Revolutionary groups and movements Books

Book SynopsisThe Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East has always attracted widely divergent attention. Scholars have regarded it both as the source of terrorism, and, more recently as the potential harbinger of democratization. The Muslim Brotherhood in Europe has attracted far less attention. But heavily influenced by its ambiguous reputation in the Middle East it has led to widespread speculation about its character. Its critics regard the European organizations as part of a suspicious, secretive, centrally led world-wide organization that enhances the alienation of Muslims in Europe. Its sympathizers, on the other hand, regard the Brotherhood as a moderate movement that has been Europeanized and promotes integration. This volume brings together experts on the European Muslim Brotherhood who address some of the main issues on which the debate has concentrated. After an introduction dealing with the European debate in the press, the first section shows that Brotherhood consists primarily of a network of informal ties, which have developed a host of localized practices and contradictory trends. The second part deals with the Brotherhood organizations in different European countries and traces their highly specific trajectories and relations with the local non-Muslim press and authorities. The third section concentrates on the ideological developments of the movement in the Middle East and Europe.Trade Review'This volume is a rich documentation and critical assessment of political movements related to the Muslim Brothers and their changing ideologies in various European nation states since the 1960s. It systematically addresses not only the often negative perceptions by journalists and politicians in Europe, but also the contradictions and ambiguities within the organisations. It is a highly qualified academic approach that helps to paint a much-needed differentiated picture.' * Bettina Graf, Zentrum Moderner Orient Berlin, co-editor of Global Mufti: The Phenomenon of Yusuf Al-Qaradawi *'This is a very timely collection of contributions on a much vilified movement by a fine group of first class scholars. They portray the Muslim Brotherhood and its complex intellectual and ideological heritage, trying to come to grips with the many contemporary and multiple challenges it faces. While critically assessing its enduring secrecy and monopolistic claims about its representativeness, this volume convincingly argues that the Muslim Brotherhood has dramatically changed over the decades. It is now a moderate movement, as diverse as the national environments in which its affiliated organisations operate. This volume confronts head-on the argument of pundits who argue that Islam cannot change.' * Rik Coolsaet, Ghent University, author of Jihadi Terrorism and the Radicalisation Challenge: European and American Experiences *'A penetrating assessment of the origins and inner workings of an influential and diverse Islamist movement operating in Europe. Where the Brotherhood is widely portrayed as a counter-Enlightenment Trojan Horse, this volume offers an impressively more nuanced understanding of its evolution, moving away from its totalising dogma and militancy towards political pragmatism as it engages with democracy, secularism, and Muslim minority status.' * Humayan Ansari, Professor of Islam and Culture, Royal Holloway, University of London, and author of The Infidel Within: Muslims in Britain Since 1800 *

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Book SynopsisWhen the convulsions of the Arab Spring first became manifest in Syria in March 2011, the Ba'athist regime was quick to blame the pro- tests on the 'Syrian Muslim Brotherhood' and its 'al-Qaeda affiliates.' But who are these Islamists so determined to rule a post-Assad Syria? Little has been published on militant Islam in Syria since Hafez Assad's regime destroyed the Islamist movement in its stronghold of Hama in February 1982. This book bridges that gap by providing readers with the first comprehensive account of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood's history to date. In this ground-breaking account of Syria's most prominent, yet highly secretive, Islamist organisation, the author draws on previously untapped sources: the memoirs of former Syrian jihadists; British and American archives; and also a series of wide-ranging interviews with the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood's historical leaders as well as those who battled against them - many speaking on the record for the first time. Ashes of Hama uncovers the major aspects of the Islamist struggle: from the Brotherhood's radicalisation and its 'jihad' against the Ba'athist regime and subsequent exile, to a spectacular comeback at the forefront of the Syrian revolution in 2011 - a remarkable turnaround for an Islamist movement which all analysts had pronounced dead amid the ruins of Hama in 1982.Trade ReviewIn this timely book Lefevre rightly observes that the ashes of Hama have become the ashes of Syria … highly recommended. * Choice *Lefevre has produced a richly detailed, well-written, and sober analytical account of the history of Syria's Muslim Brotherhood. He does an outstanding job of bringing together a wide range of English, French, and Arabic sources to convincingly place the Syrian Brotherhood within its local political context. Ashes of Hama is without question the best available comprehensive English-language work on Syrian Islamist politics. -- Marc Lynch * Foreign Policy Middle East Channel Best of 2013 *An impressive and unprecedented compendium of research. * New York Journal of Books *No book could be more timely than Lefevre's on the Muslim Brotherhood. Anyone wishing to understand Syria must understand the long and bitter history of the Muslim Brotherhood's struggle with the Assad regime. Islamic groups are poised to take power in Syria - and the Brotherhood is foremost among them. Westerners and Syrians alike who fail to appreciate the importance and centrality of the Brotherhood to Syria's modern history are foolish. -- Joshua M. Landis, Director, Center for Middle East Studies, University of Oklahoma, and author Syria CommentAn important contribution on the massacre's impact on the Syrian political landscape and on an organization set to play a crucial role in post-Assad Syria. -- Tam Hussein * The Huffington Post *In a compact and compelling account, [Ashes of Hama] describes in detail the build-up to an Islamist uprising in the city of Hama in February 1982. … [A]n important addition to Syria scholarship because the author debunks more thoroughly than others have done the myth perpetuated by the regime and accepted as received wisdom by the world ever since that the Muslim Brotherhood was responsible for the anti-government violence in the 1970s. * Times Literary Supplement *A timely and essential history - [Ashes of Hama]'s great strength is the way in which it sets the Syrian story of the Brotherhood in the context of the place, firmly rooted in the country's tumultuous, often violent post-colonial history. -- Frederick Deknatel * The National *When the Assad regime has fallen and the bloodletting finally ends, the Muslim Brotherhood - the Ikhwan al-Muslimeen - will likely command centre stage in the new Syria. Yet the movement is little understood and much misrepresented. This highly readable and impressively researched account could not be more welcome - or more timely. -- Alan George, Senior Associate Member, St Antony's College, Oxford University, and author of Syria: Neither Bread Nor FreedomThis is a truly excellent book, not only because it provides the first detailed account of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood from its inception to 2012, but also becaue it situates the movement within the twentieth-century history of Syria, particularly in the context of the movement's arch-adversary, the Alawite-dominated Ba'athist regime. It deserves a place on the bookshelves of every scholar of the contemporary Middle East. -- George JoffeRaphael Lefevre's book sheds valuable light on the Islamist movements that seem poised to take power in a post-Ba'th Syria. It draws on new primary sources, such as interviews with and memoirs of Brotherhood leaders and Western government archives. The definitive study of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, it also throws new light on its jihadi offshoots. * Middle East Journal *Raphael Lefevre's book is the definitive study of the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood. Besides providing a comprehensive overview of the movement's development, Lefevre also uses interviews Brotherhood leaders to throw new light on pivotal episodes of conflict with the Ba'th regime, from the Hama Revolt to the current uprising, in which the regime's violent reaction unwittingly empowered the Brothers as the main alternative to its rule. -- Raymond Hinnebusch, Professor of International Relations and Director of the Centre for Syrian Studies, University of St AndrewsA fascinating study that unravels the complexity of dynamics between radical and more moderate currents within the Syrian Muslim Brotherhood, and its most radical offshoots that were primarily responsible for prematurely provoking the Ba'th regime into the tragic bloodbath of Hama in 1982. Lefevre explains how today's Syrian Revolution provided the Brotherhood with a golden opportunity to make a historical comeback to the forefront of Syrian politics, after decennia of relentless repression by the Syrian Ba'th regime. -- Nikolaos van Dam, author of The Struggle for Power in Syria: Politics and Society Under Asad and the Ba'th Party, and former Ambassador of the Netherlands to Iraq, Egypt, Turkey, Germany and IndonesiaTo understand the blood-letting in Syria there is no better guide than Raphael Lefevre's brilliant, wonderfully-sourced and timely book. He demonstrates that the current vicious civil war is but the latest phase of a fifty-year struggle between the Muslim Brothers and the secular Ba'th Party, which seized power in Damascus in 1963, overturning Syria's centuries-old socioeconomic and political order. The Muslim Brothers tended on the whole to be relatively moderate but, time and again, their grave error was to allow themselves to be out-distanced and then co-opted by radical jihadists, whose violence gave the regime the pretext for even greater violence. This was the pattern of the 1964 uprisings in Hama; of the massacre of Alawi cadets at the Aleppo Artillery School in 1979; of the slaughter of dozens of Ba'thist officials in Hama in February 1982, which triggered the regime's massacre of thousands, if not tens of thousands, of citizens as it retook the town. Revenge for that catastrophe still drives much of today's jihadi violence. Lefevre explains how military experience gained by exiled Syrian militants fighting the Soviets in Afghanistan and the Americans in Iraq has lent muscle to the current rebellion against President Bashar al-Asad's regime. Once again, however, as so often in the past, the Muslim Brothers have lost the initiative to more violent Islamist groups - the al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front among them - thus seriously damaging the prospects of an early negotiated settlement of the savage civil war. -- Patrick Seale, author of The Struggle for Syria and Asad: The Struggle for the Middle East

