Middle Eastern history Books

Book SynopsisDuring the early Ottoman period (13001453), scholars in the empire carefully kept their distance from the ruling class. This changed with the capture of Constantinople. From 1453 onwards, the Ottoman government co-opted large groups of scholars, usually over a thousand at a time, and employed them in a hierarchical bureaucracy to fulfill educational, legal and administrative tasks. Abdurrahman Atçil explores the factors that brought about this gradual transformation of scholars into scholar-bureaucrats, including the deliberate legal, bureaucratic and architectural actions of the Ottoman sultans and their representatives, scholars'' own participation in shaping the rules governing their status and careers, and domestic and international events beyond the control of either group.Table of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. Scholars during the Early Ottoman Period (1300–1453): 1. Post-Mongol realities in Anatolia and the Ottomans; 2. Madrasas and scholars in Ottoman lands; Part II. The Formation of the Hierarchy (1453–1530): 3. Introducing the Ottoman empire; 4. Scholars in Mehmed II's nascent imperial bureaucracy (1453–81); 5. Scholar-bureaucrats realise their power (1481–1530); Part III. The Consolidation of the Hierarchy (1530–1600): 6. The focus of attention changes; 7. The ascendance of dignitary scholar-bureaucrats (mevali); 8. The growth and extension of the hierarchy; 9. The rules and patterns of differentiation among scholar-bureaucrats; 10. The integration of scholar-bureaucrats in multiple career tracks; Conclusion; Glossary; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the 1950s, John Glubb and the Arab Legion became the ''cornerstone'' of Britain''s imperial presence in the Middle East. Based on unprecedented access to the unofficial archive of the Arab Legion, including a major accession of Glubb''s private papers, Graham Jevon examines and revises Britain''s post-1945 retreat from empire in the Middle East. Jevon details how Glubb''s command of the Arab Legion secured British and Jordanian interests during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, answering questions that have dogged historians of this conflict for decades. He reveals how the Arab Legion was transformed, by Cold War concerns, from an internal Jordanian security force to a quasi-division within the British Army. Jevon also sheds new light on the succession crisis following King Abdullah''s assassination, and uses previously unseen documents to challenge accepted contentions concerning King Hussein''s dismissal of Glubb, the 1956 Suez Crisis, and the nature of Britain''s imperial decline.Trade Review'In Britain's imperial history in the Middle East, Glubb Pasha falls somewhere between Lord Cromer and Lawrence of Arabia. In this ground-breaking new study, Glubb is placed at the crossroads between the making of modern Jordan, the birth of the Arab-Israeli conflict, and the end of Britain's moment in the Middle East. An outstanding work of history of contemporary relevance.' Eugene Rogan, St Antony's College, University of Oxford'The dismissal of General Glubb - Glubb Pasha - by King Hussein of Jordan in March 1956 has always been regarded as a key event leading to the Suez crisis. In an extraordinarily perceptive assessment of both Glubb and Hussein, Graham Jevon places Jordan and other countries of the Middle East in historical context, above all, Egypt and Israel. He writes with sustained clarity and breadth of vision while paying exemplary attention to archival sources and specialized studies. A milestone in our knowledge of the Middle East in the 1950s.' Wm Roger Louis, University of Texas, Austin'Jordan was a major pillar of Britain's informal empire in the Middle East and Glubb Pasha was an outstanding practitioner of the techniques of informal empire and indirect rule. This is by far the best study we have of the complex soldier-politician who was often referred to as a 'second Lawrence of Arabia'. Graham Jevon's book is based on a significant range of new archival sources and, above all, on the Glubb papers. The book covers the subject in considerable detail and great depth. It throws a great deal of new light on Glubb, on the Arab Legion he commanded, on the politics of his 'little army', and on Anglo-Jordanian relations during an eventful decade in what Elizabeth Monroe famously called 'Britain's moment in the Middle East'.' Avi Shlaim, author of The Iron Wall: Israel and the Arab World'Jevon's ground-breaking study of Glubb and Jordan's Arab Legion is a fascinating insight into the military and political life of this British-officered army that also sheds new light on the international history of the Middle East in the 1940s and 1950s as the Legion contended with rising Arab nationalism, the Arab-Israeli conflict and the fading might of the British empire.' Matthew Hughes, Brunel Law School'Using Glubb and the Arab Legion as his focus, Jevon has produced a stimulating reassessment of Britain's imperial relationship with Jordan in the immediate post-war period. By using newly released official documents, as well as underused private papers, not least those deriving from Glubb himself, Jevon has succeeded in challenging the existing historiography of Anglo-Jordanian relations in innovative and thought-provoking ways.' Simon C. Smith, The English Historical Review'Jevon is to be congratulated for a scholarly, readable, and valuable study of the life and times of Glubb 'Pasha' from 1945 to 1956. Jevon's work proves the value of how new source material can add substantially to our under- standing of a key period of history.' BustanTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. The 1946 Treaty, Palestine, and the preclusion of the Arab Legion's planned post-war disbandment; 2. The Partition of Palestine, the Greater Transjordan solution, and the new-found significance of Glubb Pasha and the Arab Legion; 3. The 1948 war and Glubb's management of the Greater Transjordan scheme; 4. Bringing the 1948 war to an end: the ad hoc consolidation of Greater Transjordan; 5. Beyond 1948: the Arab Legion, Arab nationalism and the Cold War; 6. A puppeteer in search of a puppet: the royal succession and Britain's policy of selective non-intervention; 7. The Glubb paradox and King Hussein's quest for control of the Arab Legion; 8. Behind the veil of Suez: Glubbless Jordan and the termination of the Treaty; Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book investigates the relationship between government and religion in Middle Eastern history. By tracing how political debates about leadership impacted the theological scholars and their own conception of communal guidance, it offers a new picture of premodern political authority and the connections between Western and Islamic civilizations.Trade Review'Ali Humayun Akhtar's Philosophers, Sufis, and Caliphs explores the interface and interplay between Sufism, philosophy, and politics in the medieval Islamic world. Examining diverse fields in the history of ideas - from metaphysics to politics, cosmology to psychology, and Sufism to philosophical theology - Akhtar examines how scholarly religious authority affected and was affected by political leadership between the tenth and twelfth centuries. The extensively researched chapters on the Spanish Sufi metaphysicians … are particularly valuable for placing their thought in the context of the dialectic of scholars with local monarchs and emirs.' Leonard Lewisohn, Institute of Arab and Islamic Studies, University of Exeter'This is a ground-breaking treatment of the intricate connections between politics and religious thought in the Islamic world over the course of three centuries. Ali Humayun Akhtar offers fresh insights on a half dozen of the most important Muslim thinkers of al-Andalus, including Ibn Masarra, Ibn Hazm, and Ibn Tufayl. His portrait of how Islamic thought developed in the region is a landmark.' Ken Garden, Tufts University, Massachusetts'… a brilliant and well-researched book … summarizes some of the most important discussions about religious and philosophical history occurring today between American, European, and Middle Eastern scholars.' Allen Fromherz, The American Historical Review'… the work is substantial thanks to the erudition of the author …' Lahouari Addi, Reading Religion'… a novel and stimulating work that should be consulted by anyone with an interest in Andalusian intellectual history.' Peter Adamson, Journal of Arabic LiteratureTable of ContentsList of figures; Acknowledgments; Introduction: politics, law, and authority in the Abbasid and Fatimid; Part I. Philosophical Caliphs and their Impact on the Scholars: 1. Rival caliphs in Baghdad and Cairo; 2. A third caliphate in Cordoba; 3. Political reform among the later Abbasids; Part II. Philosophical Sufis among Scholars and their Impact on Political Culture: 4. Sufi metaphysics in the twelfth century; 5. A new political model and its Sufi; 6. The transformation of caliphal politics; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisNineteenth-century Ottoman politics was filled with casual references to public opinion. Having been popularised as a term in the 1860s, the following decades witnessed a deluge of issues being brought into ''the tribune of public opinion''. Murat R. Siviloglu explains how this concept emerged, and how such an abstract phenomenon embedded itself so deeply into the political discourse that even sultans had to consider its power. Through looking at the bureaucratic and educational institutions of the time, this book offers an analysis of the society and culture of the Ottomans, as well as providing an interesting application of theoretical ideas concerning common political identity and public opinion. The result is a more balanced and nuanced understanding of public opinion as a whole.