Cosmo Arnold J. Levine Shelby White Didier Fassin Peter Paret Brian F. Wruble Patrick J. Geary Joan Wallach Scott Peter Goddard Heinrich von Staden Trustees Emeriti Jonathan Haslam Michael Walzer Richard B. Black Helmut Hofer Morton White Martin A. Chooljian Piet Hut Sidney D. Drell Jonathan Israel Board of Trustees Vartan Gregorian Stanislas Leibler Charles Simonyi Peter R. Kann Robert MacPherson Chairman Helene L. Kaplan Juan Maldacena Afsaneh Beschloss David K.P. Li Peter Sarnak Victoria B. Bjorklund Ronaldo H. Schmitz Sabine Schmidtke Neil A. Chriss Harold T. Shapiro Nathan Seiberg Robbert Dijkgraaf Michel L. Vaillaud Thomas Spencer Mario Draghi Marina v.N. Whitman Richard Taylor Roger W. Ferguson, Jr. James D. Wolfensohn Scott Tremaine E. Robert Fernholz Chairman Emeritus Vladimir Voevodsky Carmela Vircillo Franklin Institute for Advanced Study Avi Wigderson Benedict H. Gross Einstein Drive Edward Witten Jeffrey A. Harvey Princeton, New Jersey 08540 Matias Zaldarriaga Spiro J. Latsis (609) 734-8000 Martin L. Leibowitz www.ias.edu Faculty Emeriti Margaret Levi InstituteforAdvancedStudy Stephen L. Adler Nancy S. MacMillan @the_IAS Enrico Bombieri David F. Marquardt Glen W. Bowersock Narayana Murthy videosfromIAS Caroline Walker Bynum Jonathan M. Nelson @Institute_for_Advanced_Study IASThe Institute Letter Institute for Advanced Study Summer 2015 Jonathan Haslam Appointed to Faculty A Larger Pattern of Institutional Racism Studying contemporary phenomena in international relations The multiple dimensions of state-sanctioned violence against black and brown youth onathan Haslam, one of the world’s most dis- Jtinguished scholars on the history of thought BY MICHAEL HANCHARD in international relations, has been appointed George F. Kennan Professor in the School of first met Emery Robinson at Historical Studies. Haslam, a Member (1998) of I Albert Leonard Junior High the School, was most recently Professor of the School in New Rochelle, New History of International Relations at the Uni- York. He was two grades behind versity of Cam bridge. He officially began his me, a seventh grader when I was six-year appoint ment at the Institute on July 1. in the ninth grade. He was known The endowed Kennan Chair, established in as a manchild, not only in terms 1995 to honor the diplomat, scholar, and Insti- of size, because he was much big- tute Faculty member George F. Kennan, was ger than most ninth graders even previously held by Avishai Margalit (2006–11), then, but because he had the SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES PHOTO COURTESY OF THE BRITISH ACADEMY José Cutileiro (2001–04), and Jack F. Matlock, Jr. physicality and presence of a Protesting in Ferguson, Missouri, following the Jonathan Haslam (1996–2001). The Kennan Chair is designed to young man. He could have easily shooting death of teenager Michael Brown in 2014 bring to the Institute outstanding scholars whose passed for seventeen or eighteen work bears on the understanding of the contemporary world. years old when, by my recollection, he could not have been much more than Haslam has made significant contributions to our understanding of contemporary eleven or twelve. phenomena in international relations through critical and prescient examinations His face, however, betrayed his youth; cherubic, at times shy, an easy laugh and of the role of ideology. Haslam’s studies of Soviet foreign policy are expansive in mischievous smile, he was what one would refer to as “not a bad kid,” to indicate their quality and range, demonstrating his keen originality of thought, supported by someone who was a bit mischievous but not malicious. Because of his size he insightful and comprehensive archival research. This work solidified his reputation made the basketball team, though it did not seem as if he had a great interest in (Continued on page 19) (Continued on page 17) Patricia Crone 1945–2015 The influential, pioneering scholar and her indelible mark on Islamic studies and the Institute atricia Crone, whose pioneering and innovative impact on the field speak to her exceptional value as knowledge and Papproach to the history of Islam brought about a scholar. What made her even more exceptional as imagination, and lasting change in the field, died at the age of 70 on a person, however, was her caring and skill as a men- in so doing defied July 11 in Princeton, New Jersey, after a courageous tor. Patricia never hesitated to respond to a request accepted wisdom fight against cancer. She was Professor Emerita in the for help from a fellow scholar, including not only and opened doors School of Historical Studies, where she served as the those who were