Description
Book SynopsisPolitical Islam has often been compared to ideological movements of the past such as fascism or Christian theocracy. But are such analogies valid? How should the Western world today respond to the challenges of political Islam? Taking an original approach to answer this question, Confronting Political Islam compares Islamism's struggle with secular
Trade Review"Owen is generous, rational and balanced... [H]e is astute enough to understand the vast real-world differences that block the resolution of conflict."--Publishers Weekly "[A]n animated, ambitious and thoughtful book."--Borzou Daragahi, Financial Times "[P]rovocative."--Amb. (ret.) Anthony Quainton, American Diplomacy "This engaging and thoughtful book by University of Virginia scholar John Owen looks back on a series of upheavals in Western history to better understand the Middle East's current travails and challenges posed by political Islam... [A] wise and sophisticated book."--William Armstrong, Hurriyet Daily News "Owen writes to provide policy makers, students, and those engaged in the Middle East with tools to confront political Islam... This is a unique, stimulating, well-written and documented work that takes an unusual approach to the political problems of Islamism."--Choice "A highly recommended work for observers, students, and research scholars who are grappling with the contemporary problems faced by the Middle East through the prism of political disturbances in the past centuries of Western history."--Mehraj ud Din, Politics, Religion, & Ideology
Table of ContentsList of Illustrations ix List of Tables ix Preface xi Introduction It Did Happen Here 1 Lesson 1 Don't Sell Islamism Short 26 Lesson 2 Ideologies Are (Usually) Not Monolithic 46 Lesson 3 Foreign Interventions Are Normal 67 Lesson 4 A State May Be Rational and Ideological at the Same Time 86 Lesson 5 The Winner May Be "None of the Above" 110 Lesson 6 Watch Turkey and Iran 130 Conclusion What to Do and What Not to Do 156 Notes 165 Bibliography 193 Index 211
