The Arabist Budapest Studies in Arabic is a distinguished academic journal that explores Arabic language, literature, history, and Islam through a rigorous scholarly lens. Published in Budapest, Hungary, it brings together experts in Arabic studies, Islamic thought, and cultural history to share peer‘reviewed research on topics ranging from classical grammar to modern cultural dynamics. For more than three decades, it has served both as a platform for original scholarship and as a bridge between Hungarian Oriental studies and the broader global community of Arabicists.
A Brief History of The Arabist Journal
The Arabist was founded in 1988 as a double‘blind, peer-reviewed journal focused on Arabic and Islamic studies. contentReference[oaicite0] It is published jointly by the Eötvös Loránd University Chair of Arabic Studies and the Csoma de Kőrös Society Section of Islamic Studies in Budapest. contentReference[oaicite1] Over time, it has built a strong scholarly reputation, consistently presenting high-quality research in multiple languages, including English and Arabic.
Editorial Structure and Publication
The journal’s editorial team has evolved, but it maintains a clear academic purpose. The current editor‘in‘chief is Kinga Dévényi, and the editorial board includes leading scholars such as Antonella Ghersetti, Anne Regourd, and Avihai Shivtiel. contentReference[oaicite2] The Arabist carries the ISSN 0239‘1619, indicating its long and stable presence in the field. contentReference[oaicite3] Its issues are archived digitally in the repository of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, which ensures accessibility and preservation. contentReference[oaicite4]
Main Themes and Academic Focus
The content of The Arabist spans a broad array of disciplines within Arabic studies. Past volumes reflect deep engagement with areas such as
- Linguistics and Arabic grammar
- Classical and modern Arabic literature
- Islamic history and Sufism
- Manuscript traditions and Arabic paleography
- Arabic dialectology and cultural studies
For example, the 2012 volume (vol. 31) gathered scholarly papers presented to Alexander Fodor on his seventieth birthday, touching on Sufi legends, genealogy in Islamic societies, and medieval Arabic grammatical debates. contentReference[oaicite5] More recent editions, such as volume 47 in 2024, cover topics like Sufi mysticism, Islamic architecture, and linguistic tradition within the Arabic‘Islamic world. contentReference[oaicite6]
Representative topics
A few notable contributions from various volumes include
- Zsuzsanna Kutasi’s linguistic study on horse anatomy terms in North Arabian and Egyptian Arabic dialects. contentReference[oaicite7]
- Georges Bohas’s work on the development of the Arabic imperative in Bar Hebræus’s grammar. contentReference[oaicite8]
- István Ormos’s historical analysis of the Comité de Conservation des Monuments de l’Art Arabe, reflecting on Arab art heritage in Europe. contentReference[oaicite9]
Institutional and Academic Context in Budapest
The journal is deeply rooted in Budapest’s academic traditions. It is affiliated with the Eötvös Loránd University Chair for Arabic Studies, one of Hungary’s premier institutions in Oriental studies. contentReference[oaicite10] The Csoma de Kőrös Society Section of Islamic Studies also plays a major role in supporting and publishing the journal, reinforcing its mission to foster scholarly exchange in Arabic and Islamic topics.
Broader Arabic Studies in Hungary
Hungary’s academic community has a long history of involvement with Arabic studies. The Oriental Institute at Eötvös Loránd University offers a Bachelor’s program in Eastern languages and cultures, including a specialization in Arabic. contentReference[oaicite11] Moreover, influential Hungarian scholars such as Gyula Germanus contributed significantly to the field; Germanus was a prominent Islamologist and Arabic expert in 20th‘century Hungary. contentReference[oaicite12]
Significance and Contributions to Arabic Scholarship
The Arabist plays an important role in global Arabic studies by
- Providing a European platform for Middle Eastern and North African scholarship.
- Encouraging academic collaboration across disciplines such as linguistics, history, and religious studies.
- Supporting emerging scholars with open peer-reviewed publication opportunities.
- Maintaining a bridge between Hungarian and Arabic academic traditions.
Thanks to its long run, the journal has built a significant archive that is useful for researchers interested in the evolution of Arabic philology, Islamic studies, and cross-cultural scholarly networks.
Accessibility and Open Scholarship
The Arabist ensures broad accessibility by publishing most of its volumes in digital format. These digital editions are available through institutional repositories, notably the Hungarian Academy of Sciences, making them easy to access for researchers worldwide. contentReference[oaicite13] This approach supports scholarship by removing barriers related to physical access and promotion of open academic networks.
Audience and Impact
The Arabist attracts a diverse readership, including
- Academic researchers in Arabic studies and Islamic studies
- Graduate students and doctoral candidates
- Historians, theologians, and linguists
- Institutions interested in cross-cultural scholarship
Its impact is visible not only in Hungary but across Europe and the Arab world, where scholars cite its research in their own academic work. The journal has also been a venue for important scholarly discussions, such as the place of Sufi mysticism in modern academic debates and manuscript preservation in Central Europe.
Recent Developments and Future Directions
In recent years, The Arabist has continued to publish thought-provoking volumes. For instance, volume 46 (2024) explored topics like transcendentalism in Islamic theology, Qur’anic conditionals, and local Islamic traditions in Southeast Asia. contentReference[oaicite14] Volume 47 (2024) honored the work of Tamás Iványi and included studies on Sufi taste, ṢūfÄ« lodges, and trade and Islam in Southeast Asia. contentReference[oaicite15]
Looking ahead, the journal seems poised to maintain its role as a locus for scholarship that is deeply rooted in Arabic studies while being open to new interdisciplinary approaches. It continues to support emerging voices and to promote meaningful connections between Hungarian academic traditions and global Islamic scholarship.
The Arabist Budapest Studies in Arabic stands out as a respected, long-running journal that supports serious and wide-ranging scholarship on the Arabic language, Islamic thought, and cultural history. With its roots in Eötvös Loránd University and its affiliation with the Csoma de Kőrös Society, it occupies a special place at the intersection of Hungarian and Arab academic worlds. Through its peer-reviewed volumes, The Arabist offers valuable insights into linguistics, literature, religion, and history. For students, researchers, or anyone interested in Arabic studies, this journal represents both tradition and innovation, preserving the heritage of Arabic scholarship while contributing to contemporary academic discourse.