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Islamic Fundamentalism: An Introduction
Islam is one of the most rapidly growing religions in the world. Islamic fundamentalism is one of its most forceful manifestations―and one of its least understood. This lack of understanding, combined with recent terrorist attacks, often leads to fear of Islamic fundamentalism in the West. Davidson offers a clearer picture of Islamic fundamentalism by explaining its history, identifying its adherents throughout history, and analyzing what the fundamentalists believe and what they want.
A mixture of essays, biographical portraits, and primary documents provides an invaluable examination of this religious, cultural, and political phenomenon. This revision of the acclaimed first edition features fully updated information, as well as a new chapter examining the causes and effects of terrorism. A historical overview precedes essays on The Society of Muslim Brothers, the Iranian revolution and government, the Saudi government, Western perceptions of Islam, and issues of violence and terrorism. A section of biographies follows, including new portraits of Osama bin Laden and Iranian president Khatami. Primary documents include passages from the Quran and various reactions to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. The volume concludes with an annotated bibliography of print, electronic, and video resources.
A mixture of essays, biographical portraits, and primary documents provides an invaluable examination of this religious, cultural, and political phenomenon. This revision of the acclaimed first edition features fully updated information, as well as a new chapter examining the causes and effects of terrorism. A historical overview precedes essays on The Society of Muslim Brothers, the Iranian revolution and government, the Saudi government, Western perceptions of Islam, and issues of violence and terrorism. A section of biographies follows, including new portraits of Osama bin Laden and Iranian president Khatami. Primary documents include passages from the Quran and various reactions to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in the United States. The volume concludes with an annotated bibliography of print, electronic, and video resources.
- GenresNonfiction
Hardcover
First published January 1, 1998
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March 7, 2009
An informative history of 20th Century fundamentalist Islam. Although far from comprehensive, it provides a nice overview of the major movements in the Middle East, with excellent historical perspective.
This is a good book to inform someone unacquainted with recent Middle Eastern history, some older history, such as the foundations of Islam and the Ottoman Empire, but it sticks to the meat and potatoes of understanding the cultural and political aspects of fundamentalist Islam. It's particularly nice that it presents both the Islamic point of view, as well as the Western point of view, and how those two views contrast. I also like that it provides a pre-9/11 history, so that the focus is not on Al-Qaeda, but rather many of the other fundamentalist groups.
Reading this book has made me want to read a lot more about Middle Eastern history...
This is a good book to inform someone unacquainted with recent Middle Eastern history, some older history, such as the foundations of Islam and the Ottoman Empire, but it sticks to the meat and potatoes of understanding the cultural and political aspects of fundamentalist Islam. It's particularly nice that it presents both the Islamic point of view, as well as the Western point of view, and how those two views contrast. I also like that it provides a pre-9/11 history, so that the focus is not on Al-Qaeda, but rather many of the other fundamentalist groups.
Reading this book has made me want to read a lot more about Middle Eastern history...
Displaying 1 of 1 review