Religion and politics Books

Book SynopsisBy pairing a scholar of Islamic law with a scholar of Jewish law, a unique dynamic is created, and new perspectives are made possible. These new perspectives not only enable an understanding of the other’s legal tradition, but most saliently, they offer new insights into one’s own legal tradition, shedding light on what had previously been assumed to be outside the scope of analytic vision. In the course of this volume, scholars come together to examine such issues as judicial authority, the legal policing of female sexuality, and the status of those who stand outside one’s own tradition. Whether for the pursuit of advanced scholarship, pedagogic innovation in the classroom, or simply a greater appreciation of how to live in a multi-faith, post-secular world, these encounters are richly-stimulating, demonstrating how legal tradition can be used as a common site for developing discussions and opening up diverse approaches to questions about law, politics, and community. Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning offers a truly incisive model for considering the good, the right and the legal in our societies today.Trade Review‘A revelatory exploration of faith traditions in deep dialogue with one another. Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning offers a model of reciprocal conversation at a time when it is too often in short supply.’ -- Dr. Seth Anziska, Lecturer in Jewish-Muslim Relations, University College London‘A wonderfully engaging conversation about the meaning, value, and possible revision of legal traditions.’ -- Michael Walzer, Professor Emeritus, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton‘Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning is daring and innovative. The book is a conversation among scholars of law and religion in these two great traditions, based on intensive collective readings of and reflections on each other’s key texts, specifically concerning the role of reason and authority in determining law. The result is a fascinating and highly readable account of this dialogue.’ -- Ziba Mir-Hosseini, SOAS, University of London‘Anver Emon and Robert Gibbs are among the very best scholars of their generation on (respectively) Islamic and Jewish legal reasoning. This volume is a treasure, bringing their work into conversation with other notable scholars, helping us to better understand our shared heritage.’ -- Amir Hussain, Professor of Theological Studies, Loyola Marymount University‘Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning is a series of thoughtful scholarly essays in which recognition of differences becomes the starting point for mutual understanding. The essays introduce the reader to pairs of outstanding scholars who reflect together on legal questions regarding animals, sovereignty, the status of women, and other issues. Their conversations provide a wealth of detail on these two important traditions, and they remind us again that to know our own law and culture, we must first understand the questions others raise about them.’ -- Robin W. Lovin, William H. Scheide Senior Fellow in Theology, Center of Theological Inquiry‘Designed for the non-specialist, this fascinating book invites the reader to listen in on a conversation about law, Jewish law and Islamic law, among distinguished scholars thinking modern questions—the nature of law and judicial authority, the status of women, animal rights, and sovereignty—with ancient and medieval texts. It is a deeply serious book which models an informed and open dialogue about consequential matters rather than providing packaged pieties.’ -- Winnifred Fallers Sullivan, Chair, Department of Religious Studies, Indiana University BloomingtonTable of ContentsIntroduction: Islamic and Jewish Legal Reasoning—Beginnings (Anver M. Emon and Robert Gibbs) On Reading Together Formation of a Reading Practice From Reading Together to Writing Together PART I 1 Assuming Power: Judges, Imagined Authority, and the Quotidian (Rumee Ahmed and Aryeh Cohen) Introduction Rumee Ahmed Aryeh Cohen Rumee Ahmed Aryeh Cohen: Coda Conclusion 2 Guardianship of Women in Islamic and Jewish Legal Texts (Rachel Adler and Ayesha S. Chaudhry) Introduction Reading an Islamic Legal Text Together Reading a Jewish Legal Text Together Further Reflections: Rachel Adler Comparative Reflections: Ayesha S. Chaudhry Conclusion 3 The Cowering Calf and the Thirsty Dog: Narrating and Legislating Kindness to Animals in Jewish and Islamic Texts (Beth Berkowitz and Marion Katz) Introduction Dialogue 1: Legal Obligations toward Animals Dialogue 2: Compassion toward Animals Conclusion 4 Policing Women: Virginity Checkers and the Sotah Ordeal as Sites of Women’s Agency (Ayesha S. Chaudhry and Shari Golberg) Women Policing Women: From Montreal to Jerusalem The Hidaya: Testimony in Cases of Zina Mishnah Sotah: Testimony in the Case of Suspected Adultery The Adulteress vs. the Adulterer Conclusion 5 Sovereignty, Law, and the Pedagogy of Historical Fantasy: On the Halakha on the Laws of War and the Fiqh on Dhimmis (Arye Edrei and Anver M. Emon) Introduction Early Rabbinic and Islamic Legal Trajectories Inverting the Political Form Conclusion PART II 6 Cross-Textual Reflections on Tradition, Reason, and Authority (Adam B. Seligman) Introduction: Tradition and Reason Tradition and Dialogue Authority and Religion 7 The Social Life of Reason (Robert Gibbs) A Philosophical Framework Philosophical Questions List of Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisMinority religions that differ from the mainstream are often perceived as controversial and as a threat to the individual and to society. During the 1970s and 80s, there were intense discussions about whether conversion to these groups was voluntary or an effect of brainwashing or manipulation. In recent years, however, the situation of children in these groups has taken over the public debate regarding minority religions. Many believe that childhoods in cults involve physical and psychological abuse, and that severe punishment, starvation, sexual abuse, manipulation, forced obedience, lack of medical care and demonization of the outside world is part of everyday life. This book presents four years of research. Its purpose is to highlight children's upbringing in certain minority religions with a high degree of "sectarian" criteria in a sociological sense including high tension with society/world, unique legitimacy and high level of commitment. The study examines mainly, but not exclusively, seven minority religious communities: The Hare Krishna movement, The Family International (formerly Children of God), The Church of Scientology, The Family Federation (formerly The Unification Church), Knutby Filadelfia (a Pentecostal group), The Exclusive Brethren, and Jehovah's Witnesses. The fieldwork was conducted in Sweden, but the situation of the children and the findings are relevant to other countries. Most of the minority groups discussed have an international character with a presence in many countries, with only minor differences depending on local circumstances. The study is based on literature from the religions and observations of children and parents in religious rituals and daily life. However, the most important material for the book are eighteen in-depth interviews with children between the ages of 8 and 17 living in these groups and seventy-five in-depth interviews with adults who grew up in minority religions and who are still involved, who grew up in minority religions, but are not now engaged, and who raised children in the minority religions.Table of ContentsIntroduction Liselotte Frisk, Sanja Nilsson and Peter Akerback Section 1: General Overview and Perspectives 1. The Politicization of Children in Minority Religions: The Swedish and the European Contexts Peter Akerback 2. Children's Rights in Relation to Religion in Contemporary Sweden: Debates and Arguments Sanja Nilsson 3. Growing Up in Controversial Minority Religions: Constructions of Childhoods Liselotte Frisk Section 2: Different Groups and Different Perspectives 4. Recently Reborn: To Return as a Child of Scientologist Parents Peter Akerback 5. The Family International: A Narrative Approach Liselotte Frisk and Sanja Nilsson 6. Diana Baumrind's Parenting Styles: The Examples of the Osho Movement and Jehovah's Witnesses Liselotte Frisk 7. "I have lived all my life in a reality that doesn't exist": Perspectives from Ex-members Raised in Controversial Minority Religions Liselotte Frisk 8. Religion, Parenting and Child Corporal Punishment: The Example of the Twelve Tribes Liselotte Frisk 9. Medicine and Healthcare in Controversial Minority Religions: Perspectives from Medical Anthropology Liselotte Frisk 10. The Charismatic Leader in Knutby Filadelfia: The Children's Perspective Sanja Nilsson Section 3: Educational Perspectives 11. Learning the Principles: The Socialization of Children Within the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification Peter Akerback 12. In the Rear-view Mirror: Experiences of Attending an Ashram-based Religious Minority School in Sweden Sanja Nilsson 13. Raising and Schooling Children in the Plymouth Brethren Christian Church: The Swedish Perspective Liselotte Frisk and Sanja Nilsson 14. The Waldorf Education System and Religion Liselotte Frisk 15. Applied Scholastics and Study Technology: The Educational Perspective Developed by L. Ron Hubbard Liselotte Frisk Section 4: Conclusion 16. Conclusion: Controversial Minority Religions and Childhoods Liselotte Frisk, Sanja Nilsson and Peter Akerback Appendix 1: Glossary of Minority Religions Discussed in the Book Appendix 2: Interviews