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Book SynopsisThe violent Basque separatist group ETA took shape in Franco's Spain, yet claimed the majority of its victims under democracy. For most Spaniards it became an aberration, a criminal and terrorist band whose persistence defied explanation. Others, mainly Basques (but only some Basques) understood ETA as the violent expression of a political conflict that remained the un- finished business of Spain's transition to democ- racy. Such differences hindered efforts to 'defeat' ETA's terrorism on the one hand and 'resolve the Basque conflict' on the other for more than three decades. Endgame for ETA offers a compelling account of the long path to ETA's declaration of a definitive end to its armed activity in October 2011. Its political surrogates remain as part of a resurgence of regional nationalism - in the Basque Country as in Catalonia - that is but one element of multiple crises confronting Spain. The Basque case has been cited as an ex- ample of the perils of 'talking to terrorists'.Drawing on extensive field research, Teresa Whitfield argues that while negotiations did not prosper, a form of 'virtual peacemaking' was an essential complement to robust police action and social condemnation. Together they helped to bring ETA's violence to an end and return its grievances to the channels of normal politics.Trade Review'...essential reading.' -- Foreign Affairs'Highly recommended for researchers interested in the Basque conflict or actively working in the peace process.' -- LSE Review of Books'...an admirably clear and perceptive analysis of the conflict's tortuous path towards resolution over the past 15 years ... Endgame for Eta asks some difficult but pertinent questions.' -- The Irish Times'The most detailed study to date of the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue's involvement in the Basque Conflict. ... This is an enjoyable, well-written book by an expert in the theory and practice of conflict resolution.' -- Inigo Gurruchaga, El Correo'...excellent and exhaustive.' -- El Imparcial'Whitfield is a sure-footed guide to the involvement of moderators and peacemakers from other parts of Europe and the US, who eventually prevailed against the hard-liners in the Basque country and in Madrid who were set on the elimination of their opponents. Her book deserves to become a classic for peacemakers.' -- The Tablet'Endgame for ETA is a wonderful book - academically rigorous and well researched, yet engaging and accessible to the general reader. Avoiding simplistic arguments, Whitfield counterbalances the complex factors leading to ETA's demise with a sober critique of Spain's counterterrorism. The thoughtful lessons that she draws from this fascinating case deserve a broad reading and high-level attention.' -- Audrey Kurth Cronin, author of How Terrorism Ends: Understanding the Decline and Demise of Terrorist Campaigns'Whitfield's work on the Basque-Spain conflict sets a new standard of excellence for case studies of conflict resolution. Her grasp of its historical and cultural nuance is matched by her mastery of the broader field of informal and complex peace processes. In an era when governments and violent extremists struggle to find any common language, Endgame for Eta offers practitioners and scholars alike a rewarding exploration of the intricacies of peacemaking.' -- Chester Crocker, James R. Schlesinger Professor of Strategic Studies at Georgetown University, and former Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs in the Reagan administration'Every Spanish Prime Minister since Franco has said they will never negotiate with ETA and yet every one of them has done so. Teresa Whitfield's unique and fascinating account of the latest round of negotiations should be compulsory reading for all leaders who say they will never talk to terrorists.' -- Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's former chief of staff and the chief British negotiator on Northern Ireland 1997-2007'This is an impressive, succinct and well-balanced analysis of ETA and its complex universe. Teresa Whitfield offers a thorough reconstruction of ETA's fractured history and of political efforts over decades to achieve ceasefire and disarmament. Endgame for ETA should be required reading for all those seeking to understand violent sub-state nationalism and the Basque society in particular.' -- Sebastian Balfour, Emeritus Professor of Contemporary Spanish Studies, London School of Economics and Political Science'The Basque conflict is not resolved. Nevertheless, in recent years there has been considerable progress, promising developments that produced ETA's present unconditional ceasefire. Teresa Whitfield's Endgame for ETA is simply the best treatment in English of Basque - Spanish political complexities, their recent history and present circumstances, and offers a highly plausible of their future prospects.' -- William A. Douglass, founder and former director of the Center for Basque Studies of the University of Nevada, Reno, and coauthor of Terror and Taboo: The Follies, Fables and Faces of Terrorism'Teresa Whitfield's elegantly written study is the first serious analysis of the highly complex process leading to [ETA's] decision to declare a general, permanent and verifiable ceasefire in January 2011. Whitfield ... presents a well-researched, highly convincing and subtly nuanced account of this process, which will be of interest both to those already familiar with ETA's history and readers seeking broader insights into how terrorist organisations come to an end.' -- Times Literary Supplement

