S. M. Ghazanfar (University of Idaho)

Submitted: Sat, 09 Nov 1996 23:00:00 -0800
 
S.M. Ghazanfar, Dr.
Professor and Chair, Department of Economics
University of Idaho 
Moscow, Idaho 83843
USA
 
Phones:    208-885-7144 (Office)
           208-882-7619 (Home) 
FAX:       208-885-8939
Email:     ghazi@uidaho.edu

 
Recent research has concentrated history of economic
thought--specifically, the origins of socio-economic thought in the
writings of various medieval Islamic scholastics (e.g., Al-Ghazali, Ibn
Taimiyah, Ibn Qayyim, and others).  Has effectively repudiated the "great
gap" thesis propounded by the late Joseph Schumpeter, which argued that
the centuries between the Greeks and the medieval Latin-scholastics (such
as St. Thomas Aquinas) were "blank,"  during which nothing of significance
to economics was written anywhere--as though the European Dark Age was
universal.  During this period at least 30-35 Muslim scholars wrote
extensively on numerous topics, including economics, though their
writings, as those of their Latin-European counterparts, were teleological
and holistic, with salvation as the ultimate purpose.  But there is
significant positive content, and their discussion on numerous economic
topics is remarkably similar to that found in contemporary literature. 
However, the mainstream literature completely omits their
contributions--and, despite Schumpter's insistence on "filiation and
continuity of ideas," his "gap" is thoroughly entrenched in the
profession.  Have presented several papers (some invited) at
national/international conferences and have published several papers on
various aspects of this general topic.  Further work in progress on this
broad theme, focusing to some extent also on other related disciplines
(e.g., scientific contributions of medieval Muslim scholars). 

Teaching interests relate, by training and previous research work, to 
areas such as Third World economic development, public finance.
Have been teaching in these areas for almost 30 years, as well as courses 
in macro and microeconomics.

Familiar with languages of the Indo-Pakistan subcontinent (where lie my 
origins). U.S. citizen, having been in the U.S. since 1958.
Was affiliated with the King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 
for three years (1983-86) as visiting faculty.  University of Idaho 
faculty since 1968.  
















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