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Book SynopsisThis collection of 21 papers were written by leading and emerging critical scholar/practitioners who represent three generations of survivors of imperial invasions and genocidal massacres across the globe. They are from the Middle East, East Asia, South Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Pacific and the Caribbean Islands who are renowned for the depth and urgency of their analyses and their principled ethical and political positions against empire and militarization. The contributors interrogate the oppressive ideologies and mechanisms of the modern empire and its allies and exemplify in particular how militarization has affected various peoples, lands, seas, and skies across the globe. They expose the desecration of lives and the earth by the modern empire and its local allies through various means, ranging from psychological warfare to brute force of advanced technological warfare, leaving an intergenerational impact. The authors have embraced people's cries against mass killings, starvation, rape, militarized prostitution, torture, forced disappearances, land grab, and the destruction of nature caused by modern warfare, as well as people's inherent collective aspiration for liberation of their lives and lands. They help evoke and sharpen the alternate consciousness amongst peoples in furthering resistance, and in envisioning and building a non-imperialist future for us, for our children, and for the planet earth. The authors foreground a breadth of modes of resistance and the places where they have been implemented, sharing with the reader their hard-earned knowledge and stories of truth and liberation, with a prophetic urgency.Trade Review"This book is a collection of deep reflections on the struggles of all those "modern prophets" who are fighting against the Empire in their own contexts through multiple ways. They are academics, activists, artists, theologians, and common people from the margins of the society. We pray that these testimonies of resistance will inspire all of us and strengthen our common struggle against the Empire. We urge that through this work our global network of anti-war and anti-militarization will be strengthened." Sudipta Singh, Mission Secretary, Research and Capacity Development, Council for World Mission, Singapore

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Book SynopsisAt the beginning of the twenty-first century, leading intellectuals are claiming "There is a problem with Islam in France," thus legitimising the discourse of the racist National Front. Such claims have been strengthened by the backlash since the terrorist attacks in Paris in January and November 2015, coming to represent a new 'common sense' in the political landscape, and we have seen a similar logic play out in the United States and Europe.Edwy Plenel, former editorial director of Le Monde, essayist and founder of the investigative journalism website Mediapart tackles these claims head-on, taking the side of his compatriots of Muslim origin, culture or belief, against those who make them into scapegoats. He demonstrates how a form of "Republican and secularist fundamentalism" has become a mask to hide a new form of virulent Islamophobia. At stake for Plenel is not just solidarity but fidelity to the memory and heritage of emancipatory struggles and he writes in defence of the Muslims, just as Zola wrote in defence of the Jews and Sartre wrote in defence of the blacks. For if we are to be for the oppressed then we must be for the Muslims.Trade ReviewThank goodness for this humane, civilized and morally brave book. It speaks important truths which these days are much too rarely heard. -- Peter OborneA powerful call to address the empathy deficit and intellectual poverty which underlies the 'obsessive Islamophobia' of much French public discourse. Noting that Islamophobia now performs the cultural function once assigned to anti-Semitism,For the Muslims is a polemic against indifference. Plenel resurrects France's heritage of critical thought to call on his fellow citizens and others to develop a competing imaginary to the one established by rampant xenophobia. -- Priyamvada GopalAn important book about one of the most pressing issues facing modern Europe. Insightful, historically grounded and detailed, it's required reading. -- Murtaza HussainAn urgent and necessary warning cry against hatred and the politics of fear and indifference that fuels it. From the Dreyfus affair to the aftermath of the Paris attacks of 2015, Plenel shows how the normalization of a far-right narrative of rejection, exclusion and otherness will have consequences for us all. -- Simon Hooper

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Book SynopsisAcross the world, grassroots movements for change are growing in number, skill, and impact on society. Finding a place at the intersect between spirituality and politics, these emerging activists are grounded in a deeper understanding of the world they wish to change, and act out of a deep sense that their simple acts can make a difference. With moving first-hand accounts, priest and community organiser Keith Hebden demonstrates what it means to be an engaged and alive human being in a world that is crying out for change, and how to play our part in it.Whether you have recently come alive to the possibilities of activism, or are familiar with the frustrations and challenges of working for change, this book will energise, inform and enchant you.Trade ReviewThis is a heart-warmingly compassionate exploration of activism with soul, full of wisdom drawn from real-life experience, expressed with disarming humility and humour. Keith Hebden's book offers accessible support and companionship for those seeking to deepen the spirituality of their peace and justice engagement - may the re-enchantment begin! -- Annie Heppenstall, Christian spirituality practitioner and author of books including The Healer's Tree: A Bible-based Resource on Ecology, Peace and JusticeKeith gets to the heart of what it means to be a true activist. Those dedicated to changing this world, regardless of whether they have a faith or not, will find wisdom here. For all who want to be part of a better world, but have been close to giving up, these distilled thoughts will surely help to re-enchant your faith in activism. -- Revd Chris Howson, liberation theologian and author of A Just ChurchKeith Hebden is part of a long and rich tradition of radical Christian clergy whose faith and cold anger drive them to act and thereby seek to challenge the principalities and the powers. In his thoughtful new book Re-enchanting the Activist he records his actions, the stories of others and the lessons learned on this journey. This story starts with the lone but 'enchanted' activist but progresses to the activist as teacher, mentor and team player as the quest - seeing the development of people 'in the right relationships' working for justice together. Keith is a great storyteller. His book is full of advice for readers who seek to act not out of anger or hatred but out of love and a deep spirituality. 'Re-enchantment', the book argues, comes from following the African proverb - 'if you want to go fast - go alone, but if you want to go far - go with others!' -- Neil Jameson, Founder and Executive Director of Citizens UKSeeing the painful reality of life can lead to 'burn-out' in activists. Keith shows how our faith communities and teachings can help us cope. I love his exploration of 'God of the Gaps' and the power of storytelling. He uses personal stories, stories from various faiths, shares helpful practices and challenges both our own limitations and 'status quo' religion. -- Modgala Louise Duguid, Buddhist activist and author of You Might as Well Die Here as AnywhereKeith Hebden's book is a clear and inspiring call to getting involved and engagement, it deserves to be read and valued by those of all faiths. A rallying call to direct and transformative spiritual action. -- The Reverend Kate Bottley, Priest in the Diocese of Sputhwell and NottinghamTable of ContentsIntroduction. 1. Losing Yourself. 2. Reclaiming Yourself. 3. Letting God Go. 4. Reclaiming God. 5. Re-enchanting Religion. 6. Enchanted by Affliction. 7. Between Heaven and Earth.