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Book SynopsisForty years after its foundation, Lebanese Hezbollah remains an organization difficult to understand. An Islamist terrorist group dedicated to destroying Israel or the first Arab national Resistance to have ever defeated Tel-Aviv's troops, a patriotic and respectable party or a fascist network having managed to control all levers of Lebanese political life...what exactly is Hezbollah? How did it acquire such an important role in the Middle-Eastern game and in Lebanese politics? This book has three purposes. It first gives an articulated definition of Hezbollah, presenting a thorough history of the party, describing its well-built internal structure, and the large scope of its social and political action. It then explains the evolution of the party's mobilization. Finally, it illustrates another path, political but mainly identity-related, that of the Shiite community, today the main constituent of Lebanese society. Through a rigorous and richly documented study, mainly based on primary sources, amongst which hundreds of interviews with rank and file members, executives and officials of the party, and research material never examined before, the author unveils brand new aspects of this organization, thus completing, in a clear and efficient manner, our understanding of both the "Hezbollah phenomenon" and Lebanese politics of the last two decades.Trade Review‘The definitive English-language academic resource on the Lebanese Shi’a group Hezbollah … A triumph of research, this work is highly recommended reading for anyone curious about Lebanese politics.’ -- CHOICE‘[Daher’s] book offers a comprehensive historical and sociological analysis that stands out for its wealth of empirical detail and for its capacity to question stereotypical views on [Hezbollah].’ -- International Affairs'Daher dispels a number of myths: that Hezbollah would be a state within a Lebanese state or that its principal goal is Islamic rule. Daher redefines the roles we traditionally attribute to Hezbollah, mouthpiece for the Shiite community, and dwells on its partners' or adversaries' perceptions of its activities. Offers a very complete picture.' * Le Monde Diplomatique *‘Daher offers unprecedented detail on Hezbollah’s structure’. -- The Arab Weekly'A long-awaited book, which turns the body of literature on Hezbollah on its head. From now on it will be impossible to study Lebanon's "Party of God" without taking into account the findings exposed in this groundbreaking volume.' -- Bernard Rougier, Professor of Arab Civilisation, Université Sorbonne-Nouvelle and author of 'Everyday Jihad''Daher shares exceptional insights into the origins, structure, leadership and popularity of Hezbollah. This book is admirable for its nuance and richness of detail about the contention for power amongst Shi'i figures, and the party's central role in resistance to Israel. I highly recommend it.' -- Augustus Richard Norton, Professor Emeritus, Boston University and author of 'Hezbollah: A Short History''An encyclopaedic effort at writing what is arguably the richest and most rigorous account of Hezbollah's political history. It presents previously uncovered information on the genesis of the movement, challenging prevailing accounts. This is a must-read for anyone interested in understanding the party.' -- Bashir Saade, Lecturer of Religion and Politics, University of Stirling and author of 'Hizbullah and the Politics of Remembrance: Writing the Lebanese Nation''Brilliant, original and engaging, this book is essential reading for generalists and specialists alike.' -- Dale F. Eickelman, Ralph and Richard Lazarus Professor of Anthropology and Human Relations Emeritus, Dartmouth College and co-author of 'Muslim Politics'

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Book SynopsisGuardians of the Arab State explains clearly and concisely how and why military organisations become involved in politics across the Middle East and North Africa, identifying four key factors: a high degree of organisational capacity, clear institutional interest, a forgiving population and weak civilian control. Looking at numerous case studies ranging from Mauritania to Iraq, the book finds that these factors are common to all Arab countries to have experienced coups in the last century. It also finds that the opposite is true in cases like Jordan, where strong civilian control and the absence of capacity, interest, or a positive public image made coup attempts futile. Gaub also convincingly argues that the reasons are structural rather than cultural, thereby proving a counter-narrative to conventional explanations which look at Arab coups along religious or historical lines. In essence, the questions addressed herein lead back to issues of weak statehood, legitimacy, and resource constraints -- all problems the Arab world has struggled with since independence.Guardians of the Arab State picks up where previous literature on Middle Eastern military forces dropped the debate, and provides an updated and insightful analysis into the soul of Arab armies.Trade ReviewA must-read book for all those seeking to understand the critical role of armies in the rise and fall of states in the Arab world and the critical role that they have played historically and since the uprisings of 2011, written by one of the leading experts on the subject. -- Paul Salem, Vice President for Policy and Research, the Middle East Institute, Washington DCFlorence Gaub has produced a masterful analysis of the complex and critical relationship between Arab leaders and their militaries, a severely understudied topic. Her examination of these militaries' political role should be read by anyone seeking to understand the Arab world -- its history, the catalysts for the Arab uprisings, and its trajectory for the future. -- Mara E. Karlin, PhD, Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of DefenseFlorence Gaub has truly grasped the intricate military and political balance that continues to define the Arab World today. How can we find a middle ground between building strong armies capable of shielding a region marred by instability, while also embracing the necessary reforms to attain more inclusive and peaceful societies? This is but one of the many questions that she presses us to contemplate in this very well documented book. -- General Tannous Mouawad, Lebanese Army (Ret'd)The political trajectory of the Middle East and North Africa after World War II looks on the face of it to have been a series of military coups, revolutions, civil wars and failing states. Indeed, the Arab world seems particularly prone to military involvement in politics -- Why is this? Where does it happen? And why does it sometimes not? Florence Gaub gives clear answers to these questions, analyses perfectly the role of the militaries, civilian governments and the people in almost each of the Arab countries, and draws convincing conclusions. An excellent book. -- Wolf-Dieter Löser, former General, German Army and Commandant of the NATO Defense CollegeThis book is a must-read for diplomatic and military planners across the globe who are concerned about stability in the Middle East, a region with no shortage of military coups, revolutions, civil wars and failing states. Understanding the foundations of civil-military triad -- regional civilian leaders' legitimacy, Arab military capabilities, and citizen threat perception -- is a critical requirement for the pursuit of regional stability. This book provides an historical portrait of why Arab armies get involved in the political space and provides policy recommendations for necessary reforms. -- Paula Broadwell, former Deputy Director of the Fletcher School Counter-Terrorism Center

