A Sense Of Siege: The Geopolitics Of Islam And The West

by Graham E. Fuller

“The clash of civilizations” has become a common phrase in discussions of U.S.–Middle East relations. This book explores the nature of the friction between the Muslim world and Western states, looking at legitimate perceptions and grievances on both sides involving historical, political, economic, cultural, psychological, and strategic elements.Arguing that “Islam versus the West” does not represent the arena of the next global ideological struggle, the authors examine specific issues of a bilateral nature that require careful handling to prevent the consolidation of states into opposing blocs. They discuss Islam’s efforts to politically enhance the real power of Muslim states and to equalize relations with the West in the strategic arena; the enlarged role of Islam in the internal politics of Muslim countries; and the urgency of political, economic, and social change to break away from traditional authoritarian orders. A central theme of the book is that political Islam threatens the established order in most Muslim countries far more than it threatens the West and that violent confrontation can best be circumvented by integrating Islamist forces into the political process.

Genres: Nonfiction

210 pages, Paperback

First published February 12, 1995

About the author

Graham Fuller is an author and a political analyst. He has worked for the United States Central Intelligence Agency, the National Intelligence Council, and Rand Corporation.

Reviews

[Saqib · Rating 2 out of 5]

Fails to accomodate the fact that Islam is a religion AND a state. There is no free speech in any Islamic country the kind of which is protected in constitutions in the West and so separation of Church and State either in Islam(or mosque and state). This is clash of values between Islam and the West that the book does not address at all

[Joshua]

A book ahead of its time in describing and anticipating the events and questions surrounding the conflict we are in today.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Sense of Siege looks at the interplay between the mainstays of Islam (Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and others in the middle east) vis a vis the Cold war Defined West (The United States and Europe). This book is well measured and does a great job of exploring what each side sees as the feeling of being under attack stemming back to the days of the crusades. Each has an ideology that makes their defining region unique and sets up the potential for conflict. Given that this was written in 1995 It has accurately laid out some of the things that would come to pass in the 21st Century. This book is written by the Rand Corporation so it does skew more academic in nature but if you are interested in the conflict between the Islamic World and the United States or Europe this is definitely not one to miss.