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Book SynopsisAlthough Religious Education (RE) is a legal requirement in UK schools, it is an oft-neglected and misunderstood subject. It is important to seriously re-think this key subject at this time of low religious literacy and rising extremism, to protect communities from the consequences of hatred and misunderstanding. This book promotes a public discussion of what exactly is needed from a new model of RE within our education system to benefit wider society.In this edited collection, the chapters are diverse and future-facing, informed by theory and practice and written by a variety of key leading practitioners and emerging national leaders in RE. It covers the most pressing and urgent issues for RE such as hate speech, educational reform, and the weakening of moderate religious institutions. Linking the chapters together with recurring themes and joining passages, the editors create a flowing and coherent discussion about the state of RE and offer choices and routes for readers to consider in terms of its future course.Trade ReviewThis diverse and accessible series of reflections provides an excellent route map navigating the complex terrain that is contemporary RE. It offers a range of radical solutions guaranteed to prompt debate about the future of the 'RE space' in a post-religious, post-secular contemporary world. -- Alan Brine, Former HMI and Ofsted National Adviser for Religious EducationThis book, in the words of two of its authors, does the same as effective RE in classrooms. It offers 'demanding material... a framework for talk, thought, misconceptions and deep engagement' and a discussion of 'unsafe topics'. It is timely and informed and everyone who cares about RE should read it. -- Dr Joyce Miller Associate Fellow, WRERUThis timely book assembles huge amounts of wisdom and experience. It is a valuable addition to a growing literature on the place of RE in our schools. I strongly endorse the message captured in the Postscript : be absolutely clear about the purpose of RE and teach it well. The rest will follow from this. -- Grace Davie, Professor emeritus, University of ExeterTeachers of RE - and, indeed, the general reader - will appreciate the honesty and clarity of We Need To Talk About Religious Education. There is a refreshing newness among the contributors to this important volume, most of whom either continue to teach RE, or have done so in the fairly recent past. -- Dennis Richards * Church Times *This wide-ranging and very readable set of contributions is highly recommended to all involved with or interested in the subject of religion education or religious education in schools, and its future. As well as making an excellent introduction to relevant issues for those preparing to teach religious education or to develop policy, it will be of interest to many working with issues of religious/religion education in a variety of national settings. -- Robert Jackson * American International Journal, Reliigon and Education *Table of ContentsContributor bios; Foreword - Linda Woodhead MBE, University of Lancaster; Introduction - Mike Castelli, Association of University Lecturers in RE and Mark Chater, Culham St Gabriel's Trust, Oxford; PART I. Context; 1. Time to Abandon RE: Ditching an Out-of-date Solution to an Out-of-date Problem - Clive Lawton, Former Chair of the Shap Working Party of World Religions in Education; 2. A European Perspective: How Educational Reforms Influence the Place and Image of RE - Peter Schreiner, Comenius-Institut, Germany; 3. Why We Need Legislative Change, and How We Can Get It - Mark Chater; 4. RE and the Knowledge Problem - Richard Kueh, Farmington Institute, Harris Manchester College, Oxford; 5. The Future of Catholic RE - Andrew Lewis, St Bonaventure's School, London; 6. RE-dressing the Balance - Gillian Georgiou, Diocesan Education Team, Lincoln and Kathryn Wright, Culham St Gabriel's, Oxford; 7. Towards a Core Integrity for RE - Sushma Sahajpal, Connectar Creative Education, Buckinghamshire; Part II. Futures; 8. Making the Case for More Demanding RE - Mary Myatt, education advisor, Wales; 9. Principles and Procedures for Classroom Dialogue - Mike Castelli; 10. Facing the Strange - Phil Champain, Three Faiths Forum, London; 11. RE as a Safe space for Discussing Unsafe Ideas - Neil McKain, Pipers Corner School, High Wycombe; 12. The Role of Religious Education in Addressing Extremism - Adam Whitlock, Ark Burlington Danes Academy, London; 13. Faith Communities as Stakeholders in RE: A Commitment to Generous Hospitality - Derek Holloway, The Church of England Education Office, London; 14. Does Research Matter in the Religious Education Classroom? - Dawn Cox, Manning Tree High School, Essex; 15. The 'Digital Turn': What does RE Teachers' Online Engagement Mean for RE CPD? - James Robson, Culham St Gabriel's Trust and Oxford University Department of Education; Index

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Book Synopsis'Religion' can be used to mean all kinds of things, but a substantive definition––based on the premise of superhuman powers––can clarify much. It allows us to attempt to differentiate religion from culture, ethnicity, morality and politics. This definition of religion necessarily implies a perception of reality. Until recent centuries in the West, and in most cultures still, the ordinary, natural and immediate way of understanding and experiencing reality was in terms of otherworldly or spiritual forces. However, a cognitive shift has taken place through the rise of science and its subsequent technological application. This new consciousness has not disproved the existence of spiritual forces, but has led to the marginalisation of the other-worldly, which even Western churches seem to accept. They persist, but increasingly as pressure groups promoting humanist values. Claims of 'American exceptionalism' in this regard are misleading. Obama's religion, Evangelical support for Trump, and the mega-church message of success in the capitalist system can all be cultural and political phenomena. This eclipsing of the other-worldly constitutes a watershed in human history, with profound consequences not just for religious institutions but for our entire world order.Trade Review'This is a very readable, brief, perceptive, and well-judged statement of a specific position, drawing on a wide range of material ... well worth reading for a sobering essay on the difficulties of mission today.' -- Church Times‘Skilfully argues and densely packs with quotes and references Christianity’s long lament about how things have turned out for it in the present time.’'Intellectual and brisk, this book will be of great use to those interested in the history of ideas. A very helpful rebuke to simplistic arguments about the changing nature of religion in society and the modern world.' -- Ben Ryan, Head of Research, Theos'A learned exploration of a compelling issue: why has religion lost its place in the West? Gifford's perspective as an Africanist is invaluable; he sees what scholars in Europe don't. Seamlessly weaving together history, theology and sociology, Gifford wears his erudition lightly. A major contribution and a good read.' -- David Voas, Professor of Social Science, University College London, and Co-Director of British Religion in Numbers

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Book SynopsisKing Salman of Saudi Arabia began his rule in 2015 confronted with a series of unprecedented challenges. The dilemmas he has faced are new and significant, from leadership shuffles and falling oil prices to regional and international upheaval. 'Salman's Legacy' interrogates this era and assesses its multiple social, political, regional and international challenges. Whether Salman's policies have saved the kingdom from serious upheaval is yet to be seen, but no doubt a new kingdom is emerging. This book offers historical and contemporary insights into the various problems that persist in haunting the Saudi state. Madawi Al-Rasheed brings together well-established historians and social scientists with deep knowledge of Saudi Arabia--its history, culture and contemporary politics--to reflect on Salman's kingdom. They trace both policy continuities and recent ruptures that have perplexed observers of Saudi Arabia. This lucid and nuanced analysis invites serious reflection on the Saudi leadership's capacity to withstand the recent challenges, especially those that came with the Arab uprisings. At stake is the future of a country that remains vital to regional stability, international security, and the global economy.Trade Review'[Salman’s Legacy] is not a history of Saudi Arabia, not a forecast of where the country will go under King Salman and MbS, but a treasure trove of some important aspects of their inheritance.' -- Asian Affairs Journal

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Book Synopsis'Triumph and Despair' tells the dramatic story of post-revolutionary Iran's first four decades, from its establishment in 1979 until today. The revolutionary coalition that overthrew the monarchy was at once democratic, populist and Islamic. The Islamists, and the Khomeinists in particular, were able to capitalise effectively on prevailing conditions on the ground; to frame the new republic's constitution, capture nascent institutions, and consolidate their power by eliminating opponents through a reign of terror. Once the war with Iraq was over and after the death of the new order's charismatic founder, Ayatollah Khomeini, the Islamic Republic was consolidated: first by tweaking its institutional arrangements, and then by fostering economic development and post-war reconstruction. A reformist interlude then followed, reversed unceremoniously by a return of populism and a broader authoritarian retrenchment. Today Iran remains at odds with itself, its economy too deeply political to yield meaningful developmental results, its foreign relations too conflicted to allow it a productive place in the community of nations. As Iran's nationalities and its women and youth carve out spaces for themselves in the broader narrative, competing identities--religious, national and otherwise--abound. After forty years, the Islamic Republic remains a country in search of itself.Trade Review'Kamrava offers a glimmer of hope that transcends the intolerance of a myopic regime.' -- Geographical Magazine‘The author’s scholarship, expertise and incisiveness provides an exhaustive work on Iran’s modern political history … A comprehensive study.’ -- Asia Maior'Triumph and Despair dissects the complex modern history of the Islamic Republic. Kamrava's study of detail gives the reader a valuable insight into some of the most critical moments since 1979. Most importantly, not only what, but how and why. An excellent read.' -- Soraya Lennie, author of Crooked Alleys: Deliverance and Despair in Iran'This analytical guide to the birth and troubled life of the Islamic Republic of Iran leaves no stone unturned. Its framework and depth of knowledge makes it supreme; this is the most comprehensive and readable study of modern Iran, clearly informed by decades of expertise and knowledge accumulation.' -- Anoush Ehteshami, Nasser al-Mohammad al-Sabah Chair in International Relations, Durham University'Triumph and Despair is the best book on post-revolutionary Iran. Focusing on the interaction between politics, economics and society, it provides a scholarly yet accessible account of what has happened over the past 40 years. A must-read.' -- Nader Hashemi, Director of the Center for Middle East Studies, University of Denver'Making sense of the Islamic Revolution and Iran under the Islamic Republic is no easy task, but Mehran Kamrava unpacks this complex history with great skill, producing a comprehensive work that is not only deeply insightful, but also highly readable.' -- Robert Steele, Visiting Research Fellow, Department of International History, London School of Economics, and author of The Shah's Imperial Celebrations of 1971: Nationalism, Culture and Politics in Late Pahlavi Iran