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Book SynopsisIslamic State has replaced Al Qaeda as the great global threat of the twenty-first century, the bogeyman we have all come to fear. But Daesh started as a local movement, rooted in the resentment of the Sunni Arabs of Iraq and Syria. It is they who have lost most in the geo-strategic shift in the balance of power in the region over the last thirty years, as Iranian-backed Shias have mobilised politically and advanced on the social and economic fronts. How has Islamic State been able to muster support far beyond its initial constituency in the Arab world and to attract tens of thousands of foreign volunteers, including converts to Islam, and seemingly countless supporters online? In this compelling intervention into the debate about Islamic State's origins and future prospects, the renowned French sociologist of religion, Olivier Roy, argues that the group mobilised a highly sophisticated narrative, reviving the myth of the Caliphate and recasting it into a modern story of heroism, death and nihilism, using a very contemporary aesthetic of violence, well entrenched amid a youth culture that has turned global and violent.Trade Review'A bravura outing, pithy, prosecutorial, and informed … Roy writes with verve … magisterial.' * The Guardian *'Roy's brisk work is full of imaginative leaps, and that is what gives it value. There has been too much circular writing about the 'mind of the terrorist', too many assumptions about their supposed brainwashing. By examining the significance of death for these jihadists, he can dismantle their manifold confusions.' * The Times *'Mr Roy, a French authority on Islamism, regards IS as the monstrously inflated product of its own propaganda; it is, he says, first and foremost a death cult .... He believes IS's strongest weapon is people's fear of it ... All this is a stimulating counterblast to much conventional thinking.' * The Economist *'Roy is one of the most interestingly provocative thinkers on modern jihadism. In this excellent short book, the French academic reiterates his argument that we are seeing not "the radicalisation of Islam but the Islamisation of radicalism."' * Prospect *'Olivier Roy... gives interesting, if not controversial, insights into the factors motivating terrorists...For those concerned about the increase in terrorist acts (and, quite frankly, who isn't?), then, this book is essential reading... [Roy] makes us think, and encourages us to challenge and reassess received opinions.' -- Church Times'Impressive.' -- CHOICE'Olivier Roy's work is always provocative and informative, and this book is no exception. Roy provides new insights into violence, its modern jihadi aesthetic, and radicalisation and its relationship to Islam. Without question, an essential contribution.' * Tariq Ramadan *'An extraordinary work from a master scholar. Olivier Roy clinically unpacks the supposed relationship between religion and radicalisation, warning that a focus on caliphal pretensions of ISIS obscures the core challenges of nihilism, generational revolt, and a radical repudiation of social norms.' * James Piscatori, Deputy Director, Centre for Arab and Islamic Studies, Australian National University *'More interested in actual processes than in opportunistic concepts, Olivier Roy describes how the self-proclaimed Islamic State plays more on its enemies fears than on its own strength. A very welcome and eye-opening intervention.' * Jean-Pierre Filiu, Professor of Middle East Studies, Sciences Po, and author of From Deep State to Islamic State *'With analytical depth, historical sensitivity and a comparative lens, Olivier Roy brings the analysis of jihad and death in the current radicalism to a new level. A must-read.' * Asef Bayat, Professor of Sociology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign *'Roy argues for a comparative sociological approach focused on the motivations of individual actors rather than grand theological debates. The result is deeply insightful and deserves to be widely read.' * Stéphane Lacroix, Associate Professor of Political Science, Sciences Po, and author of Awakening Islam *'With great lucidity, Roy places the Islamic militancy of ISIS within a context that includes China's Cultural Revolution, the Khmer Rouge, the Lord's Resistance Army of Uganda and the child soldiers of Liberia, concluding that what we are seeing is not the radicalisation of Islam but the Islamisation of radicalism.' * Faisal Devji, author of Landscapes of the Jihad: Militancy, Morality, Modernity *

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Book SynopsisThe eruption of the anti-Assad revolution in Syria has had many unintended consequences, among which is the opportunity it offered Sunni jihadists to establish a foothold in the heart of the Middle East. That Syria's ongoing civil war is so brutal and protracted has only compounded the situation, as have developments in Iraq and Lebanon. Ranging across the battlefields and international borders have been dozens of jihadi Islamist fighting groups, of which some coalesced into significant factions such as Jabhat al Nusra and the Islamic State. This book assesses and explains the emergence since 2011 of Sunni jihadist organisations in Syria's fledgling insurgency, charts their evolution and situates them within the global Islamist project. Unprecedented numbers of foreign fighters have joined such groups, who will almost certainly continue to host them. Thus, external factors in their emergence are scrutinised, including the strategic and tactical lessons learned from other jihadist conflict zones and the complex interplay between Al-Qaeda and the Islamic State and how it has influenced the jihadist sphere in Syria. Tensions between and conflict within such groups also feature in this indispensable volume.Trade Review'Lister's knowledge of the various groups is impressive... [The Syrian Jihad] is an indispensable guide to the different jihadi factions.' -New York Times; 'Lister has done yeoman's work in tracing how the peaceful uprising that began in 2011 was hijacked by an Islamist insurgency that now threatens global security. ... as [he] persuasively argues, ISIS is itself a product of Mr. Assad's evil regime.'-Wall Street Journal; 'Lister has produced a work that is required reading for both experts and the general reader alike.' -Prospect Magazine; 'Lister's book will certainly become a classic of the literature on the Syrian civil war. This richly-documented study actually consists of two intertwined histories, as the account of the Jihadi insurgency, a tour de force in its own right, is complemented with in-depth analysis of the broader military developments.' - Thomas Pierret, Lecturer in Contemporary Islam, University of Edinburgh and author of Religion and State in Syria: The Sunni Ulama from Coup to Revolution

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Book SynopsisLess than two decades after the Yugoslav Wars ended, the edifice of parliamentary government in the Western Balkans is crumbling. This collapse sets into sharp relief the unreformed authoritarian tendencies of the region's entrenched elites, many of whom have held power since the early 1990s, and the hollowness of the West's 'democratisation' agenda. There is a widely held assumption that institutional collapse will precipitate a new bout of ethnic conflict, but Mujanovic argues instead that the Balkans are on the cusp of a historic socio-political transformation. Drawing on a wide variety of sources, with a unique focus on local activist accounts, he argues that a period of genuine democratic transition is finally dawning, led by grassroots social movements, from Zagreb to Skopje. Rather than pursuing ethnic strife, these new Balkan revolutionaries are confronting the 'ethnic entrepreneurs' cemented in power by the West in its efforts to stabilise the region since the mid-1990s. This compellingly argued book harnesses the explanatory power of the striking graffiti scrawled on the walls of the ransacked Bosnian presidency during violent anti-government protests in 2014: 'if you sow hunger, you will reap fury'.Trade Review'The most refreshingly original book about that region in years . . . unbeatable.'‘Incisive . . . written in a passionate but persuasive tone, this book will be of interest to all those who seek to understand reality in the ever-contentious Balkans.’'Compelling . . . this slender book confirms Mujanovic as one of the most refreshingly original “native” writers wielding the pen today.' 'Refreshing.' 'Jasmin Mujanović's critique of authoritarian elites in Southeastern Europe and their kleptocratic practices sends a powerful warning about the future of this region. If proven right, the region is entering a new period of destabilization. If he is wrong, the Balkans will linger on the European periphery. Either way, one should brace for those challenges with this book in hand.' -- Vladimir Petrovic, Senior Academic Researcher, Centre for the Study of Europe, Boston University'This wonderfully original book explores the phenomenon of creeping authoritarianism and democratic backsliding in the Balkans. Using an engaging narrative argument, it persuasively sets out the case for democratic renewal based on popular protest against the illiberal elites that have held power in the region for far too long.' -- Dr Will Bartlett, LSEE Senior Visiting Fellow, LSE and author of 'Europe's troubled region: economic development, institutional reform and social welfare in the western Balkans''Texts on the Balkans and former Yugoslavia are few and far between. Thank goodness for this book then and its author Jasmin Mujanovic. Mujanovic is a young, energetic and perceptive scholar of the region. But don't expect the optimism of youth. The Balkan states are in the grip of criminal mafias masquerading as politicians, and the Russians, Gulf Arabs, Chinese and Turks are prowling in search of prey- be it in the shape of geopolitical gain or commercial profit. The European Union is in disarray and "the only certainty" of the region is that "upheavals, tumult, and revolt" are coming. Don't say you were not warned.' -- Tim Judah, correspondent for The Economist and author of 'In Wartime: Stories from Ukraine''[A] timely book... Mujanović should be lauded for his analytical and historical generalisations... by means of this methodological approach, beyond much of the contemporary literature on democratisation in Southeastern Europe.'