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Historical background; 2. A bureaucratic public sphere; 3. The world of Ismail Ferruh Efendi; 4. The schooling of the public; 5. The emergence of a reading public after C.1860; 6. 'The Turkish Revolution'; Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSuccessive authoritarian regimes have maintained tight control over organized labor in Egypt since the 1950s. And yet in 2009, a group of civil servants decided to exit the state-controlled Egyptian Trade Union Federation (ETUF), thereby setting a precedent for other groups and threatening the ETUF''s monopoly. Dina Bishara examines this relationship between labour organizations and the state to shed light on how political change occurs within an authoritarian government, and to show how ordinary Egyptians perceive the government''s rule. In particular, Bishara highlights the agency of dissident unionists in challenging the state even when trade union leaders remain loyal. She reveals that militant sectors are more vulnerable to greater scrutiny and repression and that financial benefits tied to membership in state-backed unions can provide significant disincentives against the exit option. Moving beyond conventional accounts of top-down control, this book explores when and how instituTable of ContentsList of illustrative material; List of abbreviations; Introduction; 1. The prelude to exit: the rupturing of state-labor relations under Mubarak; 2. The weakest link? Civil servants as the pioneers of independent unionism in Egypt; 3. The politics of ignoring: protest dynamics in late Mubarak Egypt; 4. Framing exit: the role of leadership in the formation of the independent Real Estate Tax Authority Union; 5. The politics of recognition and the micro-dynamics of authoritarian rule; 6. The 2011 uprising and beyond: the struggle for a new interest regime in post-Mubarak Egypt; Conclusion: authoritarianism and corporatism in Egypt and beyond; Bibliography; Appendix; Endnotes; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book is a revised history of Egypt's doctrine of the unity of the Nile Valley, tracing its struggle from monarchy to revolution. It is for scholars and students of Middle Eastern and African history, studying courses on colonial and imperial history, and social movements, and for general readers.Trade Review'Remarkable accomplishment, illuminating and insightful. Egypt and the Struggle for Power in Sudan offers a fresh and original reading of the Egyptian national struggle for unity of the Nile Valley. Combining intellectual with political history, Rami Ginat, examines, in a most sophisticated yet concrete manner, the British-Egyptian rivalry for control and hegemony in Sudan and explains why it culminated dramatically in the 1940s and early 1950s. Ginat systematically and comprehensively reconstructs a broader, multi-vocal system of the Egyptian public's responses to the doctrine of the Nile Valley unification by the ruling elite as well as broader civil society. The book ends with a requiem for the Nile Valley unity dream, shattered by the new 1952 July Revolution regime, who recognized Sudan's right to national self-determination and independence.' Israel Gershoni, Tel-Aviv University'Based on diligent, impeccable archival research, Ginat challenges deep-rooted nationalist narratives to provide a dispassionate, nuanced look at the complexities - and contradictions - of Egyptian claims to sovereignty over the Nile Valley. Situated within the broad contexts of British imperialism and Egyptian and Sudanese decolonization, this is a splendid work of political and intellectual history.' Joel Gordon, Director of the King Fahd Center, University of Arkansas, and author of Nasser's Blessed Movement: Egypt's Free Officers and the July Revolution'… an in-depth book about a relatively short period of history that saw the unraveling of a complex imperial situation.' Peter Woodward, Middle East Journal'… Remarkable book… It's an illuminating study that explores Sudan's rather unique place in the history of imperialism … In moving between regional and international levels of analysis, Egypt and the Struggle for Power in Sudan forces historians to rethink certain assumptions about the complex and contradictory relationships between imperialism and nationalist movements, while providing a definitive political and intellectual history of Egypt's postwar struggle for control over Sudan.' Brian Peterson, The American Historical ReviewTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. The Theoretical Foundations of Egypt's Claims for the Unity of the Nile Valley: 1. Egyptian perceptions of the Sudan: historical narratives; 2. The unity of the Nile Valley: geographical, economic and ethnographical perspectives; Part II. The Struggle for the Sudan: Politics, Diplomacy and Public Discourse: 3. The Sudan question: the Egyptian transition from wartime lethargy to postwar overtures and deeds; 4. Between two modes of imperialism: education, nationalism and the struggle for power in the Sudan; 5. The aftermath of the security council hype: whither the unity of the Nile Valley?; 6. Social movements and the Sudan question: a case study in the divergence of national liberation movements; Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this landmark study, Shahla Haeri offers the extraordinary biographies of several Muslim women rulers and leaders who reached the apex of political systems of their times. Their stories illuminate the complex and challenging imperatives of dynastic succession, electoral competition and the stunning success they achieved in medieval Yemen and India, and modern Pakistan and Indonesia. The written history of Islam and the Muslim world is overwhelmingly masculine, having largely ignored women and their contributions until well into the 20th century. Religious and legal justifications have been systematically invoked to justify Muslim women''s banishment from politics and public domains. Yet this patriarchal domination has not gone on without serious challenges by women - sporadic and exceptional though their participation in the battle of succession has been. The Unforgettable Queens of Islam highlights lives and legacies of a number of charismatic women engaged in fierce battles of sucTrade Review'Most women rulers in Islamic states succeeded their fathers or husbands, and Shahla Haeri shows that they cultivated an image as tolerant and caring 'mothers' of their nations. Her fascinating and original study concludes that an emerging generation of female politicians may represent a more democratic and inclusive force in Muslim societies, precisely because their very identity is a challenge to military and theocratic establishments.' Adam Kuper, British Academy'Haeri harvests decades of work on women political leaders in the Islamic world, from the Queen of Sheba in the 10th century B.C.E. to the contemporary Pakistani Benazir Bhutto and Indonesian Megawati Sukarnoputri. By performing fine-tuned ethnographic and historical research, Haeri brilliantly answers the question of why only in modern times have religious/political establishments begun to apply the suspect hadith against accepting a woman as ruler.' Mary Elaine Hegland, Santa Clara University, California'The written history of the Muslim world is still typically told in a manner that sidelines the experience of Muslim women. In this beautifully written and important book, Shahla Haeri corrects that imbalance, creating the finest book I have ever read on women leaders across the Muslim-majority world. This is a 'must read' for everyone interested in Islam and gender today and across the span of history.' Robert W. Hefner, Boston University, Massachusetts'This pioneering book offers a riveting account of women who have achieved political power across a range of Muslim majority cultures and down the centuries. Today the issue of women and power is a highly contested one in Muslim majority countries - as indeed elsewhere. Offering a sustained, reasoned and well-grounded overview and analysis of the topic and its underpinnings, this book constitutes an invaluable resource.' Leila Ahmed, Harvard University, Massachusetts'The Unforgettable Queens of Islam presents a fascinating set of comparative biographies of Muslim women leaders … engaging and thought-provoking.' R. A. Miller, Choice'I thoroughly enjoyed each story, learning how these very different women acquired and maintained their power and authority, and what their gender brought to their challenges and opportunities … For those interested in the relationship between religion and politics, and the nature of gender and authority in the modern world, this book is a great place to start! …fascinating and timely …' Diane C. Perlov, California Science CenterTable of ContentsIntroduction. Games of succession: patriarchy, power, gender; Part I. Sacred Sources of Authority: The Quran and the Hadith: 1. Queen of Sheba and the mighty throne; 2. Aisha Bint Abu Bakr: battle of the camel, battle for succession; Part II. Medieval Queens: Dynasty and Descent: 3. Sayyida Hurra Queen Arwa of Yemen: 'the little Queen of Sheba'; 4. Razia Sultan of India: 'Queen of the world Bilqis-I Jihan'; Part III. Contemporary Queens: Institutionalization of Succession and Leadership: 5. Benazir Bhutto: a queen 'without parallel'; 6. Megawati Sukarnoputri: 'Limbuk becomes Queen'; Conclusion. Patriarchal paradox?