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Book SynopsisThere is a saying in Arabic, me and my brother against my cousin, and me and my cousin against the outsider. Iran's Influence is the first comprehensive analysis of the role that Iran plays both in Middle Eastern and global politics. Expert Iranian author Elaheh Rostami Povey provides a much-needed account of one of the Middle East's most controversial and misunderstood countries. Based on several years of original research carried out in Iran and across the Middle East, this insightful guide presents not only a fascinating introduction to the country, but also essential new ideas to help the reader understand the Middle East.Trade Review'This is a sharp, judicious, caring, and competent scholar activist who has consistently crossed borders to carve new territories of perception and responsibility.' Hamid Dabashi, Columbia University 'As the crisis between Iran and the USA intensifies, Elaheh Rostami Povey's new book makes essential reading.' Stephanie Cronin, University of Oxford 'This work challenges much of the current discourse on the Islamic Republic of Iran in the Western media. It places evolving Iranian foreign and regional policies since 1979 in their proper historical and intellectual context. It combines new scholarship on the popular perception in the Arab street of Iran’s foreign policies with an engaging style and makes an important contribution to our knowledge on regional dimensions of the Palestine-Israel conflict.' Nur Masalha 'This book provides a clear-eyed, fascinating, and politically committed rebuttal to so much of the vacuous mainstream punditry about Iran's position and actions in the region.' Laleh Khalili, SOAS 'This book provides a clear and concise overview of the recent history of Iran in terms of religion, national and international politics and internal alliances, divisions and oppositional movements.' Baroness Afshar OBE, University of York 'A fascinating contribution to the debate. Rostami-Povey's extensive interviews in the region sheds valuable light on the continuing appeal of Iran on the Arab street, its causes, consequences and implications.' Ali M Ansari, St. Andrew's University 'A fascinating study of the evolution of the Islamic Republican regime in Iran, of its complex and increasingly conflictual relationship with popular and social movements, and of its impact on the wider Middle East. This fine product of Elaheh Rostami-Povey's critical scholarship is essential reading for anyone who refuses to settle for mythological and demonizing representations of post-revolutionary Iran.' Alex Callinicos, King's College LondonTable of Contents Introduction 1. The Legacy of a Revolution 2. The Reformers, The Conservatives and the Struggle for Democracy 3. The role of clergy in Iran 4. Religio-Political relationship between Iran, Lebanon and Hezbollah 5. Religio-political relationship between Iran and Iraq 6. Religio-political relationship between, Iran, Palestine and Hamas 7. Religio-political relationship between, Iran, and Egypt 8. Conclusion: The global context of the Iranian religio-political state Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisIn January 2006, Hamas, an organisation classified by Western governments as terrorist, was democratically elected to govern the Palestinian territories. The inherent contradictions in this situation have left many analysts at a loss. Hamas uses terror tactics against Israel, yet runs on a law and order ticket in Palestinian elections; it pursues an Islamic state, yet holds internal elections; it campaigns for shar'iah law, yet its leaders are predominantly secular professionals; it calls for the destruction of Israel, yet has reluctantly agreed to honour previous peace agreements. In "Hamas in Politics", Jeroen Gunning challenges the assumption that religion, violence and democracy are inherently incompatible and shows how many of these apparent contradictions flow from the interaction between Hamas' ideology, its local constituency and the nature of politics in Israel/Palestine. Drawing on interviews with members of Hamas and its critics, and a decade of close observation of the group, he offers a penetrating analysis of Hamas' own understanding of its ideology and in particular the tension between its dual commitment to 'God' and 'the people'. The book explores what Hamas' political practice says about its attitude towards democracy, religion and violence, providing a unique examination of the movement's internal organisation, how its leaders are selected and how decisions are made.Trade ReviewThis thoughtful book deserves a wide readership. * Times Literary Supplement *an exemplary political primer on the Islamist party's evolution, structure and thought. * New York Review of Books *

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Book SynopsisIn this timely book, completed before the current outbreak of unrest in Bahrain that has formed part of the Arab Spring, Laurence Louer explains, the background of the Bahraini conflict in the context of the wider issue of Shiism as a political force in the Arab Middle East, amongst other issues relating to the role of Shiite Islamist movements in regional politics. Her study shows how Bahrain's troubles are a phenomenon based on local perceptions of injustice rather than on the foreign policy of Shiite Iran. More generally, the book shows that, though Iran's Islamic Revolution had an electrifying effect on Shiite movements in Lebanon, Iraq, the Gulf and Saudi Arabia, local political imperatives have in the end been the crucial factor in the direction they have taken. In addition, the overwhelming influence of the Shiite clerical institution has been diminished by the rise to prominence of lay activists within the Shiite movements across the Middle East and the emergence of Shiite anti-clericalism. This book contributes to dispelling the myth of the determining power of Iran in the politics of Iraq, Bahrain and other Arab states with significant Shiite populations.Trade Review'Laurence Louer is among the foremost authorities on contemporary Shiite Islamic politics in the Middle East. Her intrepid field work and mastery of difficult Arabic texts give her hands-on knowledge, and she is a keen reader of political developments. An indispensable contribution.' * Juan Cole, Professor of History and Director, Center for Middle East and North African Studies, University of Michigan *'This short and elegantly written book manages the extraordinarily difficult feat of presenting the reader with a lucid introduction to Shiism in the Middle East that is at the same time full of penetrating insights. - Dealing with Shiism in the Middle East as a whole, Louer's book looks at the sect's political transformation after the Islamic Revolution and the fall of Baathist Iraq, paying particular attention to the changing role of the clergy, the rise of lay authorities, and transnational patterns of religious thought and practice that cannot be divided by neatly marked national categories.' * Faisal Devji, author of The Terrorist in Search of Humanity *'An impressive historical sociological overview, - Shiism and Politics in the Middle East is a welcome addition to academic research on Shia movements beyond Iran that offers valuable insight and incredible detail, accessible to scholars, policymakers, and general audiences interested in the topic. [The book] provides a strong springboard and opening new avenues for future research into a timely and important issue.' * Ioana Emy Matesan, Syracuse University, H-Net Reviews in the Humanities & Social Sciences *

