Mideast Scholar ‘Delighted’ Zakaria ‘Has Borrowed Heavily From My Work’

Journalist Fareed Zakaria moderates a panel discussion on Latin America and globalization during the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting Thursday, Sept. 27, 2007 in New York. (AP Photo/Jason DeCrow)
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Mideast scholar and professor Fawaz Gerges told TPM in an email on Friday that he had no problem with the idea that journalist Fareed Zakaria had “borrowed heavily” from his work while writing about world affairs.

Gerges made the statement following allegations earlier in the day that the journalist had plagiarized from him as part of a 2011 book, “The Post-American World: Release 2.0.” The allegations were made by a pair of anonymous bloggers who this week have highlighted a total of 18 times that they contend Zakaria has plagiarized from others.

In his email, Gerges described the longstanding collegial relationship the two of them shared and emphasized he had given the journalist consent to cite him in Zakaria’s writings.

From Gerges’ email to TPM:

Over the last 13 years Mr. Zakaria and myself have often brainstormed about the jihadist phenomenon. We have talked at length about the drivers and motivation behind al-Qaeda and its affiliates. Time and again, he has highlighted my scholarship and I have never felt that he has short-changed me. I have given my consent to Mr. Zakaria to cite me.

I did read his book a while back and I feel delighted that he has borrowed heavily from my work.

Earlier on Friday, the bloggers who on Twitter go by @blippoblappo and @crushingbort wrote on their blog that Zakaria had “blatantly and repeatedly plagiarized” in his book.

The article was a follow-up to an initial slew of charges published by the duo on Tuesday. Zakaria strongly denied the allegations earlier in the week, saying the work in question were “facts, not someone else’s writing or opinions or expressions.”

Zakaria has not responded to TPM’s request for comment on Friday about the latest allegations.

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