already well on their way in their to hidden truths. Andrew W. Mellon Professor since 1997, before retir- academic careers, but many who were just starting With her passing ing in 2014. out and needed access to her writings. Patricia never we lose a most Crone’s insightful work, compellingly conveyed in ignored such requests—and there were many—but lucid interpreter of her adventurous and unconventional style, shed im - handled them all with her characteristic ‘Patricia fundamental his- portant new light on the critical importance of the style,’ sometimes offering what might be seen as torical questions.” Near East in historical studies, in particular on the ‘tough love,’ but always in a quiet and private way, “Patricia was cultural, religious, and intellectual history of Islam. with a directness and honesty that was a turning a marvel of high Her influence is strongly felt at the Institute, where, point for many in their lives and careers. Her skill as spirit and deter - along with Oleg Grabar (1929–2011), Crone helped a caring mentor is an equally important legacy to all mination, and was CLIFF MOORE to establish the Institute as a recognized center for the of her other accomplishments.” absolutely fear- Patricia Crone pursuit of the study of Islamic culture and history. Nicola Di Cosmo, Luce Foundation Professor in less, both in her Crone was succeeded in 2014 by Islamic intellectual East Asian Studies in the School of Historical Stud- professional and in her personal life—a wonderful historian Sabine Schmidtke, who is advancing impor- ies, added, “For nearly four decades, Patricia’s work inspiration for us all,” stated Robbert Dijkgraaf, tant scholarship across Islamic culture and history. on Islam has been a brilliant example of fiercely cre- Director of the Institute and Leon Levy Professor. Schmidtke noted, “Patricia’s professional accom- ative, deeply probing, and unfailingly farsighted “She will be greatly missed here at the Institute, plishments, her publications, and their immense research. She pushed the boundaries of historical (Continued on page 18) Einstein Drive, Princeton, New Jersey 08540 www.ias.edu CRONE (Continued from page 1) where she leaves an indelible and powerful legacy.” Friendship Prize in 2005, Crone delivered a broad Born in Kyndeløse, Denmark, on March 28, survey of Islamic political thought in the six cen- 1945, Crone studied at the University of Copen- turies from the rise of Islam to the Mongol invasions. hagen before completing both her undergraduate Her most recent book, The Nativist Prophets of Early education (1969) and Ph.D. (1974) at the School of Islamic Iran: Rural Revolt and Local Zoroastrianism (Cam- Oriental and African Studies at the University of bridge University Press, 2012), explores the Iranian London. Upon earning her Ph.D., Crone became response to the Muslim penetration of the Iranian Senior Research Fellow at the University of Lon- countryside, the revolts subsequently triggered there, don’s Warburg Institute. In 1977, she accepted a and the religious communities that these revolts position as University Lecturer in Islamic History revealed. Peter Brown, in The New York Review of and Fellow of Jesus College at the University of Books, noted, “[Crone] has given a voice to a hitherto Oxford, where she taught for thirteen years. Follow- silent land, which had been as distant from the clas- ing her time at Oxford, Crone moved to the Univer- sical world as were the kingdoms of Axum and Him- sity of Cambridge and served as Assistant University ANDREA KANE yar.” The highly influential book was recognized Lecturer in Islamic Studies and Fellow of Gonville Patricia Crone with a Member in 2011 with four major awards, including the Albert and Caius College from 1990–92, after Hourani Book Award, which recognizes which she was University Lecturer until Islam arose with remarkable speed and mystery. Patricia Crone’s well-stocked outstanding publishing in Middle East 1994. Crone was then University Reader mind, clear prose, and unflinching intellectual honesty were devoted to explain- studies; the Houshang Pourshariati Iran- at Cambridge until 1997, when she joined ian Studies Book Award, for outstanding ing why.... That required both personal and intellectual bravery. The central the Faculty of the Institute. publishing in Iranian studies; the Central beliefs of Islam, such as the way the Koran took shape, the life of Muhammad, Crone’s first book, Hagarism: The Mak- Eurasian Studies Society Book Award, for ing of the Islamic World (Cambridge Uni- and Islam’s relations with other religions, are sensitive subjects.
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