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Book SynopsisIn Advice for the Sultan Neguin Yavari excavates multiple, conflicting strands of Islamic political thought from the medieval past to the present, reassessing these ideas and their impact over the longue duree. Her aim is to revise our understanding of the relation- ship between modern history and the current master narratives of both Western and Islamic histories of political thought. She does this by re-examinating Islamic advice literature, bringing it to life in novel ways. Yavari argues that if read laterally and closely, it promotes secular values such as reason and moderation as the most effective safeguard against political instability and divine rebuke. Related questions raised in this book include, can Islamic political thought be folded into the discipline of intellectual history? How do we write the history of political thought when its end-product is not seen as the march of a manifest destiny, or progressive secularisation, or the promotion of liberal values, such as is the case with the Islamic world today? Is it possible to read texts for context if the values adumbrated in them do not take hold in society, or to study those that produce political communities that differ radically from those that emerged in eighteenth- and the nineteenth-century Europe?Trade ReviewThis will be an important and even path-breaking book on Muslim political thought, one that is conceptually sophisticated and rigorous in its scholarship. -- Faisal Devji, University of Oxford, author of, inter alia, Landscapes of the Jihad: Militancy, Morality, Modernity (Hurst)Advice for the Sultan is a startlingly fresh exploration of the interconnectedness of classical and early medieval mirrors for princes, and a subtle reconstruction of context from text, to reveal the "hidden political messages" that lie at the heart of Nizam al-Mulk's higher purpose. -- John Gurney, Wadham College, OxfordThis novel reading of the rich and complex tradition of political thought offers the intriguing experience of discovering how common values, intentions and judgments connect contemporary political horizons with the Islamic past. -- Stefan Leder, Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Martin Luther University and Director of the Orient-Institut BeirutThis is an important and stimulating re-examination of the enormous range of royal Advice literature in the pre-modern Middle East. Neguin Yavari makes a convincing case for a new, nuanced contextual approach. This marks a signal contribution to the study of the history of Islamic political thought. -- Antony Black, Emeritus Professor, Politics and International Relations, University of Dundee[This] is an admirably thorough account of the [Islamicate] advice literature that the author has studied for years, but is outstanding and relevant well beyond its field in its attempts to rethink how intellectual history outside of the West should be pursued. ... Yavari ... explores the texts' rhetorical strategies to get at the thought behind them. By engaging robustly with structure and rhetoric across centuries of material, she offers a compelling portrait of a tradition of political philosophy and its forms of literary expression, providing an unprecedented synthetic analysis of what authors within this tradition were trying to convey to their readers. She strikes the right balance of historical contextualisation with rhetorical analysis, providing a model for how we might approach other pre-modern systematic disciplines such as philology, which map awkwardly onto modern academic disciplines. -- Journal of the Royal Asiatic Society

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Book SynopsisLong a taboo topic, as well as one that has alarmed outside powers, sectarian conflict in the Middle East is on the rise. The contributors to this book examine sectarian politics in the Persian Gulf, including the GCC states, Yemen, Iran and Iraq, and consider the origins and con- sequences of sectarianism broadly construed, as it affects ethnic, tribal and religious groups. They also present a theoretical and comparative framework for understanding sectarianism, as well as country-specific chapters based on recent research in the area. Key issues that are scrutinised include the nature of sectarianism, how identity moves from a passive to an active state, and the mechanisms that trigger conflict. The strategies of governments such as rentier economies and the 'invention' of partisan national histories that encourage or manage sectarian differences are also highlighted, as is the role of outside powers in fostering sectarian strife. The volume also seeks to clarify whether movements such as the Islamic revival or the Arab Spring obscure the continued salience of religious and ethnic cleavages. Published in collaboration with: Georgetown University Center for International and Regional Studies School of Foreign Service in Qatar.Trade Review'This is a masterfully produced collection of richly researched essays on one of the Middle East's hottest topics. With the sectarian card now played, even in the richest of oil monarchies, has Pandora's Box been opened up?' * Christopher Davidson, author of After the Sheikhs: The Coming Collapse of the Gulf Monarchies *'A timely contribution to understanding sectarianism on both sides of the Persian Gulf. The contributors are well-established historians and social scientists who offer nuanced interpretations of a malaise, at once contemporary and ancient, which threatens to redraw the region's political map. The result is an erudite exploration of the meaning of sectarianism in the context of old nations, and in newly forged ones - weaving local political contexts with transnational connections and outside interventions - which all seem to have escalated sectarian divides against a background of negotiated and fluid identities. The book paints a compelling picture of past and present coexistence and conflict.' * Madawi Al-Rasheed, Visiting Professor at the Middle East Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science *'This superb collection of essays breaks new ground in the study of the politics of sectarian identity in the Gulf. Integrating country case-studies with wider regional developments, the authors analyse the roots of - and the upsurge in - ethnic and sectarian conflict across the region. This book should be required reading for students and practitioners looking to understand the forces reshaping much of the Middle East and framing recent policy responses to the Arab Spring.' * Kristian Coates-Ulrichsen, author of Insecure Gulf: The End of Certainty and the Transition to the Post-Oil Era *

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Book SynopsisOlivier Roy, world-renowned authority on Islam and politics, finds in the modern disconnection between faith communities and socio-cultural identities a fertile space for fundamentalism to grow. Instead of freeing the world from religion, secularization has encouraged a kind of holy ignorance to take root, an anti-intellectualism that promises immediate, emotional access to the sacred and positions itself in direct opposition to contemporary pagan culture. The secularization of society was supposed to free people from religion, yet individuals are converting en masse to fundamentalist faiths, such as Protestant evangelicalism, Islamic Salafism, and Haredi Judaism. These religions either reconnect adherents to their culture through casual referents, like halal fast food, or maintain their momentum through purification rituals, such as speaking in tongues, a practice that allows believers to utter a language that is entirely their own. Instead of a return to traditional religious worship, we are now witnessing the individualization of faith and the disassociation of faith communities from ethnic and national identities. Roy explores the options now available to powers that hope to integrate or control these groups; and whether marginalization or homogenization will further divide believers from their culture.Trade ReviewOlivier Roy, the outstanding scholar of contemporary religions, has written a book of startling clarity and wisdom. Illuminating trends, issues and movements that had before appeared bizarre or simply antipathetic, he provides us with tools for the comprehension of matters as diverse as coverage of the war on terror to the common individual confusion over one's own beliefs and scepticisms. * Financial Times *'Holy Ignorance' is in a way a synthesis of all Roy's previous work on the sociology of religion. It formulates forcefully the thesis that has been taking shape throughout his previous works: in a globalised world, religion thrives to the extent that it has severed its ties with culture. This de-culturation . . . of religions explains their revival, and much of our difficulties in understanding them. . . . It is certainly an important book that is written in an easy, accessible language fit for a wide audience . . . Roy's erudition is simply flabbergasting, and it has the merit of making his book very concrete, very vivid. -- Nicholas Guilhot, New York UniversityRoy's central theses about the way religion is going in today's world (a breathtakingly ambitious exercise to be sure) could, and deserve to, reset . . . debates about secularization and secularism, and give birth to creative new departures in theory and research. -- David Lehmann, Cambridge UniversityOver the past few years, a number of theories have been offered about the rise of fundamentalism. The brilliant French social scientist Roy proposes the most original - and the most persuasive. Fundamentalism, in his view, is a symptom of, rather than a reaction against, the increasing secularization of society. Whether it takes the form of the Christian right in the United States or Salafist purity in the Muslim world, fundamentalism is not about restoring a more authentic and deeply spiritual religious experience. It is instead a manifestation of holy ignorance, Roy's biting term meant to characterize the worldview of those who, having lost both their theology and their roots, subscribe to ideas as incoherent as they are ultimately futile. The most important thing to know about those urging the restoration of a lost religious authenticity is that they are sustained by the very forces they denounce. * The New York Times *Above all else, Mr. Roy is able to show us vividly how much has changed with the secularization that Weber predicted . . . how formerly Christian societies have lost a sense of their own religious foundation... By transforming itself into another instrument of therapeutic . . . satisfaction, Mr. Roy observes, religion risks losing its soul. * Wall Street Journal *an erudite account of intricate relationships between religion and other markers of identity, including nationality, socially defined race, language, class, political ideology, generation, gender and sexual orientation. * Times Literary Supplement *A highly complex book that critically examines the relationship between religion, culture and globalization, 'Holy Ignorance' provides theoretical keys to unlocking the riddle of the religious imagination and the 'deculturation' of religious movements in the modern world. Few scholars of religion are as qualified as Olivier Roy to write such an erudite work on religious and cultural trends, to contextualize them and to make sense of them. -- Fawaz A. Gerges, Professor and Chair of Middle Eastern Politics and International Relations, London School of EconomicsWith 'Holy Ignorance' Olivier Roy moves beyond his established perch as one of contemporary Islam's foremost scholars to train his formidable analytical skills on the question of globalization's broader impact on religion. The result is a tour de force of comparative religious sociology, and represents required reading for anyone seeking to understand the relationship between faith, culture, and the market. -- Peter Mandaville, George Mason University and author of 'Global Political Islam'Firmly rooted in the uncompromisingly laique tradition of French sociology, Roy serves his sweet and sour soup of secularism, a peculiar melange of empirical history and normative history, in the chalice of postmodernity, proclaiming globalization as the only universal faith of our times. * The Muslim World Book Review *'Holy Ignorance' offers an impressive insight and a significant contribution to the field of religious sociology by addressing the second scheme of secularization that will have an enduring influence on the global discourse regarding the issue of the role of religion in our modern world. -- Abdullahi A. Gallab, Sociology of ReligionAn intriguing thesis slithers through this impressively profuse and promiscuous garden of sociohistorical erudition. Religion is not experiencing a comeback, the renowned scholar of political Islam argues, but a significant transformation brought about by the secularization intended to marginalize and diminish it. -- Michael P. Kramer, Common Knowledge