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Book SynopsisIn one of the world's most intractable and under-reported rebellions, the Naxalites have been engaged in a decades-long battle with the Indian state. Presented in the media as a deadly terrorist group, the movement is made up of Marxist ideologues and lower-caste and tribal combatants who seek to overthrow a system that has abused them. In 2010, anthropologist Alpa Shah embarked on a seven-night trek with some of these communist guerrillas, walking 250 kilometres through the dense, hilly forests of eastern India. Speaking to leaders and living for years with villagers in guerrilla strongholds, Shah seeks to understand how and why some of India's poor have shunned the world's largest democracy and taken up arms to fight for a fairer society--and asks whether they might be undermining their own aims. Nightmarch is a compelling reflection on dispossession and conflict at the heart of contemporary India. SHORT-LISTED FOR THE ORWELL PRIZE FOR POLITICAL WRITING, 2019 SHORT-LISTED FOR THE NEW INDIA FOUNDATION BOOK PRIZE, 2019 WINNER OF THE 2020 ASSOCIATION FOR POLITICAL AND LEGAL ANTHROPOLOGY BOOK PRIZE A 2018 New Statesman Book of the YearTrade Review‘One of the most nuanced, informed accounts yet of this strange and awful conflict . . . one of the few accounts we possess that gives [the Naxalites] a voice.’'I’ve enormously enjoyed and admired Alpa Shah’s careful, rich, sympathetic account of the Maoist insurgency in India . . . a brave and necessary work'.'This remarkable account offers unprecedented insight into the Naxalite movement .... skilfully sketching characters such as Gyanji, the intellectual elder, Kohli, the tribal teenager 'adopted' by the guerrillas, and Vikas, the corrrupt commander ... What emerges is a portrait of India's diminishing democracy, under the yoke of its ultra-Hindu nationalist government.' -- Le Monde Diplomatique'Powerful, emotional and painstakingly detailed analysis . . . a rare insight. . . the book is engrossing and its characters will haunt you.' * The Hindu *'A subtle and moving portrait . . . Shah combines powerful first-hand description – as gripping as any novel – with analysis which understands the rebel’s motivations and backgrounds without ever falling into simplistic political binaries.’‘Powerful, reflective and deeply engaged scholarship . . . rarely does a work of social science transport one so fully into the lives and worlds of those whose stories are being recounted. Alpa Shah succeeds in doing just that and more by combining ethnographic profundity with almost cinematic vividness . . . the work is a perfect illustration of the unique contribution anthropologists can bring in comprehending the world we live in.’'An astonishing journey. A rare, granular portrait.' -- The Indian Express‘[Alpa Shah] treats the groups she is living with as equal social and political beings … The result is a powerful synthesis, warm but never uncritical, a distillation of her own scholarship and the experiences of her subjects, that immerses the reader in a lifeworld.’ -- New Left Review'A thoughtful and balanced account.' -- La Stampa'Simultaneously a major contribution to scholarship and at the same time written to entice a wider readership to care about the poor and their insurgent politics.' -- Journal of Peasant Studies‘A beautifully crafted and highly engaging narrative that draws the reader into the secretive world of one of today’s forgotten revolutions . . . [an] ethnographically rich and vivid rendering.’'An eloquent and compassionate account of revolutionaries whose voices are rarely heard. Shah skilfully analyses the individual motivations for the Naxalites' radical commitment, their failures, and the deep history of exploitation and neglect that has provoked their struggle for liberation.' -- David Lan, theatre producer and author of 'Guns and Rain'‘[A] vibrant piece of anthropological work . . . written in a way that provides food for thought and, at the same time, moves hearts, this book is an example of the unique contribution anthropologists can bring to understanding the world we live in.’'Shah’s brilliant, careful research and writing is not meant to be an apologia for her subject. It’s quite the opposite. . . . a book that dwells on the electrifyingly complex battle between ideas and experience.''As a committed independent observer and researcher, [Shah's] experience has endowed her with a genuine understanding of the Naxalite revolutionaries.''A story that could not be more important, told with the perfect balance of clear-eyed realism, thoughtful criticism, and deep and abiding love. ... Nightmarch reveals what anthropology can do in the hands of a master willing to take genuine risks in the name of human freedom.' -- David Graeber, author of 'Bullshit Jobs' and 'Debt: The First 5000 Years''One of the most gripping, engaging and accessible books I've encountered on the Naxalites. Shah fearlessly bears witness to the upheavals caused by India's rising inequalities, while also asking many urgent, difficult questions.' -- Meena Kandasamy, author of 'When I Hit You''Compassionate, courageous and uncommonly observant. This is an extraordinary work of rigorous, reflective and deeply engaged scholarship, full of unexpected insights. At the same time, it manages to be haunting, lyrical, occasionally harrowing, even racy--more compelling than some of the best fiction writing.' -- Harsh Mander, human rights worker and author of 'Fatal Accidents of Birth', 'Looking Away' and 'Ash in the Belly''It is hard to imagine a work of social science as a page-turner that you cannot put down. But this intrepid author has produced that rare find: ... a beautifully written and absorbing book that disturbs, moves and educates the reader all at once.' -- Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics, Jawaharlal Nehru University'In this intimate and insightful book, Shah elucidates why Adivasis become Naxalites and are also able to alternate between being Naxalites and not being Naxalites; brings out several contradictions in the Naxalite movement; breaks stereotypes about the Adivasis; discusses issues of class, community, privilege, sexual behaviour, and the status of women; and asks one vital question: Is the Naxalite movement doing good for the Adivasis?' -- Hansda Sowvendra Shekhar, author of 'The Adivasi Will Not Dance''Brave, brilliant and beautifully written, Nightmarch is an anthropological tour de force. Shah portrays the Naxalites' revolutionary dedication with love, respect and analytical acumen, while laying bare the tragic contradictions of their armed struggle.' -- Philippe Bourgois, author of 'In Search of Respect: Selling Crack in El Barrio' and 'Righteous Dopefiend''Nightmarch is outstanding, combining ethnographic depth with almost cinematic vividness. From an extraordinary inside perspective, Shah reveals a complex interplay among the Naxalites of political ideals, cultural values, personal attachments, and the lure of money.' -- Sherry B. Ortner, Distinguished Professor of Anthropology, UCLA'Riveting, finely textured, and acutely perceptive, Nightmarch captures both the Naxalite insurgency's contradictions and its human promise against the background of the crippling indignities and exclusions of Indian society. It is a model of what ethnography can offer.' -- James C. Scott, author of 'Against the Grain''Profoundly insightful and compassionate, but also critical. ... An admirable example of serious social science writing, this book exhibits the potential of ethnographic research with a comparative angle -- grounded and accessible, yet still theoretically rich.' -- Surinder S. Jodhka, Professor of Sociology, Jawaharlal Nehru University'Bold and courageous, humane and sensitive, Nightmarch is an excellent illustration of how to take ethnography beyond the confines of the academic world.' -- Virginius Xaxa, author of 'State, Society and Tribes: Issues in Post-Colonial India'‘Woven into a fascinating account of her walk through the Maoist heartland, Shah tells a scorching story of dispossession, displacement, exploitation, intense inequality and state violence in India.’