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis groundbreaking book, which is the first comprehensive assessment of al-Maqdisi, his life, ideology and influence, is based on his extensive writings as well as interviews that the author conducted with former jihadis. More broadly, the book offers an alternative, insider perspective on the rise of radical Islam.Trade Review“ A Quietist Jihadi is a truly impressive work of scholarship that delves deep into a field that was, until recently, largely terra incognita, and emerges with a compelling portrait of a key figure in both contemporary salafism and the world of radical militancy. This is a major accomplishment, and Wagemakers’ A Quietist Jihadi is surely destined to be remembered as a milestone in these emerging fields of study.” -Daniel Lav, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Islam and Christian–Muslim RelationsTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. Al-Maqdisi's Life and his Place in the Jihadi Ideological Spectrum, 1859–2009: 1. Wavering between quietism and jihadism; 2. Al-Maqdisi's quietist jihadi-salafi 'Aqīda; 3. Al-Maqdisi's quietist jihadi-salafi Manha; Part II. Al-Maqdisi's Influence on the Saudi Islamic Opposition, 1989–2005: 4. Saudi Arabia's post-Gulf War opposition; 5. Al-Qa 'ida on the Arabian peninsula; Part III. Al-Maqdisi's Influence on the Development of al-Walā wa-l-Barā, 1984–2009: 6. The revival of al-Isti āna bi-l-Kuffār; 7. 'Salafising' jihad; Part IV. Al-Maqdisi's Influence on the Jordanian Jihadi-Salafi Community, 1992–2009: 8. Guidance to the seekers; 9. The leader of the Jordanian jihadi-salafi community?; Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe war of June 1967 between Israel and Arab states was perceived as being forced on Israel to prevent the annihilation of its people by Arab armies hovering on its borders. Documents now declassified by key governments question this view. This book seeks to provide a corrective on the war.Trade Review'… provides many new insights into the origins of the war … lucid and splendidly readable account of the Six-Day War …' Victor Kattan, International AffairsTable of ContentsPart I. A War Is Generated: 1. Who was to blame and why it matters; 2. The Syrian connection; 3. Egypt flexes its muscle; 4. Historical opportunity for Israel; Part II. Cold War Togetherness: 5. Britain has a plan; 6. Southern passage: Aqaba as cause for war; 7. The Americans will not sit shiva; 8. How to attack: we have to be the victims; Part III. The First Victim of War: 9. Turkey shoot; 10. Cover-up in the Security Council; 11. Security Council in the dark; 12. Cover-up in the General Assembly; Part IV. Rallying Round Self-Defense: 13. How to read the silence on aggression; 14. The experts fall in line; 15. No threat? No matter; Part V. War Without Limit?: 16. War by mistake; 17. Defending in advance; 18. A new doctrine of preventive war; Part VI. Peace Sidelined: 19. Permanent takeover?; 20. Blocking the path to peace.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe New Middle East is one of the first comprehensive books to critically examine the Arab popular uprisings of 2011–12. It contains meticulous and thoughtful reflections on the meanings, causes, drivers and effects of these seminal events on the internal, local and international politics of the Middle East and North Africa.Trade Review'Fawaz Gerges, in The New Middle East, offers a much-needed balanced analysis that views the 2011 uprising as a revolutionary moment that started a potentially long-term march toward democracy that may take years to fully develop.' Nabeel A. Khoury, Bustan: The Middle East Book ReviewTable of Contents1. Introduction: a rupture Fawaz A. Gerges; Part I. Context and Clauses: 2. Authoritarian legacies and regime change: towards understanding political transition in the Arab world Lisa Anderson; 3. Egypt's modern revolutions and the fall of Mubarak Juan Cole; 4. A depressive pre-Arab uprising economic performance Ali Kadri; 5. Bread and olive oil: the agrarian roots of the Arab uprisings Rami Zurayk and Anne Gough; Part II. Thematic and Comparative Aspects: 6. The politics of resistance and the Arab uprisings Charles Tripp; 7. Egypt's 25 January uprising, hegemonic contestation and the explosion of the poor John Chalcraft; 8. The military amidst uprisings and transitions in the Arab world Philippe Droz-Vincent; 9. Women, democracy and dictatorship in the context of the Arab uprisings Sami Zubaida; 10. Dangers and demon(izer)s of democratization in Egypt: through an Indonesian glass, darkly John Sidel; Part III. Countries in Turmoil: 11. Egypt and Tunisia in the Arab Spring: from the revolutionary overthrow of dictatorships to the struggle to establish a new constitutional order Roger Owen; 12. Arab nationalism, Islamism and the Arab uprisings Sadik Al-Azm; 13. Yemen: revolution suspended? Gabriele Vom Bruck, Atiaf al-Wazir and Benjamin Wiacek; 14. Libya in transition: from Jamahiriya to Jumhūriyyah? Karim Mezran; 15. Bahrain's uprisings: domestic implications and regional and international perspectives Kristian Ulrichsen; Part IV. International Implications: 16. Saudi internal dilemmas and regional responses to the Arab uprisings Madawi Al-Rasheed; 17. Israel, Palestine and the Arab Spring Avi Shlaim; 18. Turkey and Iran in the era of the Arab uprisings Mohammed Ayoob; 19. US policy and the Arab revolutions of 2011 William Quandt; 20. Europe and the Arab uprisings: the irrelevant power? Federica Bicchi; 21. Conclusion: rebellious citizens and resilient authoritarians Valerie Bunce.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the 2003 war that ended Saddam Hussein''s regime, coalition forces captured thousands of hours of secret recordings of meetings, phone calls and conferences. Originally prepared by the Institute for Defense Analyses for the Office of the Undersecretary of Defense for Policy, this study presents annotated transcripts of Iraqi audio recordings of meetings between Saddam Hussein and his inner circle. The Saddam Tapes, along with the much larger digital collection of captured records at the National Defense University''s Conflict Records Research Center, will provide researchers with important insights into the inner workings of the regime and, it is hoped, the nature of authoritarian regimes more generally. The collection has implications for a range of historical questions. How did Saddam react to the pressures of his wars? How did he manage the Machiavellian world he created? How did he react to the signals and actions of the international community on matters of war and peace? WTrade Review'Provides researchers with important insights.' Middle EastTable of Contents1. The United States; 2. The 'Zionist entity'; 3. The Arab world; 4. Qadisiyyah Saddam (the Iran–Iraq War); 5. The mother of all battles; 6. Special munitions; 7. The embargo and the special commission; 8. Hussein Kamil.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhat does police violence against minorities, or violent clashes between minorities and the police tell us about citizenship and its internal hierarchies? Indicative of deep-seated tensions and negative perceptions; incidents such as these suggest how minorities are vulnerable, suffer from or are subject to police abuse and neglect in Israel. Marked by skin colour, negatively stigmatized or rendered security threats, their encounters with police provide a daily reminder of their defunct citizenship. Taking as case studies the experiences and perceptions of four minority groups within Israel including Palestinian/Arab citizens, ultra-Orthodox Jews and Ethiopian and Russian immigrants, Ben-Porat and Yuval are able to explore different paths of citizenship and the stratification of the citizenship regime through relations with and perceptions of the police in Israel. Touching on issues such as racial profiling, police brutality and neighbourhood neglect, their study questions the notions of citizenship and belonging, shedding light on minority relationships with the state and its institutions.Table of ContentsIntroduction. Policing citizens; 1. Theoretical Framework; 2. Police and policing in Israel; 3. Arab citizens: national minority and police; 4. The skin color effect: police and the Jews of Ethiopian descent; 5. The religious factor: ultra-Orthodox Jews (Haredim); 6. Integration and citizenship: Russian immigrants; Conclusions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDrawing on a range of previously unexamined sources, this comparative study of two contemporary Arab nations proposes a compelling new theory that accounts for the complexities of religion-state dynamics across the Arab world. These case studies will appeal to anyone keen to understand the post-uprisings Arab landscape, including both scholars and policymakers.Trade Review'The apposite institutionalization of religion poses a political quandary for many states in the Arab world. Regulating Islam deftly explores a cocktail of three factors: ideology, political opponent profile, and institutional endowment that interact to shape the state's stance on religion. Tracing the evolution in state policy on religious education in Morocco and Tunisia over the past 60 years, Feuer accounts for the variation found in these policies across time and case, explains paradoxical outcomes (e.g. traditionally-minded states that choose to reduce state support for religion) and introduces new concepts such as 'identity bargaining' where political leaders, faced with daunting political and resource constraints, 'split the difference' between linguistic and religious dimensions of identity, and ultimately privilege an emphasis on Islam in the state educational system. An enlightening contribution to the politics of religion in the Arab world and beyond.' Eva Bellin, Myra and Robert Kraft Professor of Arab Politics, Crown Center for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University, Massachusetts'Sarah J. Feuer combines theoretical sophistication with extensive fieldwork in Morocco and Tunisia to bring new insight into how governments regulate religion in general and religious education in particular. First she demonstrates that existing theories, while providing insight, fail to fully explain Tunisia and Morocco. She then weaves an intricate yet accessible and understandable theory based on the interaction between a government's ideology, its institutional strength, and the nature of its opposition to explain how governments formulate religion policy. This thoughtful and insightful book will influence how we think about religion policy well beyond Morocco and Tunisia.' Jonathan Fox, Yehuda Avner Professor of Religion and Politics, Bar Ilan University, IsraelTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Toward a theory of religious regulation; 2. The Moroccan ingredients of religious regulation; 3. Striking an identity bargain in Morocco; 4. The Tunisian ingredients of religious regulation; 5. Balancing Muhammad and Montesquieu in Tunisia; 6. Regulating Islam after the spring.

