The French Institute of the Near East (french: Institut français du Proche-Orient, IFPO) is part of the network of French Research Centers abroad. It has branches in Syria,

Lebanon Lebanon ( , ar, لُبْنَان, translit=lubnān, ), officially the Republic of Lebanon () or the Lebanese Republic, is a country in Western Asia. It is located between Syria to Lebanon–Syria border, the north and east and Israel to Blue ...

Jordan Jordan ( ar, الأردن; tr. ' ), officially the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan,; tr. ' is a country in Western Asia. It is situated at the crossroads of Asia, Africa, and Europe, within the Levant region, on the East Bank of the Jordan Rive ...

, and

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to the north, Iran to the east, the Persian Gulf and K ...

History

The IFPO was created in 2003 by bringing together three existing French Institutes in the area: IFEAD (French Institute for

Arab The Arabs (singular: Arab; singular ar, عَرَبِيٌّ, DIN 31635: , , plural ar, عَرَب, DIN 31635: , Arabic pronunciation: ), also known as the Arab people, are an ethnic group mainly inhabiting the Arab world in Western Asia, ...

Studies in Damascus, established in 1922), IFAPO (French Institute of Near Eastern Archaeology established in Syria and

in 1946) and CERMOC (Centre for Study and Research on the Contemporary Middle East, est. 1977 in

and 1988 in

). The IFPO has the status of a "Joint Entity of French Research Institutes Abroad" (UMIFRE no6, Unité Mixte des Instituts français de recherche à l’étranger) and is under the aegis of the

French Ministry of Foreign Affairs The Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs () is the ministry of the Government of France that handles France's foreign relations. Since 1855, its headquarters have been located at 37 Quai d'Orsay, close to the National Assembly. The term Qu ...

and the CNRS (National Centre for Scientific Research). In October 2010, the IFPO opened its center for research inside Erbil Citadel, the world’s oldest continuously inhabited settlement.

Fields of research and area purposes

IFPO is active in Syria,

and

, and hopes to be able to extend its activities to

and the

Palestinian Territories The Palestinian territories are the two regions of the former British Mandate for Palestine that have been militarily occupied by Israel since the Six-Day War of 1967, namely: the West Bank (including East Jerusalem) and the Gaza Strip. The ...

. Its Director-General, who is based in Damascus, is Eberhard Kienle, who was preceded by François Burgat (2008-2013), Jean-Yves L’Hôpital (June 2005-May 2008), and Christian Décobert (Jan. 2003-Aug. 2004). The Institute's tasks are research, research training, the diffusion of knowledge, and cooperation with local and international institutions. These tasks are carried out with the support of the local Ministries in charge of Research and Higher Education, and in close cooperation with both. The Institute acts as a center for study and research in all fields relating to the ancient and modern civilizations of the Near East. On the basis of the numerous activities and publications of its researchers, the institute aims at raising the French contribution to research to the highest academic standards in the various fields of research related to these civilizations, from the earliest times to the contemporary period. The institute also trains young researchers for careers in teaching and research.

Organization

The institute is organized into three scientific departments: Archeology and Ancient History (Director Frédéric Alpi); Arab, Medieval and Modern Studies (director: Bruno Lory); Contemporary Studies (director: Myriam Catusse). In its different locations, the Institute recruits experienced researchers (at various levels in their careers) from

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

, from the three countries in which it is established, from

Europe Europe is a large peninsula conventionally considered a continent in its own right because of its great physical size and the weight of its history and traditions. Europe is also considered a subcontinent of Eurasia and it is located entirel ...

, and from the rest of the world. They come for a maximum of four years and are selected to take part in the various academic projects initiated by the institute. It also welcomes receives young researchers (PhD candidates, grant holders, etc.) of all nationalities to take part in its activities. The duration of their stay varies according to their individual situation. The institute also awards some short-term grants for limited projects. Since many of these researchers also belong to other research teams or programs in France and elsewhere, the Institute hopes that these projects will strengthen and broaden its academic network.

External links

IFPO website

IFPO's Digital publications

IFPO's Open archives

''Syria'' on line

Website of the French research centers abroad

library online catalog

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Institut francais du Proche-Orient Social science institutes Archaeology of Syria Government agencies of France Asian studies Institut Français