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Book SynopsisThis book, first published in 1973, was regarded on publication as the definitive study of the 'Young Turks', or Committee of Union and Progress, the name given to a group of Turkish army officers who sought to reform the Ottoman Empire and who in 1908 led a constitutional revolution against Sultan Ahmed Hamid II. The author also discusses the counter-revolution of 1909 and the emergence of the 'Group of Saviour officers' who formed a cabinet determined to destroy the Young Turks. With the rout of the Ottoman armies in the First Balkan War and the loss of Macedonia, the Unionists, led by the charismatic Enver Bey, carried out a coup on 23 January 1913 and regained power. Thereafter they pursued a more moderate and conciliatory policy abandoning the idea of 'union'. The book concludes by examining the impact of territorial losses and of six years of revolution and war on the Ottoman state and society.Trade Review'It is a fascinating story of political conflict investigated and skillfully narrated by Ahmad. His book will be the standard work on the crisis of legitimacy that characterized much of the Young Turk period.' * C.H. Dodd, SOAS Bulletin *'This outstanding study of the Committee of Union and Progress (CUP) during 1908-14, based on Turkish and Western sources, is a significant contribution to the literature of the Young Turk Movement... The author has demonstrated a profound knowledge of Turkish politics and his scholarship is meticulous.' * The American Historical Review *

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Book SynopsisIn May 1915 Ernest Blythe was appointed as an organiser for the Irish Volunteers by Volunteer headquarters and was sent to Clare to train the Cloonagh and Kilfenora Volunteers. The authorities were well informed about Blythe's activities in Clare. He established Irish Volunteer companies at Doolin and Liscannor and supplied the Crusheen company with rifles. Because of his success in organising and arming the Clare Volunteers, Blythe was arrested and deported a few weeks later, under the defence of the realm act. Fifty-three Republicans from Clare gave their lives in the struggle for independence, but the story of Clare republicanism goes much deeper than that. Pádraig Óg Ó Ruairc takes the story of Clare's Republicans from the start of the twentieth century to the end of the War of Independence. In the process, he examines the course of the campaign, the events both tragic and heroic and the victims, British and Irish. Featuring detailed descriptions of the battles and campaigns, Blood On The Banner offers a fresh perspective on events that shaped the county for decades to come.

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Book SynopsisParty-States and their Legacies in Post-Communist Transformation is a unique investigation into the construction, operation, self-destruction and transition of Hungarian politics from the 1960s to the mid- 1990s. It presents a rich picture which draws upon an extraordinary body of data and provides not just simply a retrospective theoretical analysis of the system, but details of everyday life within the state apparatus.This remarkable book includes extensive interviews with over four hundred key individuals in the party, state and the economy from 1975 onwards. In addition, Dr Csanadi draws upon other unique empirical research including internal memos and secret state documents as well as a full range of studies by East and West European scholars to reveal the realities of the system as observed by those closest to it. She not only considers the workings of the system during the communist era, but also analyses the legacy it continues to exert on the period of the transformation. As such the book contributes to our understanding of the Hungarian transformation and sheds new light on how party states worked throughout Eastern and Central Europe during the communist era and what the consequences of their self-similar features on the transformation are. In addition the book offers comparisons with other formerly centrally planned systems to reveal the structural differences in the distribution of power in party states and the very different legacies they leave for post-communist transformation. This comprehensive book will be welcomed by researchers, academics and postgraduates interested in the politics, economics, history and political science of Hungary and other East and Central European countries in transition.Trade Review'This meticulously researched contribution by a Hungarian scholar offers a fresh analysis of the evolution and collapse of the communist system. A welcome addition to the literature on the rise and fall of state socialism, the book traces the tension between the system's sustainability and its inherent weakness. . . . the very richness of the data presented in the book merits careful consideration.' -- Andrew A. Michta, Slavic ReviewTable of ContentsContents: Introduction Part I: The Structure Part II: The Functioning Part III: The Disintegration Part IV: The Legacies Part V: Conclusions Appendices References Index

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Book SynopsisIn this highly original book, Patrick O'Neil analyses the catalysts of the collapse of socialism in Eastern Europe and offers explanations for these events. The exceptional case of Hungary is used to support theoretical concepts regarding the transition in Eastern Europe using new empirical evidence and institutional theory.The Hungarian transition from communism is distinct in that the Hungarian Socialist Workers' Party was the initiator of its own transition but also acted as its own greatest enemy. This book provides a detailed analysis of the internal reform movement within the Hungarian Communist Party and its role in the incremental transition to democracy in the late 1980s. The author utilises party archives and primary interviews with important figures in the Communist Party to examine the effect of institutional relationships on the collapse of the authoritarian order. He also emphasises the role of reform circles in accelerating the disintegration of the Communist Party in Hungary. The book concludes that the way in which an autocratic order perpetuates itself affects the manner of its decline and the new system that takes its place.This authoritative book will be welcomed by academics and students interested in the politics of transition both in Hungary and Eastern Europe and the politics of the demise of communism in general.Trade Review'. . . this work is highly original. It is a complete account of the process or organizational development and of the fate, rivalries, constraints, and political shortcomings of the reform circles and their predecessors. This book will be very useful for historians, political scientists, sociologists, and undergraduate, graduate, and postgraduate students of socialism and its transformation in eastern Europe. . .' -- Maria Csanadi, Slavic ReviewsTable of ContentsContents: Introduction Part I: Theoretical Approaches 1. Transitions, Institutions and State Socialism Part II: The Hungarian Case 2. State Socialism and the Intelligentsia in Eastern Europe: Hungary in Comparative Institutional Perspective, 1948–1988 3. The Rise of the Reform Cycles 4. The Organization of the Reform Circle Movement and the Party in Disorder 5. The Final Party Congress and the Reform Alliance: Victory or Defeat? Part III: Conclusions 6. Institutional Order and the Path of Political Change: Hungary and Eastern Europe Appendices Bibliography Index

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Book SynopsisThe French Revolution was marked by a wealth of imagery and visual symbolism that inspired the masses to fight for freedom. This book surveys the rich and multifaceted visual culture of this time, exploring its creation and how it conveyed the new revolutionary sensibilities of the era.

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Book SynopsisA visual survey of the public myths and collective symbols used in the making of the Islamic Revolution in Iran and the subsequent war with Iraq. The book traces a remarkable period of history in which the power of words and images successfully challenged the military might of an established state, setting forth an avalanche of public sentiment that led to revolution.

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Book SynopsisA recent series of terrorist attacks, the uncovering of a large terrorist network, and a string of continuing regional conflicts have raised an awareness that Southeast Asia is amongst the world''s most troubled areas. This book analyzes local terrorism and state repression in this populous, strategically important region.