Read more less

Book SynopsisStates routinely and readily exploit the grey area between sentiments of national affinity and hegemonic emotions geared to nationalist aggression. In this book, Arshin Adib-Moghaddam focuses on the use of Iranian identity to offer a timely exploration into the psychological and political roots of national identity and how these are often utilised by governments from East to West. Examining this trend, both under the Shah as well as by the governments since the 1979 Iranian revolution, Adib-Moghaddam''s analysis is driven by what he terms ''psycho-nationalism'', a new concept derived from psychological dynamics in the making of nations. Through this, he demonstrates how nationalist ideas evolved in global history and their impact on questions of identity, statecraft and culture. Psycho-nationalism describes how a nation is made, sustained and ''sold'' to its citizenry and will interest students and scholars of Iranian culture and politics, world political history, nationalism studies aTrade Review'Sophisticated and innovative, Psycho-nationalism sheds new light on the persistent problem of nationalism. In what Arshin Adib-Moghaddam calls 'psycho-nationalism', the focus is less about, in reference to Ernest Gellner, a political principle with a homogenizing force, and more about disciplinary practices in shaping a cognitive regime of self and other, marked by policies of separation and political antagonism. However, as the case of Iran shows, such disciplinary mechanisms also involve sites of resistance, everyday defiances in redefining the state-society relations in the global era of (un)making nations. This is a book certain to generate discussion and have a major impact in cultural and socio-political studies.' Babak Rahimi, Director of the Program for the Study of Religion and Third World Studies, University of California, San DiegoTable of ContentsIntroduction: love and politics; 1. National hysteria: Roma o'Morte; 2. International hubris: Kings of Kings and Vicegerents of God; 3. Geographic dislocations: Iran is in India; 4. Religious neuroses: Islam and the people; 5. Un-national therapy: freedom and its discontents; 6. Sexing the nation: subversive trans-localities.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIslam is the religion of the majority of Arab citizens in Israel and since the late 1970s has become an important factor in their political and socio-cultural identity. This leads to an increasing number of Muslims in Israel who define their identity first and foremost in relation to their religious affiliation. By examining this evolving religious identity during the past four decades and its impact on the religious and socio-cultural aspects of Muslim life in Israel, Muhammad Al-Atawneh and Nohad Ali explore the local nature of Islam. They find that Muslims in Israel seem to rely heavily on the prominent Islamic authorities in the region, perhaps more so than minority Muslims elsewhere. This stems, inter alia, from the fact that Muslims in Israel are the only minority that lives in a land they consider to be holy and see themselves as a natural.Trade Review'This book is a significant contribution to the study of three areas of theoretical interest: Muslims and Islam in general and in Israel as a Jewish state in particular; Minorities in general, and the Palestinian minority in Israel in particular; and interactions between religious groups in a religiously divided reality, such as that among Palestinians in Israel. Questions of coping with the challenges of modernity, attitudes toward others, processes of return to religion, and the development of a unique heritage that fits the political / social context are discussed at length, in a manner that has not been discussed so far. The authors systematically use a variety of quantitative, qualitative methodologies, anthropological observations and their own involvement in the field in order to provide us with a diverse and real account of the lives of the Muslims in Israel. There is no doubt that the contribution of the authors and the book is absolutely vital to any student who has an interest in the fields of interest discussed here.' As'ad Ghanem, University of Haifa, Israel'The case of a non-dominant Muslim minority in a highly secular, Jewish and Zionist state, in an Islam-endowed land, is historically unprecedented and unparalleled. Islam in Israel is the first book that tells us how Muslim Arabs conduct themselves under these inhospitable and unique circumstances.' Sammy Smooha, University of Haifa, Israel'This is an excellent study of the Islamic Movement in Israel, which has become a leading educational, moral and religious power with deep-rooted societal and political standing, successfully outweighing its secular and national adversaries. This well-documented and carefully-researched book offers a comprehensive understanding of the causes of its rise, the essence of its ideological tenants and political practices, and the complexities of its survival as an Islamic fundamentalist movement in a Jewish state.' Elie Rekhess, Associate Director, Israel Studies, Northwestern University, IllinoisTable of ContentsList of figures; List of tables; Acknowledgments; Note on transliteration; Introduction; 1. Islam in Israel: background; 2. Islamic religious authority and interpretation in Israel; 3. Islam and the public: affiliation, religiosity and observance; 4. Muslim identity and Islamic practice in Israel; 5. The Muslim minority and the Israeli establishment: acceptance and/or alienation;. 6. Being Muslim in the Israeli socio-cultural space; Conclusions; Appendix A: English questionnaire; Appendix B: Arabic questionnaire; Glossary of Arabic terms; Bibliography and sources; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAfter Tunisia's 2010–11 uprising and the downfall of its dictator, a period of transformation occurred as new actors and groups rushed to actively participate in the socio-political transformations of their nation. Fortier examines the effects of opening up this public space, and the deep sociocultural and socioreligious divisions that emerged.Trade Review'Fortier's book is an important contribution to our understanding of what happens to civil society dynamics when a dictator falls and pluralistic politics is introduced. This compelling study of post-uprising Tunisia provides the opportunity to examine the tumultuous relationships, conflicts and debates that characterize post-authoritarian civil society activism.' Francesco Cavatorta, Université Laval, Canada'This study establishes the falsity of the neoliberal doxa's view of 'civil society' as homogeneously dedicated to 'good governance'. Through the litmus tests of three different NGO standpoints - human rights, sexual freedom, and faith - Edwige Fortier effectively shows how only a disparate and conflictive civil society can be the hallmark of democracy.' Gilbert Achcar, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London and author of The People Want: A Radical Exploration of the Arab UprisingTable of Contents1. Introduction: in the pursuit of dignity and freedom; 2. Situating civil society: emancipation or liberalization; 3. The consolidation of the Tunisian state; 4. Civil society and the opening up of the public space; 5. Social divisions and the re-manifestation of social Islam; 6. Consensus and marginalization: the mapping of priorities in post-uprising Tunisia; 7. Conclusion: imagining change – determining the parameters of pluralism.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Arab Uprisings of 2010 and 2011 had a profound effect on labor politics in the region, with trade unions mobilizing to an extent never before seen. How did these formerly quiescent trade unions become militant? What linkages did they make to other social forces during and after the revolutions? And why did Tunisian unions emerge cohesive and influential while Egyptian unions were fractured and lacked influence? Following extensive interviews, Ian M. Hartshorn answers these questions and assesses how unions forged alliances, claimed independence, and cooperated with international groups. Looking at institutions both domestically and internationally, he traces the corporatist collapse and the role of global labor in offering training and new possibilities for disgruntled workers. With special attention to the relationship with rising Islamist powers, he also examines the ways in which political parties tried to use labor, and vice versa, and provides a detailed study of the role of labor in ousting the first Islamist governments.Table of Contents1. Trade union politics before and after the Arab uprisings; 2. Corporatist collapse in Egypt; 3. Egypt's failures to reconsolidate corporatism; 4. Corporatist collapse in Tunisia; 5. Tunisia's struggle to reconsolidate; 6. Constitutional crises and Islamist competition; 7. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisSince the Iranian Revolution of 1979, many Western observers of Iran have seen the country caught between Eastern history and ''Western'' modernity, between religion and secularity. As a result, analysis of political philosophy preceding the Revolution has become subsumed by this narrative. Here, Afshin Matin-Asgari proposes a revisionist work of intellectual history, challenging many of the dominant paradigms in Iranian and Middle Eastern historiography and offering a new narration. In charting the intellectual construction of Iranian modernity during the twentieth century, Matin-Asgari focuses on broad patterns of influential ideas and their relation to each other. These intellectual trends are studied in a global historical context, leading to the assertion that Iranian modernity has been sustained by at least a century of intense intellectual interaction with global ideologies. Turning many prevailing narratives on their heads, the author concludes that modern Iran can be seen as, Trade Review'This unique book registers the many sources of influence, hitherto overlooked by the researchers in the field, that have shaped up modern Iran. Afshin Matin-asgari offers a meticulous and compelling account of the cosmopolitan character of modern Iranian intellectual, social, cultural, and political thought. A superb and authoritative reference for scholars and public alike.' Peyman Vahabzadeh, University of Victoria'Afshin Matin-Asgari has written a highly succinct, readable, and perceptive work on the major issue confronting intellectuals in Iran from the late nineteenth century up to the 1979 revolution: the issue of how to discuss, confront, and deal with the intellectual challenge coming from the West. This is also an important contribution to our understanding of the eventual downfall of the Shah.' Ervand Abrahamian, City University of New York'By focusing on the influence of the Ottoman and Russian models on Iranian intellectual thought, Both Eastern and Western offers an original and thought-provoking account of Iran's road toward 'modernity' in the twentieth century.' Rudi Matthee, University of Delaware'Afshin Matin-Asgari's Both Eastern and Western: An Intellectual History of Iranian Modernity is a master stroke - resonating with earlier groundworks that had prepared the stage for this bravura delivery. He restages the central significance of the adventure of ideas in the making of nations at a time when state-centered political history is dimming the wit of much contemporary historiography. Deeply informed, politically committed, morally imaginative, Matin-Asgari's own book is a towering achievement of the intellectual history he chronicles with impeccable precision.' Hamid Dabashi, Columbia University, New YorkTable of ContentsIntroduction: intellectual constructions of Iranian modernity; 1. Lineages of authoritarian modernity: the Russo-Ottoman model; 2. The Berlin Circle: crafting the worldview of Iranian nationalism; 3. Subverting constitutionalism: intellectuals as instruments of modern dictatorship; 4. Intellectual missing links: politicizing religion and translating modernity; 5. The mid-century moment of socialist hegemony; 6. Revolutionary monarchy, political Shi'ism, and Islamic Marxism; 7. Conclusion: aborted resurrection: an intellectual arena wide open to opposition.

Read more less

Book SynopsisPre-modern Muslim jurists drew a clear distinction between the nurturing and upkeep of children, or ''custody'', and caring for the child''s education, discipline, and property, known as ''guardianship''. Here, Ahmed Fekry Ibrahim analyzes how these two concepts relate to the welfare of the child, and traces the development of an Islamic child welfare jurisprudence akin to the Euro-American concept of the best interests of the child, enshrined in the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC). Challenging Euro-American exceptionalism, he argues that child welfare played an essential role in agreements designed by early modern Egyptian judges and families, and that Egyptian child custody laws underwent radical transformations in the modern period. Focusing on a variety of themes, including matters of age and gender, the mother''s marital status, and the custodian''s lifestyle and religious affiliation, Ibrahim shows that there is an exaggerated gap between the modern concept of the best interests of the child and pre-modern Egyptian approaches to child welfare.Trade Review'This is a fascinating account of the practice of custody and guardianship in Egypt,and one hopes many future studies on these subjects will follow.' Janan Delgado, Journal of Near Eastern StudiesTable of ContentsPart I. Child Custody and Guardianship in Comparative Perspective: 1. Child custody in civil and common law jurisdictions; 2. The best interests of the child in juristic discourse; Part II. Ottoman Egyptian Practice 1517–1801: 3. Private separation deeds in action; 4. Ottoman juristic discourse in action (1517–1801); 5. Child custody in Egypt 1801–1929; 6. Twentieth- and twenty-first-century child custody (1929–2014).

