Describes problems in Middle Eastern studies, focusing on: (1) the problem of access for students and faculty conducting research due to countries being completely closed or highly restrictive; (2) declines in Middle Eastern and American corporate donations to language and area studies as oil prices decrease; and (3) the difficulties inherent in…

Financially, Japanese studies are relatively well-supported. But the quality of graduate students in the field is declining, and the quality of those who move on to government service is even worse. Additional employment opportunities for Japanese specialists in the private and not-for-profit sectors might be developed. (KH)

African languages and cultures are undertaught in American universities. Some problems, such as the lack of language teaching materials, might be corrected. But universities place a low priority on area studies in general, and on African studies in particular, and methodologism tends to occur at the expense of genuinely international offerings.…

Latin American scholarship is flourishing in universities, but there are some conspicuous weak spots; the need for increased teaching of Portuguese and indigenous languages, the difficulties of maintaining up-to-date bibliographies, and a need for greater funding to enable Latin American area specialists to get into the field more frequently. (KH)

Reviews the state of South Asian studies in American universities. Focuses on language instruction, a trend toward specialization in particular countries or regions, and the decline of popular interest in South Asia. Reports on the need for new funding to replace the Federal Program, PL 480, whose excess currency fund of rupees is almost…

The variety of languages spoken in Southeast Asia complicates the promotion of Southeast Asian studies in American universities. Increased funding for language study abroad and more intensive summer language programs might lessen the problem. Other problems are limited access to field research and the issue of the humanities' role in Southeast…

Describes current funding problems in the field of Russian and East European studies. Focuses on the needs of younger scholars, who face a shortage of academic positions, and the research institutes, which are hard pressed to develop offerings of many of the Eastern European languages. (KH)