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Book SynopsisWestern democracies are experiencing a new wave of right-wing populism that seeks to mobilise religion for its own ends. With chapters on the United States, Britain, France, Italy, Austria, the Netherlands, Poland and Israel, Saving the People asks how populist movements have used religion for their own ends and how Church leaders react to them. The authors contend that religion is more about belonging than belief for populists, with religious identities and traditions being deployed to define who can and cannot be part of 'the people'. This in turn helps many populists to claim that native Christian communities are being threatened by a creeping and highly aggressive process of Islamisation, with Muslims becoming a key, if not the, 'enemy of the people'. While Church elites generally condemn this instrumental use of religions, populists take little heed, presenting themselves as the true saviours of the people. The policy implications of this phenomenon are significant, which makes this book all the more timely and relevant to current debate.Trade Review'Compelling and hugely ambitious, this book should be read by everyone'.'Vox Populi, Vox Dei? In the increasingly saturated market of populism books, Saving the People addresses one of the few important black spots: the relationship between religion and populism. A must-read for anyone interested in politics in contemporary western democracies.' * Cas Mudde, School of Public and International Affairs at University of Georgia and Center for Research on Extremism at University of Oslo *'This book explores the relationship of right-wing populism with religion. It shows how these parties have "hijacked" religion, using it not as a set of belief but as an identity marker, to strengthen the border between 'us' and 'them'. And in eight of the ten cases studied, Islam is the target. A major and challenging contribution to the understanding of Western populism.' * Nonna Mayer, Research Director at CNRS, Centre d'etudes europeennes de Sciences Po *

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Book SynopsisAnalysis of both official and opposition Saudi divine politics is often monolithic, conjuring images of conservatism, radicalism, misogyny and resistance to democracy. Madawi Al-Rasheed challenges this stereotype as she examines a long tradition of engaging with modernism that gathered momentum with the Arab uprisings and incurred the wrath of both the regime and its Wahhabi supporters. With this nascent modernism, constructions of new divine politics, anchored in a rigorous reinterpretation of foundational Islamic texts and civil society activism are emerging in a context where authoritarian rule prefers its advocates to remain muted. The author challenges scholarly wisdom on Islamism in general and blurs the boundaries between secular and religious politics.Trade Review'In this latest publication, the increasingly prolific Madawi al-Rasheed demonstrates again why she is one of the foremost authorities on developments in Saudi Arabia. Muted Modernists not only challenges one-dimensional portrayals of Islamists, it also shows an ability to look behind the scenes of superficial media coverage and identify issues that often go unnoticed, but which are affecting the social fabric of what remains one of the most poorly understood countries in the Muslim world. Forceful in her conclusions, her findings evince a subtle understanding of the complexity of Saudi society. She offers valuable insights that should not be ignored by anyone with a genuine interest in one of the major players in Middle Eastern politics.' * Carool Kersten, Senior Lecturer in the Study of Islam & the Muslim World, King's College London, and author of Islam in Indonesia: The Contest for Society, Values and Ideas *'Madawi Al-Rasheed demonstrates here, as she has in her past works, that the intellectual and political scene in Saudi Arabia is much more diverse and argumentative than the conventional view would have it. Despite an authoritarian government that clamps down on even the hint of critical political speech, a religious establishment that rejects modernist reinterpretations of Islam and a general public that has not yet mobilised in large numbers for political change, there is an active intellectual debate among Saudis about what their religion means for their politics. Al-Rasheed captures a part of that debate that most outsiders could easily miss. No one writing in English follows the Saudi political scene more closely and more critically than she does.' * F. Gregory Gause, III, Bush School of Government, Texas A&M University *'Islamism is a piebald, elusive form of religious politics in the modern Middle East. Saudi Arabia is a key player, yet until now no one has shown how notable Saudi scholars, many of them marginal to traditional networks but with access to social media, are reshaping Islamism within the Kingdom. Written by the foremost scholar of dissident political movements in Saudi Arabia, this book is a must read for policy mavens and students of international affairs as well as Middle East specialists from all disciplines' - * Bruce Lawrence, Professor of Islamic Studies Emeritus, Duke University, and author of Who is Allah? *'Western (and Saudi) categories of 'radical' and 'moderate' fail to capture the intensely fluid politics in Saudi Arabia of Islamist modernists who publicly challenge the religious roots of authoritarianism and advocate the emergence of genuine civil society. At great personal risk, especially after 2011, Saudi youth and intellectuals have sought, often via Twitter and other new media, to shape the debates over the direction that Saudi society should take. Muted Modernists is a must-read for understanding Saudi Arabia today and for asking better questions about turmoil in neighbouring states.' * Dale F. Eickelman, co-author of Muslim Politics *'A highly critical and informative inside-out study of Saudi society, Muted Modernists gives voice to Saudi youth and public intellectuals who struggle, against great odds, to shape the debates about the future direction of their country. Al-Rasheed expands the intellectual lens through which to view Saudi Arabia, and shatters the notion of Saudi uniformity and exceptionalism. A must read.' * Fawaz A. Gerges, Professor of International Relations, London School of Economics *

