Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient

Leibniz-Zentrum Moderner Orient (ZMO) is the only German research institute devoted to an interdisciplinary and comparative study of the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia, South and Southeast Asia from a historical perspective. Current research focuses on the interaction between predominantly Muslim societies and their relations with non-Muslim neighbours. ZMO was founded in 1996 as one of six independent, non-profit research centres. The core funding of ZMO is provided by the Senate of Berlin and the Federal Ministry for Education and Research. Its current director is Prof. Ulrike Freitag, a Modern Middle East historian.