Nikolaos van Dam
Encyclopedia
Nikolaos van Dam is a Middle East
scholar, former Dutch Ambassador
to Iraq, Egypt, and Indonesia, and author.
Van Dam studied Arabic and Political & Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam (cum laude), where he obtained the degree of Doctor in Literature in 1977. He taught Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of Amsterdam (1970–75), was First Secretary at the Netherlands Embassy in Beirut
, covering Lebanon, Jordan and Cyprus (1980–83), Chargé d'Affaires of the Netherlands in Tripoli, Libya(1983–85), and Deputy Director for African and Middle Eastern Affairs at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1985–88). He was also Ambassador of the Netherlands in Baghdad, Iraq (1988–91; accredited until 2004), in Cairo
, covering Egypt and Palestinian occupied territories (1991–96), in Ankara
, covering Turkey and Azerbaijan (1996–99), in Bonn
& Berlin, Germany (1999–2005), and in Jakarta
(credentials presented on 8 September 2005), covering Indonesia and Timor-Leste (2005–; credentials presented on 8 February 2006).
, 1979, ISBN 0856647039, and the subsequent The struggle for power in Syria: sectarianism, regionalism and tribalism in politics, 1961–1994, 1995.
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
scholar, former Dutch Ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
to Iraq, Egypt, and Indonesia, and author.
Van Dam studied Arabic and Political & Social Sciences at the University of Amsterdam (cum laude), where he obtained the degree of Doctor in Literature in 1977. He taught Modern Middle Eastern History at the University of Amsterdam (1970–75), was First Secretary at the Netherlands Embassy in Beirut
Beirut
Beirut is the capital and largest city of Lebanon, with a population ranging from 1 million to more than 2 million . Located on a peninsula at the midpoint of Lebanon's Mediterranean coastline, it serves as the country's largest and main seaport, and also forms the Beirut Metropolitan...
, covering Lebanon, Jordan and Cyprus (1980–83), Chargé d'Affaires of the Netherlands in Tripoli, Libya(1983–85), and Deputy Director for African and Middle Eastern Affairs at the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1985–88). He was also Ambassador of the Netherlands in Baghdad, Iraq (1988–91; accredited until 2004), in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, covering Egypt and Palestinian occupied territories (1991–96), in Ankara
Ankara
Ankara is the capital of Turkey and the country's second largest city after Istanbul. The city has a mean elevation of , and as of 2010 the metropolitan area in the entire Ankara Province had a population of 4.4 million....
, covering Turkey and Azerbaijan (1996–99), in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
& Berlin, Germany (1999–2005), and in Jakarta
Jakarta
Jakarta is the capital and largest city of Indonesia. Officially known as the Special Capital Territory of Jakarta, it is located on the northwest coast of Java, has an area of , and a population of 9,580,000. Jakarta is the country's economic, cultural and political centre...
(credentials presented on 8 September 2005), covering Indonesia and Timor-Leste (2005–; credentials presented on 8 February 2006).
Author
He is the author of The struggle for power in Syria: sectarianism, regionalism, and tribalism in politics, 1961–1978, الصراع على السلطة فى سوريا: الطائفية واﻹقليمية والعشائرية فى السياسة – الطبعة الإلكترونية, Taylor & FrancisTaylor & Francis
Taylor & Francis Group is an international company originating in the United Kingdom which publishes books and academic journals. It is a division of Informa plc, a United Kingdom-based publisher and conference company.- Overview :...
, 1979, ISBN 0856647039, and the subsequent The struggle for power in Syria: sectarianism, regionalism and tribalism in politics, 1961–1994, 1995.
Decorations
- KnightKnightA knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
in the Order of Orange NassauHouse of NassauThe House of Nassau is a diversified aristocratic dynasty in Europe. It is named after the lordship associated with Nassau Castle, located in present-day Nassau, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The lords of Nassau were originally titled Count of Nassau, then elevated to the princely class as...
– The Netherlands (1983) - Officer in the Order of Orange Nassau – The Netherlands (1991)
- Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgOrder of Merit of the Grand Duchy of LuxembourgThe Order of Merit of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is a distinguished honorary order of Luxembourg. It was instituted on January 23, 1961 by Grand Duchess Charlotte. Grandmaster of the order is the Grand Duke of Luxembourg...
(2003) - Knight Commander’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany (2005)