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Book SynopsisFaithonomics uses economic theory to provide a new and unorthodox view of religion in today's world. Drawing on state-of-the-art research and on case studies from around the globe, this book shows that religion should be analysed as a market similar to markets for other goods and services, like bottled water or haircuts. Faithonomics is about today's religious markets, but in sweeping detours through the histories of Christianity, Islam, Buddhism and Hinduism, Brekke shows us the religious markets of the past, although these were sometimes heavily regulated by states. He argues that government 'control' over religious markets is often the cause of unforeseen and negative consequences. Many of today's problems related to religion, like religious terrorism or rent-seeking by religious political parties, are easier to understand if we think like economists. Religious markets work best when they are relatively free. Religious organisations should be free to sell their products without unnecessary restrictions, but we have no good reason to grant them privileges in the form of subsidies or tax-breaks.Trade Review'At a time when debate about religion is often dominated by talk of clashing ideologies, Faithonomics offers a refreshing set of tools for liberals to defend religious freedom.' -- The Financial Times'[Brekke] has enthusiastically and provocatively adopted an economic perspective on religion.' -- Times Higher Education'Religion and economics are usually regarded as separate domains, except for religious injunctions that prescribe or proscribe certain forms of economic behavior. In this unusual book, Brekke applies economic concepts--supply and demand, public versus private goods, oligopoly versus free markets, and so on--to the provision of the religious services offered by several faiths.' -- Foreign Affairs'Vibrant examples and the absence of unnecessary jargon make the book accessible to a wide audience of scholars, students, and policy wonks. Both supporters and critics will find Faithonomics to be rich in ideas and deserving of thoughtful consideration.' -- Sociology of Religion'The magic and brilliance of Brekke's Faithonomics is that little by little, the author breaks down the reader's reflex resistance to his argument (who, after all, intuitively thinks about their religious faith in economic terms?). By the end of this elegantly written book, he actually manages to sell it!' -- Aakash Singh, Professor of Political Science and Philosophy, JNU University (New Delhi) and LUISS University (Rome)'This book challenges the notion that communities of faith are static and insular ... Using economic models to describe the competition of ideas in the multicultural marketplace, it presents a thesis that readers will find both startling and controversial, but difficult to ignore. This may become one of the most discussed books in religion in our time.' -- Mark Juergensmeyer, Professor, Global and International Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara, and co-author of God in the Tumult of the Global Square'A provocative and compelling book, not only about religion in the US but about religion universally. Brekke makes a good case for looking at religion as a commodity best left to the free market, the better to pacify violence associated with religion and to ensure quality in the provision of spiritual guidance to adherents/consumers. Clearly and concisely written, this is an important contribution to our understanding of how government and religion intersect.' -- David True, Chair, Philosophy and Religion Department Assistant Professor of Religion, Wilson College, PA and co-editor of Political Theology'Provocative and unconventional, this engaging book challenges dominant assumptions about religion as a public good in modern life, asserting that government involvement in religious markets produces negative consequences for society. Critical, yet accessible, Faithonomics offers an economic prescription for the proper role of religion in public life to redefine the jurisdictional limits of religion and state, in order to cultivate a more peaceful understanding of moral citizenship.' -- Chad E. Seales, Associate Professor of Religious Studies, The University of Texas at Austin

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Book SynopsisHassan Mahamdallie gets spiritual in a commune; Marco Lauri visits Ibn Tufayl's twelfth-century island utopia Hayy Ibn Yaqdan; Malise Ruthven interrogates modernity and Islamic utopias, Nazry Bahrawi is sceptical about secular utopias; and Sadek Hamid traces the rise and fall of the utopian vision of Hizb-ut-Tahrir. Also in this issue: orientalist utopias in Andalusia, feminist futures, and was the Prophet's Medina a utopia? Not forgetting poems, short stories, the Last Word and the List.About Critical Muslim: A quarterly publication of ideas and issues showcasing groundbreaking thinking on Islam and what it means to be a Muslim in a rapidly changing, interconnected world. Each edition centers on a discrete theme, and contributions include reportage, academic analysis, cultural commentary, photography, poetry, and book reviews.

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Book SynopsisWith the end of the Soviet Union in 1991, a major turning point in all former Soviet republics, Central Asian and Caucasian countries began to reflect on their history and identities. As a consequence of their opening up to the global exchange of ideas, various strains of Islam and trends in Islamic thought have nourished the Islamic revival that had already started in the context of glasnost and perestroika -- from Turkey, Iran, the Arabian Peninsula, and from the Indian subcontinent; the four regions with strong ties to Central Asian and Caucasian Islam in the years before Soviet occupation. Bayram Balci seeks to analyse how these new Islamic influences have reached local societies and how they have interacted with pre-existing religious belief and practice. Combining exceptional erudition with rare first-hand research, Balci’s book provides a sophisticated account of both the internal dynamics and external influences in the evolution of Islam in the region.Trade Review‘[Islam in Central Asia and the Caucasus Since the Fall of the Soviet Union] is an ambitious yet concise account of the evolution of Islam in the Muslim-majority former Soviet republics, namely the five Central Asian states and Azerbaijan. … [the book is] a valuable resource for both students and scholars of the region.’ -- Europe-Asia Studies'An important contribution to the field of contemporary Islamic studies in this region.' -- Reading Religion'A sophisticated account of the evolution of Islam in Central Asia and Azerbaijan since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Balci's nuanced analysis reveals a region marked by great diversity and innovativeness.' -- Adeeb Khalid * Professor of Asian Studies and History, Carleton College *'Sheds new light on little-known but powerful movements, namely Saudi and Indian Wahhabism, Tablighi Jamaat and the Gülen movement.' -- Thierry Zarcone

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Book SynopsisOlivier Roy, world-renowned authority on Islam and politics, finds in the modern disconnection between faith communities and socio-cultural identities a fertile space for fundamentalism to grow. Instead of freeing the world from religion, secularization has encouraged a kind of holy ignorance to take root, an anti-intellectualism that promises immediate, emotional access to the sacred and positions itself in direct opposition to contemporary pagan culture. The secularization of society was supposed to free people from religion, yet individuals are converting en masse to fundamentalist faiths, such as Protestant evangelicalism, Islamic Salafism, and Haredi Judaism. These religions either reconnect adherents to their culture through casual referents, like halal fast food, or maintain their momentum through purification rituals, such as speaking in tongues, a practice that allows believers to utter a language that is entirely their own. Instead of a return to traditional religious worship, we are now witnessing the individualization of faith and the disassociation of faith communities from ethnic and national identities. Roy explores the options now available to powers that hope to integrate or control these groups; and whether marginalization or homogenization will further divide believers from their culture.Trade ReviewOlivier Roy, the outstanding scholar of contemporary religions, has written a book of startling clarity and wisdom. Illuminating trends, issues and movements that had before appeared bizarre or simply antipathetic, he provides us with tools for the comprehension of matters as diverse as coverage of the war on terror to the common individual confusion over one's own beliefs and scepticisms.'-Financial Times 'Holy Ignorance is in a way a synthesis of all Roy's previous work on the sociology of religion. It formulates forcefully the thesis that has been taking shape throughout his previous works: in a globalised world, religion thrives to the extent that it has severed its ties with culture. This de-culturationA" of religions explains their revival, and much of our difficulties in understanding them. - It is certainly an important book that is written in an easy, accessible language fit for a wide audience - Roy's erudition is simply flabbergasting, and it has the merit of making his book very concrete, very vivid.' -- Nicholas Guilhot, New York University 'Roy's central theses about the way religion is going in today's world (a breathtakingly ambitious exercise to be sure) could, and deserve to, resetA" debates about secularization and secularism, and give birth to creative new departures in theory and research.' -- David Lehmann, Cambridge University 'Over the past few years, a number of theories have been offered about the rise of fundamentalism. The brilliant French social scientist Roy proposes the most original - and the most persuasive. Fundamentalism, in his view, is a symptom of, rather than a reaction against, the increasing secularization of society. Whether it takes the form of the Christian right in the United States or Salafist purity in the Muslim world, fundamentalism is not about restoring a more authentic and deeply spiritual religious experience. It is instead a manifestation of holy ignorance, Roy's biting term meant to characterize the worldview of those who, having lost both their theology and their roots, subscribe to ideas as incoherent as they are ultimately futile. The most important thing to know about those urging the restoration of a lost religious authenticity is that they are sustained by the very forces they denounce.'-New York Times 'Above all else, Mr. Roy is able to show us vividly how much has changed with the secularization that Weber predicted-how formerly Christian societies have lost a sense of their own religious foundation... By transforming itself into another instrument of therapeuticA" satisfaction, Mr. Roy observes, religion risks losing its soul.'-Wall Street Journal 'an erudite account of intricate relationships between religion and other markers of identity, including nationality, socially defined race, language, class, political ideology, generation, gender and sexual orientation.' TLS

