The Middle East and North Africa together constitute a highly diverse cultural area within a world now undergoing rapid and large-scale change, particularly in the aftermath of September 11. In this context, the mission of the Center for Middle Eastern and North African Studies (CMENAS) is to enhance awareness of the peoples, cultures, and languages in this vitally important region of the world. This mission is accomplished by explaining and interpreting the region in all of its historical and contemporary aspects to students at the University of Michigan, Michigan's schoolchildren and community members, and scholars seeking specialized knowledge of a region stretching from the western coast of Morocco to the eastern border of Afghanistan, with cultural influences extending into the northern Caucasus and Islamic Central Asia. In a globally interconnected world, it is equally important to explore the transregional and transnational forces at work in the Middle East, given the region's increasing central role in international affairs.
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