Born into an Iraqi Jewish family, Zubaida pursued higher education in the United Kingdom, earning a BA from the University of Hull and an MA from the University of Leicester.In 1972, he helped establish the Department of Politics and Sociology at Birkbeck, University of london, where he became a Reader and later an Emeritus Professor. His courses, including “Political Sociology” and “Religion, Culture and Politics,” were highly regarded by his students.

Zubaida supervised numerous PhD students, generously sharing his knowledge and time. Colleagues remember him as having a subtle and incisive mind, able to identify patterns and connections that made him a respected figure. He was known for his skepticism towards obscurity in the social sciences and humanities, and his own writing was elegant and accessible.

His academic work spanned the sociology of Islam, nationalism, Iraqi politics, and food cultures. He challenged Orientalist narratives in his essays on Islamic movements, state and society, and cosmopolitanism, which were published in islam, the People and the State (1989) and Beyond Islam (2010). These books have become standard texts in the sociology of Islam.

Contributions to Food Culture Studies

“He knew every local market in the region, carefully selecting each ingredient to create delicious meals for his loved ones.”

Beyond his work on politics and society, Zubaida had a significant interest in food culture. He co-edited A Taste of Thyme: Culinary Cultures of the Middle East (1994) and food, Politics, and Society: Social Theory and the Modern Food System (2018), exploring how food cultures reflect the region’s diverse identities, economies, and histories. He appreciated global cuisine, particularly that of southwest France, where he spent summers with his family.

Zubaida co-founded the Middle East Study Group (MESG) with Fred Halliday, talal Asad, and Roger Owen. This group brought together academics, journalists, and students to discuss political and theoretical issues. Meetings were often followed by gatherings at his home in North LONDON, where Zubaida showcased his culinary talents.He was known for his hospitality, poetry recitations, iraqi songs, and infectious laughter. The MESG continues to meet regularly.

Zubaida contributed to publications such as Economy and society, Middle East Report, and Open Democracy.He held visiting positions at universities including the American University of Beirut, American University of Cairo, and New York University.

sami Zubaida is survived by his wife, Connie, and his daughter, Jess. His legacy endures through his influential work and the memories of those who knew him.