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Book SynopsisCurrent developments in Iran are forcing a fundamentalreassessment of the relationship between Islam and democracyand the processes of democratization in the Muslim world.While some scholars have argued that 'Islam' and 'democracy'are essentially incompatible, others have sought to portraythe advent of political Islam as a transitional phenomenonto be overcome before democratization can take root. Ansari,in tracing the historical roots of political development inIran, argues that what is in fact taking place is an intellectualsynthesis of ideas drawing from both Western and traditionalIranian norms. The author analyzes the origins and dynamicof this development, and discusses the possible consequencesfor Iran and the region, as well as Iran's relationship with thewider world. This new edition includes political developmentsin Iran since 2016. It looks at the increasing polarity of viewsand the changing nature of 'reformism' in light of successivesetbacks and growing international tensions.Trade Review"The most comprehensive account of the politics of reform in contemporary Iran . . . . there has never been a better time for a review and detailed analysis of the rise and fall of the reform movement in Iran."--Asian Review of Books

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Book SynopsisJames 'Dongaree' Baird, a boilermaker in Harland and Wolff's shipyard, was one of hundreds of 'rotten Prods', and thousands of Catholics, driven from their place of work by loyalists in 1920. The expulsions marked the end of Belfast's 'two red years', distinguished by the massive engineering strike in 1919 and the municipal elections in 1920, in which Baird was elected to Belfast Corporation. Baird's case offers a rare insight into the city's brief radicalisation, the mentality of Protestant workers who opposed the partition of Ireland, and the reasons why loyalists targeted Labour as their most insidious enemy. As a leader of the expelled workers, Baird spoke to the Irish and British TUCs, but Irish Labour had no practical policy on the North and British trade unions feared that confronting loyalists would lose them members. Subsequently, Baird worked for the National Sailors' and Firemen's Union and the Irish Transport and General Workers' Union, when he led the farm labourers of Waterford in an epic strike against wage cuts and was nearly elected to Dail Eireann. In 1927 he and his family emigrated to Brisbane, Queensland, where his daughters Nora and Helene were decorated by the Australian government for services to music in schools. A compelling account of a rotten Prod and a Labour hero.Trade Review'Baird was an outstanding figure amongst the 'rotten Prods' but he represented an element of the Protestant working class who were radicalised by the political ferment of the post-war years and whose history O'Connor's book brings out of the shadows.' - Peter Connell, Sound Post, Winter 2023.; 'Emmet O'Connor has successfully retrieved a remarkable leader and his times from history's dustbin. Baird deserves to be remembered; this book should be read.' - History Ireland, March 2023.; 'His is a rare story, not just of a man too radical for Belfast but of one of the subalterns of the failed and forgotten social revolution of 1917-23.' - Belfast Telegraph, December 2022.; 'An eloquent memorial to the man Jim Larkin described as "a sober, intelligent and strangely honest and courageous spokesman for his class".' - Henry Patterson, Dublin Review of Books, December 2022.; 'Recounts the history of an exceptional man who was also typical of many Ulster Protestant trade unionists in becoming radicalised & in concluding that partition was not in the interest of the working class.' - Martin Doyle, The Irish Times, December 2022.; 'O'Connor's study offers a detailed account of the turbulent years surrounding the emergence of a partitioned Ireland, and an insight into a marginalised group of labour activists who paid a heavy price for their commitment.' - Dr Mike Mecham, Society for the Study of Labour History, January 2023.; 'Emmet O'Connor has successfully retrieved a remarkable leader and his times from history's dustbin. Baird deserves to be remembered; this book should be read.' - Niall Meehan, History Ireland, March 2023.

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Book Synopsis“I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh” (Ezechiel 36:26). This biblical image, particularly significant for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, gives insight into the central issues of this book: how a greater readiness to reconcile can take place among individuals and groups who experience the "suffering of the other," even in the midst of a protracted conflict such as the Israeli-Palestinian one. This book offers a collection of essays written by the team members of a transdisciplinary DFG project between Jena University, Ben Gurion University, Tel Aviv University, and the Wasatia Academic Institute.

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Book SynopsisVincent Phillip Munoz is the Tocqueville Professor of Political Science and Concurrent Professor of Law at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Munoz writes and teaches across the fields of constitutional law, American politics, and political philosophy.

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Book SynopsisReligion and AIDS are transforming African public and private domains. This book questions why so much of the transnational religious engagement has seemed to serve conservative values, and explores connections between Europe/North America and Africa highlighting how these carry both financial resources for HIV/AIDS work and moral values.Table of ContentsPART 1: TRANSNATIONAL RELATIONS AND CONSERVATIVE AGENDAS; PART 2: TRANSNATIONAL POWER AND LOCAL AGENCY; PART 3: TRANSNATIONAL IDEAS AND LOCAL DISCOURSES ABOUT SEXUALITY; PART 4: TRANSNATIONAL IDENTITIES AND HOMOSEXUALITY; EPILOGUE

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Book SynopsisDismissing oversimplified and politically-charged views of the politics of Shi'ite Islam, Said Amir Arjomand offers a richly researched sociological and historical study of Shi'ism and the political order of premodern Iran that exposes the roots of what became Khomeini's theocracy.Trade Review"This book deserves to be read by anyone concerned with the relationship between religion and state in Iran and Islam." - New Republic "This is an important book.... Arjomand has certainly challenged much contemporary Western scholarship and made an important contribution to the continuing debate on the subject of religion and politics in [Shi'ite] Islam." - American Historical Review "A remarkable achievement in providing a sustained, solid theoretical perspective on a massive movement in modern Islamic societies, while advancing the sociological study of Islam to an unsurpassed level.... Supported by an impressive and unprecedented analytical examination of theological and juridical texts." - Contemporary Sociology "Very illuminating.... Rich and comprehensive.... A sophisticated analysis of the history of Shi'ite influence on political action in Iran." - American Journal of Sociology"

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Book SynopsisExamines the efforts of American Catholics to thwart eugenic policies, illuminating the ways in which Catholic thought transformed the public conversation about individual rights, the role of the state, and the intersections of race, community, and family. This title deals with the history of religion, science, politics, and human rights.Trade Review"Passionately argued, engagingly written, and based on extensive research, An Image of God will be essential reading for historians of eugenics and students of Catholic activism in the United States. With this book, Sharon M. Leon fills a huge gap in the scholarly literature." (Molly Ladd-Taylor, York University)"

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Book SynopsisShows how the problem of neighbor love opens questions that are fundamental to ethical inquiry and suggest a new theological configuration of political theory. This title explores today's central historical problem: the persistence of the theological in the political.Trade Review"An important contribution to the development of new ways to think about sovereignty, otherness, materiality, and the political possibilities encased in the present.... Each essay unfolds through complex and nuanced engagements with key texts in political theology, psychoanalysis, ethics, and contemporary philosophy." (Political Theory)"

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Book SynopsisDraws on theorists such as Carl Schmitt, Leo Strauss, Walter Benjamin, and Hannah Arendt and their readings of Shakespeare, Hobbes, Machiavelli, and Spinoza to illustrate that the dialogue between these modern and early modern figures can help us rethink the contemporary problem of political theology.Trade Review"As we, in late modernity, grapple with our own theological-political predicament, Victoria Kahn fearlessly interrogates early twentieth-century engagements with many of the early modern authors who gave the religion-politics dilemma its definitive form. Kahn's interpretive moves and conclusions are always enlightening and often exciting. The Future of Illusion is a timely, erudite, and well-argued book that will be an important intervention into contemporary debates over political theology." (John P. McCormick, University of Chicago)"

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Book SynopsisFaced with widespread reports of religious persecution, public and private actors around the world have responded with laws and policies designed to promote freedom of religion. What are the cultural and epistemological assumptions underlying this response, and what forms of politics are enabled in the process?

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Book SynopsisFaced with widespread reports of religious persecution, public and private actors around the world have responded with laws and policies designed to promote freedom of religion. What are the cultural and epistemological assumptions underlying this response, and what forms of politics are enabled in the process?

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Book SynopsisAmericans have long acknowledged a connection between evangelical religion and democracy in the early days of the republic. The author demolishes the idea that evangelical growth in the early republic was the cheerful product of enthusiasm for democracy, and creates for us a very different narrative of influence and ideals in the young republic.

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