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Book SynopsisEssential reading on the Spanish Civil War and resistance to the twentieth-century facism and capitalism.

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Book SynopsisMaud Gonne has long been viewed merely as a contemporary of more prominent literary, political and legal figures who played a role in Irish politics of the early twentieth century. While Eva Gore-Booth has been the subject of recent critical attention, much less notice has been paid to Gonne. This succinct biography highlights the significance of Gonne as a political and literary figure in her own right and utilises archival resources in a detailed study of her role as a political activist, journalist, reviewer and also as a founder and editor of nationalist publications. Drawing on previously unpublished correspondence and interviews, this book offers an important re-evaluation of Gonne's contribution to the political and social landscape of early twentieth-century Ireland. It contributes to the growing emphasis in scholarship on the roles played by women in the formation of the Irish state.Trade Review'The book has a useful chronology of Gonne’s life, and selected biographies of many of the people in it, plus full notes and index.' Irish Examiner, Oct 2019

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Book SynopsisHow do you solve a problem like understanding Iraq? For Hanna Batatu, the solution to this conundrum lay in generating alternative possibilities that effectively side-stepped the conventional wisdom of the time. Historians had long held that Iraq – like other artificial creations of ex-colonial European powers, who drew lines onto the world map that ignored longstanding tribal, ethnic and religious ties – was best understood by delving into its political and religious history. Batatu used the problem solving skills of asking productive questions and generating alternative possibilities to argue that Iraq’s history was better understood through the lens of a Marxist analysis focused on socio-economic history.The Old Social Classes concludes that the divisions present in Iraq – and exposed by the revolutionary movements of the 1950s – are those characterized by the struggle for control over property and the means of production. Additionally, Batatu sought to establish that the most important political movements of the time, notably the nationalist Ba'athists and the pan-Arab Free Officers Movement, had their origins in a homegrown communist ideology inspired by local conditions and local inequality. By posing new questions – and by undertaking a vast amount of research in primary sources, a rarity in the history of this region – Batatu was able to produce a strong, new solution to a longstanding historiographical puzzle.Table of ContentsWays in to the Text Who was Hanna Batatu? What does The Old Social Classes And The Revolutionary Movements Of Iraq Say? Why does The Old Social Classes Matter? Section 1: Influences Module 1: The Author and the Historical Context Module 2: Academic Context Module 3: The Problem Module 4: The Author's Contribution Section 2: Ideas Module 5: Main Ideas Module 6: Secondary Ideas Module 7: Achievement Module 8: Place in the Author's Work Section 3: Impact Module 9: The First Responses Module 10: The Evolving Debate Module 11: Impact and Influence Today Module 12: Where Next? Glossary of Terms People Mentioned in the Text Works Cited

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Book SynopsisImagine if your country voted to become independent, that vote was then ignored and its political leaders imprisoned or exiled. Following Catalonia’s independence referendum, Clara Ponsatí, Education Minister, along with Prime Minister Carles Puigdemont were charged with sedition. They had to leave Catalonia and go into self-imposed exile, and seven of their former cabinet colleagues were imprisoned. The Case of the Catalans is a landmark book that explains the injustice Catalans have faced by being marginalised with their political beliefs rendered unlawful by the Spanish government. In this book, Ponsatí and her team of influential academics discuss the future of the Catalan people and the political and social tensions that led to the controversial referendum. In a clear and accessible style, they aim to educate as many people as possible, whether interested in politics or not, about the extraordinarily backward democratic process that currently defines Spain’s national identity and has defied the settled will of the Catalan people.

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Book SynopsisScholars agree that a direct correlation can be made between poor governance and the emergence of extremist movements. This book challenges both the efficacy and wisdom of purely militarized responses to extremist movements typified by the Global War on Terror, as well as the cursory replication of international counter-terrorism frameworks promulgated by the UN and EU in Africa. Emphasis is given to the importance of understanding local history, culture and regional geopolitics, among a variety of context-specific factors, to effectively address the emergence and spread of extremisms in Africa. As such, it draws on contributions from a range of thematic and regional experts, including security-sector specialists, conflict analysts, journalists, international relations and governance specialists, political scientists, social anthropologists, psychologists, and theologians.Table of ContentsForeword: Dr Alain Tschudin, GGA Executive Director; Chapter 1: Between rhetoric and reality: Strategic approaches to counter-terrorism – Peter Knoope; Chapter 2: Public opinion on security and terrorism in Africa – Rorisang Lekalake; Chapter 3: Terrorism in North Africa and the Sahel – Richard Chelin; Chapter 4: The Sahel’s ungoverned spaces and the ascent of AQIM, Al-Mourabitoun, and MUJAO in Mali and Niger – Celeste Hicks; Chapter 5: Why the Tuareg have been demonised – Prof. Jeremy Keenan; Chapter 6: Visions of an alternative world: Understanding the background to Boko Haram – Graham Furniss; Chapter 7: Boko Haram and counter-insurgency in Nigeria – Stephen Johnson; Chapter 8: The rise of ISIS and its implications for East Africa – Stephen Buchanan-Clarke; Chapter 9: The evolving threat of violent extremism and terrorism in the SADC region – Ric Chelin and Stephen Buchanan-Clarke; Chapter 10: Identity politics and the re-emergence of South Africa’s Far Right – Stephen Buchanan-Clark Chapter 11: The socio-economic rehabilitation & reintegration of Children Associated with Armed Forces and Armed Groups (CAAFAG): A community-based approach in Borno State, Nigeria – Emmanuel Bosah & Mustapha Al-Hassan; Chapter 12: Accounting for the rise of Islamist extremism in Africa: Origins, trajectory and recommendations – Hussein Solomon; Chapter 13: Transnational Evangelical Christianity and political culture in sub-Saharan Africa – Robert A. Dowd; Chapter 14: The United States’ approach to countering terrorism and violent extremism – Lindsay Cohn.

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Book SynopsisThis fourth volume in the Hidden Voices Series is about Oukasie, a township in the Madibeng municipality. At various times in its history, its inhabitants have struggled against problems such as forced removals, terrible living conditions and corrupt officials. Bonds of Justice: The Struggle for Oukasie tells the story of a dedicated young group of people who were motivated by their belief that accountable and responsible leadership was needed to improve the situation of their community and its members. Before and after apartheid, they worked together to bring much-needed change to their community. This book tells the stories of those struggles in the 1980s and 1990s, and goes on to describe the problems faced by Oukasie and the wider community when the ethics of accountability were forgotten. The book has many lessons for South Africa today – the benefits that accountable governance can achieve, and what the costs are when a more selfish approach takes root.Trade Review“In this timely work, Kally Forrest expertly sheds light on apartheid South Africa’s last major forced urban removal. Her detailed research dissects the resistance to the removal, how the Oukasie community was torn apart by the machinations of the apartheid local and national state and the challenges of rebuilding, post-apartheid.” – Alan Morris, Professor of Sociology, University of Technology, Sydney “There was a remarkable leadership cadre that makes Oukasie and Brits distinctive, with a long history of organisation in a highly political struggle.” – Taffy Adler, former organiser for the National Automobile and Allied Workers Union

