After World War II, leading western powers focused their attention
on fighting the "Red Menace," Communism. Today, as terrorist
activity is increasingly linked to militant Islamism, some
politicians and scholars fear a "Green Menace," a Pan-Islamic
totalitarian movement fueled by monolithic religious ideology. Such
fears have no foundation in history, according to Vartan Gregorian.
In this succinct, powerful survey of Islam, Gregorian focuses on
Muslim diversity and division, portraying the faith and its people
as a mosaic, not a monolith. The book begins with an accessible
overview of Islam's tenets, institutions, evolution, and historical
role. Gregorian traces its origins and fundamental principles, from
Muhammad's call to faith nearly 1,400 years ago to the defeat of
the Ottoman Empire in World War I, and the subsequent abolition of
the Caliphate. He focuses particular attention on the intense
struggle between modernists and traditionalists, interaction
between religion and nationalism, and key developments that have
caused bitter divisions among Muslim nations and states: the
partitions of Palestine, the break up and Islamization of Pakistan,
the 1978 revolution in Iran, and the 1979 Soviet invasion of
Afghanistan. Today Islamist views range across the entire spectra
of religious and political thought, and Islamism is anything but a
unified movement. While religious extremists have attempted to form
a confederacy of like-minded radicals in many countries, much of
the Muslim population lives in relatively modern, secular states.
Gregorian urges Westerners to distinguish between activist Islamist
parties, which promote -sometimes violently -Islam as an ideology
in a theocratic state, and Islamic parties, whose traditional
members want their secular political systems to co-exist with the
moral principles of their religion. Gregorian emphasizes the
importance of religion in today's world and urges states,societies,
and intellectuals to intervene in order to prevent Islam--as well
as other religions--from becoming the political tool of various
parties and states. He recommends continuing dialogues between
modernist and traditionalist Muslims, as well as among the
educated, secular elite and their clerical counterparts. He also
urges U.S.-led efforts to engage and better understand the
diversity of Muslim communities in the United States and the world.
Lamenting widespread U.S. ignorance of the world's fastest-growing
religion, Gregorian calls on "enlightened citizens" to promote
international understanding, tolerance, and peace.
General
Imprint: |
Brookings Institution Press
|
Country of origin: |
United States |
Release date: |
May 2004 |
First published: |
May 2004 |
Authors: |
Vartan Gregorian
|
Dimensions: |
217 x 140 x 17mm (L x W x T) |
Format: |
Paperback
|
Pages: |
144 |
Edition: |
Revised |
ISBN-13: |
978-0-8157-3283-9 |
Categories: |
Books
|
LSN: |
0-8157-3283-X |
Barcode: |
9780815732839 |
Is the information for this product incomplete, wrong or inappropriate?
Let us know about it.
Does this product have an incorrect or missing image?
Send us a new image.
Is this product missing categories?
Add more categories.
Review This Product
No reviews yet - be the first to create one!