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe transition from Qajar rule in Iran (c.17891925) to that of rule by the Pahlavi dynasty (19251979) set in motion a number of shifts in the political, social, and cultural realms. Focusing on masculinity in Iran, this book interweaves ideas and perceptions, laws, political movements, and men''s practices to spotlight the role men as gendered subjects played in Iranian history. It shows how men under the reign of Reza Shah dressed, acted, spoke, and thought differently from their late Qajar period counterparts. Furthermore, it highlights how the notion of being a proper Iranian man changed over these decades. Demonstrating how an emerging elite of western-educated men constructed and promoted a new model of masculinity as part of their struggle for political, social, and cultural hegemony, Balslev shows how this new model reflects wider developments in Iranian society at the time including the rise of Iranian nationalism and the country''s modernisation process.Table of ContentsIntroduction: changing masculinities in a changing Iran; 1. Ideals and practices of masculinity in Qajar society: Javanmard, Luti and Pahlava; 2. Western knowledge and education and the emergence of a new Iranian masculinity in the late nineteenth-century; 3. Gendering the nation: patriotic men and endangered women in the constitutional revolution discourse; 4. Farangimaabs and Fokolis: masculinities and westernization from the constitutional revolution to Reza Shah; 5. Marriage reform in interwar Iran: regulating male sexuality to maintain male hegemony; 6. Male dress reforms under Reza Shah; 7. 'Strong spirits, strong arms, strong hearts': sport, scouting and soldiering under Reza Shah; Conclusions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisWhy do some individuals participate in risky, anti-regime resistance whereas others abstain? The Revolution Withinanswers this question through an in-depth study of unarmed resistance against Israeli rule in the Palestinian Territories over more than a decade. Despite having strong anti-regime sentiment, Palestinians initially lacked the internal organizational strength often seen as necessary for protest. This book provides a foundation for understanding participation and mobilization under these difficult conditions. It argues that, under these conditions, integration into state institutions - schools, prisons and courts - paradoxically makes individuals more likely to resist against the state. Diverse evidence drawn from field research - including the first, large-scale survey of participants and non-participants in Palestinian resistance, Arabic language interviews, and archival sources - supports the argument. The book''s findings explain how anti-regime resistance can occur even Trade Review'Zeira supports her innovative argument with never-before-collected survey data that is simply breathtaking in its ingenuity. Her representative sample of 650 Palestinian West Bank males in the target age bracket is the most innovative data collection effort I have seen in that region. Although many researchers have studied Palestinian rebellion during the first intifada, none has used her comprehensive, careful, sophisticated, survey methodology. The author brings best practices from political science and public health to the survey table, allowing her to present data, and analysis, of vital importance.' James Ron, Harold E. Stassen Chair of International Affairs, University of Minnesota'This impressive study offers original and important insights about why some Palestinians participated in the first intifada while others did not. With evidence from extended and in-depth fieldwork, including but not limited to the design and conduct of a large-scale survey, Zeira both enriches our understanding of the political dynamics shaping Palestinian behavior and makes a significant contribution to collective action and social movement theory. Blending deep knowledge of the Palestinian case, a strong and original foundation of evidence, and a serious engagement with relevant theoretical literatures, Zeira makes a very important and original scholarly contribution.' Mark Tessler, Samuel J. Eldersveld Professor of Political Science, University of Michigan'Scholars typically view state institutions as sites of control and judge that groups with low organizational strength seldom launch social movements. Yael Zeira convincingly challenges both of these conventional wisdoms by showing how integration into schools and disciplinary institutions can aid anti-regime resistance by joining individuals in new social networks, facilitating the sharing of information, and reducing risks from uncertainty. Employing one-of-a-kind original surveys and in-depth knowledge forged by years of fieldwork, Zeira sheds fresh light on the first Palestinian Intifada and beyond. Students of contentious politics, social networks, authoritarianism, and liberation movements will find much to learn in this fascinating and nuanced work.' Wendy Pearlman, Northwestern University, Illinois'The Revolution Within offers a powerful new argument to explain why some individuals participate in unarmed resistance, while other remain on the sidelines. With evidence from Palestine, Yael Zeira shows that integration into state-controlled mass institutions, such as the education system and the prison system, provides individuals with greater access to information about tactics and potential participants, which mitigates uncertainty about the risk of resistance activities and leads to more individuals participating. This book is a must read for scholars and students of nonviolence and unarmed resistance.' Kathleen Gallagher Cunningham, University of Maryland'An insightful, novel analysis … The Revolution Within shows how Palestinians created networks of resistance from within state-controlled schools and prisons. While prior scholarship has stressed that strong civil societies produce successful social movements, this study argues that state institutions themselves can be appropriated and used to facilitate sustained non-violent protest. Through field work and original survey data, this meticulously well-researched and engaging study provides a compelling account of how a nationwide protest movement began.' Adria Lawrence, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore'Yael Zeira's probing new study asks a critical question: how does anti-government opposition emerge in authoritarian societies which lack the kind of deep civil society groups that often form the backbone of protest movements? Her answer: state institutions themselves can serve as the site of pro-reform organization. This brilliant insight helps explain critical historical events, from the rise of the Anti-Apartheid movement in South Africa and the rise of the Arab Spring in Egypt.' Jacob Shapiro, Princeton University'The Revolution Within presents fascinating new insights into how and why Palestinians mobilized against Israeli occupation. Yael Zeira's unique, carefully designed survey research and rigorous analysis reveals the unanticipated ways in which schools, prisons and other civil society networks served as key facilitators for the organization of collective action. This important book not only provides a deeper understanding of Palestinian political organization, but also provides important comparative insights into the underlying mechanisms of collective action.' Marc Lynch, George Washington University'… her findings will be useful for future studies of revolutionary processes.' S. Zuhur, Choice'… the book provides a compelling account of a key period of Palestinian resistance and a strong case for looking beyond the role of internal and autonomous organizations and networks to consider state institutions as potential incubators and generators of popular mobilization for mass unarmed resistance, especially in authoritarian environments.' Roger Baumann, MobilizationTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. The rise of anti-regime resistance; 3. Educational institutions and participation in resistance; 4. Disciplinary institutions and participation in resistance; 5. Beyond state institutions: civil society and the coordination of resistance; 6. Conclusions; 7. Methodological appendix.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe Palestinian minority in Israel are currently experiencing a new trend in their political development which Ghanem and Mustafa have here called 'The Politics of Faith'. This book traces the emergence of a new generation of political leadership and studies the demographic, social and religious transformations in Palestinian society.Trade Review'This book is an excellent, well-documented sociological study about the Palestinians in Israel.' Arab Studies QuarterlyTable of ContentsIntroduction: historical background and analytical framework; 1. The political aspirations and demands of the Palestinian minority in Israel after Oslo: challenging the 'hegemonic ethnocracy'; 2. Political leadership among the Palestinians in Israel; 3. The empowerment of civil society: Palestinian non-governmental organizations in Israel; 4. Politicization of Islamic activism in Israel; 5. The 'future vision': the consolidation of collective identity politics; 6. ‎The 'joint list' of Arab parties in the 2015 Knesset elections: the national consensus from concept to practice‎; Conclusion: the future of the Palestinians in Israel.

Read more less

Book SynopsisIn this book, Omar Farahat presents a new way of understanding the work of classical Islamic theologians and legal theorists who maintained that divine revelation is necessary for the knowledge of the norms and values of human actions. Through a reconstruction of classical Ash?ari-Mu?tazili debates on the nature and implications of divine speech, Farahat argues that the Ash?ari attachment to revelation was not a purely traditionalist position. Rather, it was a rational philosophical commitment emerging from debates in epistemology and theology. He further argues that the particularity of this model makes its distinctive features helpful for contemporary scholars who defend a form of divine command theory. Farahat''s volume thus constitutes a new reading of the issue of reason and revelation in Islam and breaks new ground in Islamic theology, law and ethics.Trade Review'The book undoubtedly makes important contributions to contemporary scholarship on theology, the history of Islamic sects and doctrines, and uṣūl al-fiqh.' Necmettin Kızılkaya, Nazariyat'Written in a scholarly, yet clear, fashion, the book is suitable for scholars and students of Islamic studies generally, and Islamic theology, Islamic law, Islamic history, and Islamic ethics more specifically… this work offers an important contribution for religious moral and legal theories in general.' Sami Al-Daghistani, Journal of Law and Religion'… an important contribution for religious moral and legal theories …' Sami Al-Daghistani, Journal of Law and ReligionTable of ContentsIntroduction: classical Islamic thought and the promise of post-secularism; Part I. Epistemological and Metaphysical Foundations: 1. What do we know without revelation? The epistemology of divine speech; 2. God in relation to us: the metaphysics of divine speech; 3. The nature of divine speech in classical theology; Part II. The Construction of Norms in Islamic Jurisprudence: 4. The nature of divine commands in classical legal theory; 5. Divine commands in the imperative mood; 6. The persistence of natural law in Islamic jurisprudence.