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Book Synopsis"This is the book I've been waiting for--only it's richer, deeper, and more intriguing than I could have imagined. A Road Unforeseen is a major contribution to our understanding of feminism and Islam, of women and the world, and gives me fresh hope for change." --Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed and Living With a Wild God In war-torn northern Syria, a democratic society--based on secularism, ethnic inclusiveness, and gender equality--has won significant victories against the Islamic State, or Daesh, with women on the front lines as fierce warriors and leaders. A Road Unforeseen recounts the dramatic, underreported history of the Rojava Kurds, whose all-women militia was instrumental in the perilous mountaintop rescue of tens of thousands of civilians besieged in Iraq. Up to that point, the Islamic State had seemed invincible. Yet these women helped vanquish them, bringing the first half of the refugees to safety within twenty-four hours. Who are the revolutionary women of Rojava and what lessons can we learn from their heroic story? How does their political philosophy differ from that of Iraqi Kurdistan, the Islamic State, and Turkey? And will the politics of the twenty-first century be shaped by the opposition between these political models? Meredith Tax is a writer and political activist. Author, most recently, of Double Bind: The Muslim Right, the Anglo-American Left, and Universal Human Rights, she was founding president of Women's WORLD, a global free speech network of feminist writers, and cofounder of the PEN American Center's Women's Committee and the International PEN Women Writers' Committee. She is currently international board chair of the Centre for Secular Space and lives in New York.Trade Review"Swift, intense and forensic... [Tax] brings the habit 'optimism of the will and pessimism of the intellect' to [A Road Unforeseen]. The journey takes her deep to the history of Middle East and the fate of Kurds [where] now [women] are improvising a new model of living in an enclave that is not an ethnic state but a confederation of half a dozen ethnicities, organizing co-operative economy in an egalitarian borderland called Rojava. Meredith Tax wonders whether they can survive. But she is inspired. And reading her book, you will be, too." --openDemocracy 50.50 "Exceptional... Not only informative but heart-wrenching... It is the analysis that situates what is otherwise described as a struggle against terrorism or a struggle for national freedom as a more complicated struggle for the emancipation of women, and thereby the emancipation of society, that gripped me as a reader and activist." --AlterNet "With her combined expertise on fundamentalism, feminism, and human rights, Tax ... shows what it means to view aspects of the Middle East through these basic prisms... [A Road Unforeseen] is a welcome addition to the growing literature in English on the Kurds and will be mined for its perspectives and insights for years to come. 'Any movement for real transformation,' she insists, 'must make the demands of women central.' This superb book will be an essential resource for this question in the years to come." --ROAR Magazine "A book of revelations about life during wartime in Rojava... A Road Unforeseen celebrates those women who are ripping the guts out of ISIS and explains how they came to be at the center of the Kurdish struggle for freedom." --First of the Month "[A Road Unforeseen] is an on-the-fly intervention in an ongoing conflict. It smoothly shows many things at once, and [Tax] does a commendable job in creating a concise and readable account of this tangled situation." --Toward Freedom "Thorough and well-documented... Readers interested in geopolitical issues and history will no doubt be grateful for [Tax's] lucid explanation of events involving countries like Turkey, Syria, Iraq, and Iran and for illuminating the plight of the Kurdish people in the Middle East." --New York Journal of Books "Zeroes in on a contemporary example of unanticipated moxie: The successful, if little-known, resistance to Muslim fundamentalism that has developed along the Syrian-Turkish border." --Lilith "Tax approaches the Syrian conflict from a unique perspective as she focuses on the role of Kurdish women combatants... Extensively researched, this is an immensely relevant primer on a complex people whose past and future are critical to the success of peace in their region." --Booklist "An important look at an unfolding situation little understood in the West." --Publishers Weekly "Impressively well researched, written, organized and presented, A Road Unforeseen: Women Fight the Islamic State is a seminal study... Consistently compelling, informed and informative, A Road Unforeseen is very highly recommended." --Midwest Book Review "We in the West are so unused to thinking of Middle Eastern and Muslim women as liberated, let alone as feminist revolutionaries, that Meredith Tax's remarkable book, A Road Unforeseen, comes as a welcome correction. By tracing the historical and political evolution of a group of Kurdish feminist guerrillas, Tax shows us what revolution looks like with feminism at its center, even in the midst of the repressive and violent attacks on women and Kurds in Turkey, Iraq, and Syria. This powerful and persuasive book is a must-read for anyone who takes the plight of women seriously." --Helen Benedict, author of The Lonely Soldier and Sand Queen "An indefatigable political thinker and activist takes us on a forensic journey into the gendering of geopolitical conflict and resistance." --Beatrix Campbell, author of Diana, Princess of Wales: How Sexual Politics Shook the Monarchy and End of Equality: The Only Way Is Women's Liberation "This is the book I've been waiting for--only it's richer, deeper, and more intriguing than I could have imagined. A Road Unforeseen is a major contribution to our understanding of feminism and Islam, of women and the world, and gives me fresh hope for change." --Barbara Ehrenreich, author of Nickel and Dimed and Living With a Wild God "This book lifts the lid on one of the best-kept secrets of our times, the birth of a revolution in the Middle East driven by gender equality and direct democracy. Meredith Tax makes a well-researched, cogent, and passionate case for why we should all get behind this experiment, at once fragile and gutsy, in Rojava, northern Syria, and Turkey." --Rahila Gupta, author of Provoked and Enslaved "A Road Unforeseen is essential reading to understand the extraordinary democratic revolution led by the Kurds in Syria. This is compelling history but also a clarion call to the US and the international community to support this fragile project that elevates and celebrates human rights, democracy, and equality for all genders, races, and religions." --Carne Ross, author of Independent Diplomat and The Leaderless Revolution "At last we have a book that tells us what we crave to know each day as we open the newspaper to read about IS, Islamists, shifting alliances, enslaved women, fleeing immigrants, and shocking cruelties. Meredith Tax shows us how the Kurds of Rojava are trying to put in place a system of equality between men and women and take local, democratic control of their lives, which would be remarkable anywhere, let alone in a war zone. As Tax so clearly demonstrates here, putting women at the center of a struggle for freedom changes everything. It's time to learn about the extraordinary Rojava and the hope it offers that another world is possible." --Ann Snitow, author of The Feminism of Uncertainty "Meredith Tax tells the tangled and amazing history of Kurdish politics--from family feuds to terrorism to radical democracy and feminism--with just the right mixture of admiration and concern." --Michael Walzer, author of Just and Unjust Wars and The Paradox of LiberationTable of ContentsGlossary of Organizational Names Introduction: A Road Unforeseen 1: The Kurds 2: Separated at Birth 3: Insurrection and Genocide 4: The People Take Up the Struggle 5: Kurdish Women Rising 6: Democratic Autonomy in Turkey and Syria 7: The Battle of Kobane and Its Backlash 8: The Birth of Daesh 9: Daesh vs. Kobane 10: War and Peace in Turkey Coda: Some Questions Remain Notes Suggestions for Further Reading Acknowledgments Index

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