Read more less

Book SynopsisUnderstanding events and key actors in Iran has been pivotal to understanding global history and politics, and this is ever-more evident now. With this introduction to Iranian history since 1800, Yann Richard offers a comprehensive and powerful narrative of the challenges encountered by Iranians in modern times.Trade Review'The book is well written, covers the main events in modern Iranian history up to the present, and will be an important source for scholars and others interested in understanding modern Iran.' G. M. Farr, Choice'[Richard's] passion for the country shines through the chapters of this work. The views expressed are quite trenchant in tone. Within the confines of 300-odd pages, the book is able to provide a broad-sweep explanation of all the major watershed events …' The Commonwealth Lawyer JournalTable of ContentsPreface; 1. Iran under the Qajars; 2. Three Shahs, three wars, three reformers (1797–1896); 3. From revolts to the revolution (1880–1906); 4. The Constitutional Revolution: from illusion to reality (1905–08); 5. The nationalists' bitter victory (1908–12); 6. Iran in the Great War; 7. The end of the Qajars; 8. Rezā Khān to Rezā Shāh: defender of the nation; 9. From Persia to Iran: foreign relations; 10. The democratic awakening (1941–53); 11. The last reign of an immortal kingdom, Mohammad-Rezā Shāh; 12. An Islamic Republic in Iran; Conclusion lies and truth; Chronology; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisEphrem, one of the earliest Syriac Christian writers, lived on the eastern outskirts of the Roman Empire during the fourth century. Although he wrote polemical works against Jews and pagans, and identified with post-Nicene Christianity, his writings are also replete with parallels with Jewish traditions and he is the leading figure in an ongoing debate about the Jewish character of Syriac Christianity. This book focuses on early ideas about betrothal, marriage, and sexual relations, including their theological and legal implications, and positions Ephrem at a precise intersection between his Semitic origin and his Christian commitment. Alongside his adoption of customs and legal stances drawn from his Greco-Roman and Christian surroundings, Ephrem sometimes reveals unique legal concepts which are closer to early Palestinian, sectarian positions than to the Roman or Jewish worlds. The book therefore explains naturalistic legal thought in Christian literature and sheds light on the rise of Syriac Christianity.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Creating a primary bond: what is betrothal?; 2. During betrothal: is premarital cohabitation an option?; 3. Creating a marital bond: can rape determine marital status?; 4. Breaking a marital bond: what do fornication and adultery do?; 5. Discussion and conclusions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAssuming a central place in Muslim life, the Qur''an speaks of one community of the faith, the umma. This unity of the faithful is recognised as the default aspiration of the believer, and in the modern era, intellectuals and political leaders have often vied both to define, and to lead it. Based on case studies of actors such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and ISIS, James Piscatori and Amin Saikal consider how some appeals to pan-Islam prove useful, yet other attempts at cross-border institutionalisation including the Sunni Caliphate or the modern Shi''i-inspired Islamic Revolution, founder on political self-interest and sectarian affiliations. Accompanied by a range of scriptural references to examine different interpretations of the umma, Piscatori and Saikal explore why, despite it meaning such widely different things, and its failure to be realised as a concrete project, neither the umma''s popular symbolic appeal nor its influence on a politics of identity has diminished.Trade Review'… this is a very timely, informative, and insightful book.' A. T. Kuru, Choice'Piscatori and Saikal fill a lacuna among existing publications in their book's blending of political theory with a novel analysis of political practices among contemporary Muslims … This book should be the default text for fellow practitioners and anyone who wishes to understand the rapidly changing pace of events in Islam and politics today.' Ravza Altuntaş-Çakır, Insight TurkeyTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Sunni constructions of the Umma; 3. Shi'a Islam and the Umma; 4. Saudi 'guardianship' of the Umma; 5. ISIS's conception of the Umma; 6. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe doctrine of modern law of the sea is commonly believed to have developed from Renaissance Europe. Often ignored though is the role of Islamic law of the sea and customary practices at that time. In this book, Hassan S. Khalilieh highlights Islamic legal doctrine regarding freedom of the seas and its implementation in practice. He proves that many of the fundamental principles of the pre-modern international law governing the legal status of the high seas and the territorial sea, though originating in the Mediterranean world, are not a necessarily European creation. Beginning with the commonality of the sea in the Qur''an and legal methods employed to insure the safety, security, and freedom of movement of Muslim and aliens by land and sea, Khalilieh then goes on to examine the concepts of the territorial sea and its security premises, as well as issues surrounding piracy and its legal implications as delineated in Islamic law.Trade Review'… the book provides a comprehensive account of the Islamic legal approach to the law of the sea from a historical perspective that aptly reveals a different civilizational narrative existing beyond Eurocentric scholarship in international law. Hence, this book is likely to become classic reading on the subject of the law of the sea and international law.' Punsara Amarasinghe, Ilahiyat Studies'Over the past two decades, Hassan Khalilieh has almost single-handedly revolutionized our knowledge of the Islamic contributions to the law of the sea. In this work, he embarks on what is effectively a genealogical study that shows how the Dutch Grotius and later European jurists have largely replicated, without acknowledgement, the Islamic practices and doctrines pertaining to free navigation in response to the earlier Spanish and Portuguese violent domination of the Indian Ocean. Khalilieh's meticulous and impressive work is a must-read, not only for those who are interested in Maritime law and trade, but also for historians and analysts of the rise of modernity at large, where the allegedly new freedom of navigation, central to the modern project, was to be transformed in due course into yet another tool in the unprecedented forms of European colonialism.' Wael Hallaq, Avalon Foundation Professor in the Humanities, Columbia University'This is an extraordinarily wide-ranging account not of Islamic maritime law (on which Khalilieh has already established himself as a leading expert) but of the Islamic law of the sea, well before Grotius wrote his tract on the Free Sea; the book ranges as far east as Melaka and China and as far west as the Mediterranean - a tour de force.' David Abulafia, Emeritus Professor of Mediterranean History, University of Cambridge'This is a masterful exposition of Islamic Law of the Sea, which makes an important contribution to the discourse on the universal application of modern International Law of the Sea generally. Highly recommended.' Mashood A. Baderin, Professor of Laws, SOAS University of London'This slim but richly detailed analysis of the customary and formal Islamic law of the sea fills a major gap in the literature.' D. M. Varisco, Bibliotheca OrientalisTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Freedom of the seas; 2. Offshore sovereignty and the territorial sea; 3. Piracy and its legal implications; Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOver recent years, a number of scholars have argued that the human mind underwent a cognitive revolution in the Neolithic. The proposed volume seeks to test these claims at the Neolithic site of Çatalhöyük in Turkey and in other Neolithic contexts in the Middle East.Trade Review'… an introduction by Hodder (Stanford Univ.), which presents the central problem of paleocognition and the Çatalhöyük site, the cognitive scientists consider whether cultural change could cause or encourage cognitive change, while the archaeologists look at various classes of artifacts and their distributions in time and space at Çatalhöyük and other Neolithic sites in the Near East to see if their changes could be related to cognitive changes in the people who made and used them.' L. L. Johnson, Association of American PublishersTable of ContentsPart I. Introduction to the Themes, Site, and Region: 1. Introduction to the themes of the volume – cognition and Çatalhöyük Ian Hodder; 2. Hunter-gatherer home-making? Building landscape and community in the Epipalaeolithic Lisa Maher; 3. When time begins to matter Marion Benz; Part II. Higher Levels of Consciousness: 4. Cognitive change and material culture – a disturbed perspective Michael Wheeler; 5. Conscious tokens? Lucy Bennison-Chapman; 6. Brick sizes and architectural regularities Marek Z. Baranski; 7. The meronomic model of cognitive change, and its application to Neolithic Çatalhöyük Chris Thornton; 8. Containers and creativity in the Late Neolithic Upper Mesopotamian Olivier Nieuwenhuyse; 9. Creativity and innovation in the geometric wall paintings at Çatalhöyük Ian Hodder and Nazli Gurlek; Part III. Greater Awareness of an Integrated Personal Self: 10. Personal memory, the scaffolded mind, and cognitive change in the Neolithic John Sutton; 11. Adorning the self Milena Vasic; 12. From parts a whole? Exploring changes in funerary practices at Çatalhöyük Scott D. Haddow, Eline M. J. Schotsmans, Marco Milella, Marin A. Pilloud, Belinda Tibbets and Christopher J. Knusel; 13. New bodies – from houses to humans at Çatalhöyük Anna Fagan.

Read more less

Book SynopsisProposing a methodology that brings feminist theories of embodiment to bear on the Iranian literary and cinematic tradition, this study examines temporary marriage in Iran, not just as an institution but also as a set of practices, identities and meanings that have transformed over the course of the twentieth- and twenty-first centuries. Based on analysis of novels and short stories from the Pahlavi era, and cinematic works produced after the Islamic Revolution, Claudia Yaghoobi looks at the representation of the sigheh women, or those who entered into temporary marriages. Each work reflects the manner in which the practice of sigheh impacts women by calling into question how sexuality works as a form of political analysis and power, revealing how a sigheh woman''s sexual bodily autonomy is used as ammunition against what governments deem inappropriate gendered expression. While focusing mainly on modern Iranian cultural productions, Yaghoobi moves beyond the literary and cinematic realms to offer an in-depth examination of this controversial social institution which has been the subject of disdain for many Iranian feminists and captured the imagination of many Western observers.Trade Review'Yaghoobi's mastery over her source material is impressive, and the many ways in which she brings Persian realist fiction of the early and mid-twentieth century into meaningful dialogue with post-revolutionary cinema are admirable. This book will be essential reading for anyone interested in the social and political debates around gender and the female body in contemporary Iran.' Dominic Parviz Brookshaw, University of Oxford'What distinguishes Claudia Yaghoobi's winning storytelling and her original contribution to our knowledge of women, sexuality and temporary marriage in Iran, is her skillful analysis and highly engaging interpretations of sigheh women's paradoxical role at the margin of society yet at the center of male fantasy.' Shahla Haeri, Boston UniversityTable of ContentsPrologue: sexpionage and the female body; Part I. General Overview: Introduction: body politics and sigheh marriages; 1. Sigheh marriages in modern Iran; Part II. Representation of Sigheh/Sex Work in the Literature of Pahlavi Era: 2. Gendered violence in Moshfeq-e Kazemi's Tehran-e Makhuf; 3. The volatile sigheh/sex workers' bodies in Jamalzadeh's Ma'sumeh Shirazi; 4. Colonized bodies in Al-e Ahmad's 'Jashn-e Farkhonde'; 5. The grotesque sigheh/sex workers' bodies in Golestan's 'Safar-e 'Esmat'; 6. Bodily inscriptions in Chubak's Sang-e Sabur; Part III. The Islamic Republic and Sigheh in Film Industry: 7. Whose body matters in Afkhami's Showkaran; 8. Embodiment, power, and politics in Farahbakhsh's Zendegi-ye Khosusi; Reclaiming the female body via writing.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe British Empire employed a diverse range of strategies to establish and then maintain control over its overseas territories in the Middle East. This new interpretation of how Britain maintained order, protected its interests and carried out its defence obligations in the Gulf in the decades before its withdrawal from the region in 1971 looks at how the British government increasingly sought to achieve security with great economy of force by building up local militaries instead of deploying costly military forces from the home country. Benefitting from the extensive use of recently declassified British Government archival documents and India Office records, this highly original narrative weighs the successes and failures of Britain''s use of ''indirect rule'' among the small states of Eastern Arabia, including Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, the seven Trucial States and Oman. Drawing important lessons for scholars and policymakers about the limitations of trying to outsource security to local partners, Security in the Gulf is a remarkable study of the deployment of British colonial policy in the Middle East before 1971.Trade Review'A must-read for all who are interested in the British period in the Gulf. It gives all the vital details as to how the British maintained internal security in the Gulf Arab shaikhdoms, amirates and sultanates in the mid-twentieth century. This is of vital significance to understanding the foundation and nature of the current security regimes in the Gulf Arab states.' Saul Kelly'Security in the Gulf fills an important lacuna in the scholarly literature about the last period of the Arabian states under British protection. Rossiter's book is engagingly written, deeply thoughtful, and extensively researched – it is a major contribution to the historical scholarship on the Gulf and the British Empire.' Zoltan Barany, University of TexasTable of ContentsIntroduction. Local militaries and imperialism; 1. Patterns of protection in the Gulf; 2. British India and local security arrangements; 3. Local militaries and intensified British interests; 4. Intervention or local means of coercion?: unrest in Bahrain and Qatar; 5. Local forces and Britain's Silver Age in the Gulf; 6. Securing the Gulf after Britain's withdrawal; Conclusion. Security on the cheap?

Read more less

Book SynopsisExploring the ''Nahda'', a cultural renaissance in the Arab world responding to massive social change, this study presents a crucial and often overlooked part of the Arab world''s encounter with global capitalist modernity, an interaction which reshaped the Middle East over the course of the long nineteenth century. Seeing themselves as part of an expanding capitalist civilization, Arab intellectuals approached the changing world of the mid-nineteenth century with confidence and optimism, imagining utopian futures for their own civilizing projects. By analyzing the works of crucial writers of the period, including Butrus al-Bustani and Rifa''a al-Tahtawi, alongside lesser-known figures such as the prolific journalist Khalil al-Khuri and the utopian visionary Fransis Marrash of Aleppo, Peter Hill places these visions within the context of their local class- and state-building projects in Ottoman Syria and Egypt, which themselves formed part of a global age of capital. By illuminating thTrade Review'an important contribution to studies of the cultural and intellectual revival of the nahda … which the Arab world witnessed in the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth centuries … opens new perspectives for understanding the nahda.' Hilary Kilpatrick, Journal of Islamic Studies'erudite and thought-provoking … a welcome contribution to post-national and materialist accounts of modernity in the Arab world.' Samah Selim, Global Intellectual HistoryTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Who made the Nahda?; 2. The discourse of civilization; 3. A place in the world; 4. An Arab utopian; Conclusions.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThe themes of sedentarisation, urbanisation and state formation are fundamental ones in the archaeology of many diverse parts of the world but have been little explored in relation to early societies of the Saharan zone. Moreover, the possibility has rarely been considered that the precocious civilisations bordering this vast desert were interconnected by long-range contacts and knowledge networks. The orthodox opinion of many of the key oasis zones within the Sahara is that they were not created before the early medieval period and the Islamic conquest of Mediterranean North Africa. Major claims of this volume are that the ultimate origins of oasis settlements in many parts of the Sahara were considerably earlier, that by the first millennium AD some of these oasis settlements were of a size and complexity to merit the categorisation ''towns'' and that a few exceptional examples were focal centres within proto-states or early state-level societies.Table of ContentsPart I. Introduction: 1. Introduction to the themes of sedentarisation, urbanisation and state formation in the ancient Sahara and beyond David J. Mattingly and Martin Sterry; Part II. Oasis Origins in the Sahara: A Region-By-Region Survey: 2. Garamantian oasis settlements in Fazzan David J. Mattingly, Stefania Merlo, Lucia Mori and Martin Sterry; 3. Pre-Islamic oasis settlements in the eastern Sahara David J. Mattingly, Martin Sterry, Louise Rayne and Muftah Al-Haddad; 4. The urbanisation of Egypt's western desert under Roman rule Anna Lucille Boozer; 5. Pre-Islamic oasis settlements in the northern Sahara David J. Mattingly, Martin Sterry, Muftah Al-Haddad and Pol Trousset; 6. Pre-Islamic oasis settlements in the north-western Sahara Martin Sterry, David J. Mattingly and Youssef Bokbot; 7. Pre-Islamic oasis settlements in the southern Sahara Martin Sterry and David J. Mattingly; 8. Discussion: sedentarisation and urbanisation in the Sahara Martin Sterry and David J. Mattingly; Part III. Neighbours and Comparanda: 9. Early states and urban forms in the middle Nile David N. Edwards; 10. Mediterranean urbanisation in North Africa: Greek, Punic and Roman models Andrew I. Wilson; 11. Numidian state formation in the Tunisian High Tell Joan Sanmartí, Nabil Kallala, Maria Carme Belarte, Joan Ramon, Francisco José Cantero, Dani López, Marta Portillo and Sílvia Valenzuela; 12. The origins of urbanisation and structured political power in Morocco: indigenous phenomenon or foreign colonisation? Youssef Bokbot; 13. Architecture and settlement growth on the southern edge of the Sahara: timing and possible implications for interactions with the north Kevin C. Macdonald; 14. Long-distance exchange and urban trajectories in the first millennium AD: case studies from the middle Niger and middle Senegal River valleys Susan Keech Mcintosh; 15. First millennia BC/AD fortified settlements at Lake Chad: implications for the origins of urbanisation and state formation in sub-Saharan Africa Carlos Magnavita; 16. At the dawn of Sijilmasa: new historical focus on the process of emergence of a Saharan state and a caravan city Chloé Capel; 17. The early Islamic trans-Saharan market towns of West Africa Sam Nixon; 18. Urbanisation, inequality and political authority in the Sahara Judith Scheele; Part IV. Concluding Discussion: 19. State-formation in the Sahara and beyond David J. Mattingly and Martin Sterry.

Read more less

Book SynopsisBetween the 1963 ''White Revolution'' and the 1979 Iranian Revolution, the position of women in Iran experienced a number of fundamental shifts. Policies and reforms were introduced, including land, suffrage, education and dress reforms which the Pahlavi regime claimed would advance the position of women and would lead to a swift modernisation of the country. In this book, Liora Hendelman-Baavur examines these changes, looking at the interactions between global aspects of modernity and notions of identity in Iranian popular culture. By focusing on the history of Iran''s popular print media, with emphasis on women''s commercial magazines, Hendelman-Baavur challenges familiar western assumptions about the complexities of Iranian popular culture. Her analysis situates Iranian women''s magazines within their broader economic, social, political and cultural context, demonstrating how representations of the modern woman in Iranian popular culture were influenced by the intricate nature of cuTable of ContentsIntroduction; Part I. Magazines in the Making: 1. The legacy of the past; 2. Circulation, commercialization and state intervention; 3. Reproduction, patronage and readership; Part II. Agents of Correlation and Change: 4. Family guidance, domestic technology and the modern housewife; 5. Youth culture and the new bi-hejab girl; 6. Exogamy, brain drain and the western woman; 7. Queen, working mother and the making of the Royal family.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOffering the first close analysis of the ʿAqila, a group jointly liable for blood money payments on behalf of its members, this study traces the transformation of this important institution from pre-Islamic custom to the Shariʿa, and follows its further re-shaping through the modern period, in relation to Islamic religion, state, and society.Table of ContentsPart I. The Contribution of Islamic Values: 1. The modern perspective and the Islamic perspective, and their application to the law of homicide; 2. Major modifications of the Islamic law of homicide; 3. The 'Āqila's liability for homicide restricted, and justified; Part II. The Contribution of the State Administration: 4. The Dīwān innovation in Umayyad practice; 5. From Umayyad practice to Ḥanafī law; 6. The Dīwān innovation in Ḥanafī law; Part III. The Contribution of the Persians: 7. The Eastern Iranian Ḥanafī views on the 'Āqila: a presentation; 8. The Eastern Iranian Ḥanafī views: the general context; 9. The Eastern Iranian Ḥanafī views on the 'Āqila: an examination; Conclusion; Bibliography; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisOffering a new perspective on Iran''s politics and culture in the 1960s and 1970s, Ali Mirsepassi challenges the prevailing view of pre-Revolution Iran, documenting how the cultural elites of the Pahlavi State promoted a series of striking ''Gharbzadegi'' or ''Westoxification'' discourses. Intended as ideological alternatives to modern and Western-inspired cultural attitudes, these influenced Persian identity politics, and projected Iranian modernity as a ''mistaken modernity'' despite the regime''s own ferocious modernisation programme. Focusing on the cultural transformations which defined the period, Mirsepassi sheds new light on the Pahlavi State as an ideological gambler, inadvertently empowering its fundamentalist enemies and spreading a ''quiet revolution'' through secular and religious civil society. Proposing a new theoretical framework for understanding the anti-modern discourses of Ahmad Fardid, Jalal Al-e Ahmad, and Ali Shari''ati, Iran''s Quiet Revolution is a radical re-iTrade Review'Mirsepassi interprets the Pahlavi monarchy's collapse during the 1979 revolution as resulting from internal tensions, which originated among Iranian cultural and political elites seeking a merger of Persian and Shi'a traditions while rejecting a vision of corrupt materialistic Westernization to achieve a purified spiritualism … Recommended.' D. A. Meier, ChoiceTable of ContentsIntroduction. The Quiet Revolution; 1. The 'Anti-Modern' allure; 2. De-politicizing Westoxification: the case of 'Bonyad monthly'; 3. Ehsan Naraghi: chronicle of a man for all seasons; 4. Iranian cinema's 'Quiet Revolution '(1960s-70s); 5. 'Bearing witness' to Iranian modernities; 6. The Shah: a modern mystic?; 7. The imaginary invention of a nation: Iran in 1930s and 1970s; 8. An elective affinity: variations of Gharbzadegi.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTurkey-West Relations examines the nature of changing relationships between Turkey and the US, the EU, and NATO, identifying the major factors behind growing rifts. It is useful to scholars and practitioners of international politics, and anyone with a general interest in Turkey, the Middle East, and transatlantic security.Trade Review'This timely book examines how and why Turkey's relations with the West changed during recent years … A significant contribution to the literature on alliances, this book is valuable for those interested in the policy implications for observers of transatlantic relations and Turkey's foreign and security policies.' B. A. Yesilada, Choice'… this book's most interesting contribution is one that is less visible yet all the more critical.' Juliette Tolay, International AffairsTable of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Framework of Intra-Alliance opposition; 2. Turkish foreign policy in the Western Balkans; 3. The Turkish veto over the EU-NATO security exchange; 4. The EU-Turkey deal on Refugees; 5. Turkey's energy policies; 6. Turkish rapprochement with Russia in security; 7. Turkey's foreign policy on Syria and Iraq; Conclusion: Turkey and the West – what next?

Read more less

Book SynopsisAssuming a central place in Muslim life, the Qur''an speaks of one community of the faith, the umma. This unity of the faithful is recognised as the default aspiration of the believer, and in the modern era, intellectuals and political leaders have often vied both to define, and to lead it. Based on case studies of actors such as Saudi Arabia, Iran, and ISIS, James Piscatori and Amin Saikal consider how some appeals to pan-Islam prove useful, yet other attempts at cross-border institutionalisation including the Sunni Caliphate or the modern Shi''i-inspired Islamic Revolution, founder on political self-interest and sectarian affiliations. Accompanied by a range of scriptural references to examine different interpretations of the umma, Piscatori and Saikal explore why, despite it meaning such widely different things, and its failure to be realised as a concrete project, neither the umma''s popular symbolic appeal nor its influence on a politics of identity has diminished.Trade Review'… this is a very timely, informative, and insightful book.' A. T. Kuru, Choice'Piscatori and Saikal fill a lacuna among existing publications in their book's blending of political theory with a novel analysis of political practices among contemporary Muslims … This book should be the default text for fellow practitioners and anyone who wishes to understand the rapidly changing pace of events in Islam and politics today.' Ravza Altuntaş-Çakır, Insight TurkeyTable of Contents1. Introduction; 2. Sunni constructions of the Umma; 3. Shi'a Islam and the Umma; 4. Saudi 'guardianship' of the Umma; 5. ISIS's conception of the Umma; 6. Conclusion.

Read more less

Book SynopsisTracing the centrality of women in the definition of Turkish secularism, this study investigates the 2003 decision to increase the number of women officers employed by the Presidency of Religious Affairs (Diyanet). It explores how, as professional religious officers, the female Diyanet preachers epitomize a pious, modern and highly educated woman whose role in society has been raised to prominence. Based on extensive fieldwork in Turkey, and drawing on a rich ethnography of the activities conducted by Diyanet women preachers in Istanbul, Chiara Maritato disentangles the state''s attempt to standardize a multifaceted female religious participation. In using the feminization of the Diyanet as a prism through which to understand the significance of a renewed presence of Islam in the Turkish public realm, she casts light on a broader reformulation of religious services for women and families in Turkey, and pinpoints how this pervasive moral support has been able to penetrate and reshape even secular spaces.Trade Review'Combining detailed ethnographic observations with an impressive number of in-depth interviews, Maritato's analysis provides insights into the complex dynamics of the feminization of the religious sphere in Turkey and shows how a discourse on modern and learned female religiosity can go hand in hand with policies reinforcing Islamization in the daily work of the female preachers of the Diyanet.' Sevgi Adak, Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilizations, The Aga Khan University'Maritato provides a fascinating and insightful analysis of the role of female preachers of Diyanet in reconstructing the relation between the state and religion in contemporary Turkey. This book is an invaluable resource for those interested in multifaceted relationships between women, religion and state in Turkey.' Hakkı Gűrkaş, Department of History and Philosophy, Kennesaw State University'A fascinating analysis of religion as bureaucracy and the professionalization of traditional religious activity. Turkey's female preachers are civil servants in a state agency that historically managed religion in order to protect secularism, but now insinuates Islamisation from above. Yet in their everyday activities, the female preachers are forging a new religious identity, one that combines piety with a modern working life and redefines the boundaries between state and religion. A must read for anyone who wishes to understand recent enormous changes in Turkish society.' Jenny White, Institute for Turkish Studies, Stockholm University'This is a must-read work on religion, religiosity, society, and the state in contemporary Turkey. Maritato (Univ. of Turin, Italy) provides unique insight into these complex dynamics through in-depth interviews and observations. Highly recommended.' B. A. Yesilada, ChoiceTable of Contents1. Introduction; Part I. Transitivities: Women, Religion and Turkish Secularism: 2. Religion, a state affair; 3. Pious women and the secular state; Part II. Women in the Diyanet: Forms and Meanings: 4. The Diyanet's policies towards women; 5. Vaizeler's invitation: the mosque as a place for women; 6. Achieving public piety through the Vaizeler's sessions; 7. Religious counselling and moral support for women and families; Part III. Reassessing Women, Religion and the State: 8. Listen to the battlefield: female preachers within a secular state; 9. Concluding remarks.

Read more less

Book SynopsisAn overview and compendium of important legal sources, political and religious viewpoints, and broad-form policy analysis of a complicated and difficult issue. The book also tackles the history and politics behind the laws created to control Holy Places in Jerusalem, with a specific focus on the Old City.Table of ContentsIntroduction; 1. Controlling Jerusalem; 2. The legal status of Jerusalem under international law; 3. What is the definition of a Holy Place?; 4. The 'status quo' holy sites; 5. League of Nations and British Mandate; .6 After the British Mandate; 7. Other relevant sacred space in Jerusalem; 8. International avenues of protection; 9. Approaches for managing and controlling Holy Sites; 10. Practical conclusions; 11. Is there any hope?; 12. Coda.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis edition will present the official correspondence and reports of the British consular and diplomatic agents stationed in the Regency of Tripoli from 1795 to 1832, during the last substantive reign of a Qaramanli dynast, Yusuf Pasha Qaramanli (17661838). The correspondence and reports of Consuls Simon Lucas, William Wass Langford and Hanmer Warrington attest to the highly political role played by British consuls to ''Barbary''. These dispatches also emphasize the importance of Tripoli to British strategic interests and ambitions in North Africa and the Mediterranean during the early nineteenth century. As well as providing political intelligence on local and regional developments, the correspondence reveals in detail both the personal ambitions of the consuls and the official interests of the British government. In doing so, the consular dispatches provide evidence of the development of an influential bridgehead and protected imperial presence in Tripoli in the post-Napoleonic era.Table of ContentsAcknowledgements; Maps; Introduction; Editorial Principles; Consular and Diplomatic Correspondence from Tripoli; Appendix 1: Table of British Consuls and Diplomats to Tripoli, 1793–1832; Index.

Read more less

Book SynopsisDuring the Iranian Revolution of 1978/9, the influence of public intellectuals was widespread. Many espoused a vision of Iran freed from the influences of ''Westtoxification'', inspired by Heideggerian concepts of anti-Western nativism. By following the intellectual journey of the Iranian philosopher Ahmad Fardid, Ali Mirsepassi offers in this book an account of the rise of political Islam in modern Iran. Through his controversial persona and numerous public and private appearances before, during and particularly after the Revolution, Fardid popularised an Islamist vision militantly hostile to the modern world that remains a fundamental part of the political philosophy of the Islamic Republic to this day. By also bringing elements of Fardid''s post-revolutionary thought, as well as a critical analysis of Foucault''s writings on ''the politics of spirituality'', Mirsepassi offers an essential read for all those studying the evolution of political thought and philosophy in modern Iran anTrade Review'This book is a fascinating account of one of the most enigmatic intellectuals of modern Iran, the father of the idea of Westoxication. It offers an analytical frame whose implications go beyond Iran, disclosing how such anti-modern thinking is linked to the ideas of European luminaries such as Heidegger, Corbin, and Foucault. A meticulous example of scholarship.' Asef Bayat, Catherine and Bruce Bastian Professor of Global and Transnational Studies, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign'Ali Mirsepassi's book recounts the fascinating story of a momentous cross-cultural encounter between Western thought and Islam. At the center of his account lies the reception of the German philosopher Martin Heidegger's thought by the influential Iranian Islamist, Ahmad Fardid. Not only has Mirsepassi provided us with an outstanding study of the transnational circulation of ideas. His book also stands as a powerful cautionary tale concerning the ideological perils of virulent 'anti-modernism' - a tale that has the potential to revolutionize many of the unstated assumptions underlying the field of postcolonial studies.' Richard Wolin, Distinguished Professor of History and Political Science, CIty University of New York Graduate Center'… Mirsepassi's Transnationalism in Iranian Political Thought is an informative and insightful reading for anyone who wants to understand the complex mindset of Fardid and the network of ideas that orchestrated the course of the twentieth-century intellectual history of Iran.' Mustafa Aslan, Kult OnlineTable of ContentsPart I. Introduction: Introduction. Islam after fall: why Fardid matters; 1. The historical context: the intellectual's modern calling; 2. 'Home' and the 'world': 'the swallows return to their nest'; Part II. The World of Young Fardid: 3. Young Fardid (1935–46); 4. Henry Corbin's 'imaginative spirituality' and Iranian 'Gharbzadegi' (Westoxication); Part III. Orientatlism and 'Spiritual Islam': Fardid, Corbin, Foucault: 5. Gharbzadegi (Westoxication); 6. The politics of spirituality: Foucault, the Iranian Revolution; Part IV. Ahmad Fardid's Philosophy after the Revolution, 1978–81: 7. The divine encounter and apocalyptic revelations; 8. A reckless mind: policies of Gharbzadegi; Part V. Fardid Remembered: 9. Interviews with Fardid's friends and critics; Conclusion. Fardid after Fardid.

Read more less

Book SynopsisThis book, originally published in 1914, is a unique telling of the life of Cleopatra. The author, a well-learned historian of his time, offers a truer glimpse of the queen if we can rid ourselves of the influence of any one period and ignore that aspect of morality that has developed in us by contact with the age in which we live. Good and evil are relative qualities defined largely by public opinion, and it must always be remembered that certain things considered good and evil today may have the acceptance and denunciation of yesterday and tomorrow. The author does not presume to offer an apology for the much-maligned Queen, but he describes the events of her troubled life fairly. The actions of Cleopatra will, without any particular advocacy, assume a character that is no uglier than that of every other actor in the strange drama surrounding her life.

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book Synopsis

Read more less

Book SynopsisWalter Bandazian traces developments which led to the arrest, detention, and finally, the release of Young Turks and their allies accused of committing war crimes during and after World War I against the Christian population of Ottoman Turkey, most notably the Armenians. The primary focus of his work concerns the role played by British authorities in the Near East in addressing the Armenian Genocide and initiating the first international effort to bring war criminals to trial, even before the Nuremberg trials of 1946-49. However, as Bandazian also shows, the anticipated trials never materialized because of several key factors, including the lack of appropriate legal mechanisms, difficulties in securing evidence on the ground, and political opposition from different quarters. Most of the present work is composed of documents which informed British authorities of the guilt of such civil, parliamentary and military functionaries as Memduh Bey in Erzinjan, Arif Fezi Bey in Diyarbakir, Mustafa Abdul Halik in Bitlis, Suleiman Faik Pasha in Harpoot, and others.

Read more less