Islam and the Myth of Confrontation: Religion and Politics in the Middle East (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The chapters that follow are part of the long process of reflection on the contemporary Middle East and on the various ways of thinking about..." (more)
Key Phrases: Middle East, Third World, Western Europe (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Listed as one of The Guardian's top 10 Middle East Books, 6 April 2002 'Fred Halliday's Islam and the Myth of Confrontation should be welcomed by both specialists and non-specialists alike... I would highly recommend the book for undergraduates... it offers many opportunities for spirited debate and alternative constructions of the complexities of the region...a successful and useful contribution to the scholarly literature.' -John Curry, Digest of Middle East Studies "Rejecting Samuel Huntigton's prediction and Muslim militants anti-Western rhetoric, Halliday argues the Middle East is not a distinct or unified region" -The Observer, 14th October 2001 --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review

"...clear, lucid prose that seeks to define clearly for non-specialist readers some of the issues at stake..."--John Curry, Digest of Middle East Studies

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 255 pages
• Publisher: I. B. Tauris & Company, Ltd (February 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1850439591
• ISBN-13: 978-1850439592
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #2,683,277 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 32 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars islam and politics, October 26, 2000

By	nasser momayezi (USA) - See all my reviews

Over the last two decades, Islamic revivalism in the Muslim world has been the subject of heated debates among academicians and policy makers. Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Islam has often been perceived as a world-wide menace and the major threat to the West. Some scholars have directed attention to a large scale confrontation between Islam and the West that they call a "clash of civilization." Fred Halliday sets out to reject such interpretations. He provides an alternative, critical but cautious reassessment.

Halliday asserts that the Islamic threat to the West is propagated from two contradictory sides--from the West that seeks to turn the Muslim world into another enemy, and from the camp of those within the Islamic countries who advocate contadiction with the Western world in order to remain in power. Halliday contends that the idea of a prennial conflict with West is not just an invention of European or American demagogues. "As communism collapsed, and with it the range of parties and movements in the Third World that associated with it, some in the Islamic world appeared to confirm Western prejudices by affirming that they would indeed replace Bolshevism as the major challenge to the West, and would do so more effectively because their challenge was inspired by God."

"Isam and the Myth of Confrontation" is a scholarly contribution and extremely insightful book that sheds new light on a very complex issues involving the Middle East. General readers as well as experts on the Midlle East are certain to be enlightened by this excellent book.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughful essays by a scholar deserve attention, March 23, 2005

By	L. F Sherman "dikw" (Wiscasset, ME United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Islam and the Myth of Confrontation: Religion and Politics in the Middle East (Paperback)

Halliday's title "Myth of Confrontation" has thrown off more than one reviewer and probably left some potential readers to dismiss the book entirely. (It is ironic and also unfortunate, that another book more shallow and less valuable became a big seller because it's title appeared to be confirmed by 9-11 shortly after it was completed, "What Went Wrong?" - such are the fates and irrationality of opinion formation.)

Readers should start with the new Preface written a year after 9-11 and be prepared to work a little harder to think rather than merely find simplistic confirmation of bias they may have. This is not to say one always agrees - only that Halliday has worthwhile things to say to those with an open mind.

The first section has chapters on the Middle East in International Relations reminding us that similar drives apply as elsewhere in the world and that it is not totally and mystically unique. An interesting essay on the Iranian Revolution is followed by another on the Gulf War.

Part two provides mature reflections on select issues: "Islam and the West" and the validity of their mutual threats; human rights issues; and many sources of anti-Muslimism (one might wryly comment that his oversight misses Amazon reviewers and the darker side of the US Media). The conclusion critiques both Said and the Orientalists although it is not terribly satisfying and not really tightly constructed conclusion for the book so much as another essay.

Some general readers may find the analytical style a bit tough going built as it is on more than the flaccid assertions of some other more popular books. Yet the case that Islam is too varied, focus too much centered on domestic concerns, and conflicts of interest and character of various Muslim regimes and Fundamentalist groups too considerable for a meaningful interpretation based on Islam's "confrontation" or "civilizational clash" to really explain anything worth explaining is made - however indirectly. Conspiratorial theorists, paranoids, and Crusaders will be disappointed - but probably would not think their way through the book anyway (fundamentally convinced of their own just truth already).

Huntington's thesis is not directly addressed here but is, and should be, discredited by the discussion of particulars. (For a more direct analysis of that one should see such things as relevant chapter's of "Why America's Top Pundit's Are Wrong".) This book draws from specific analysis, Huntington's from broad generalization and assertions. Halliday is a scholar of Muslim themes, Huntington read Lewis's essay on "Rage" and not a whole lot more. Pundits, politicians, polemicists, press people have climbed on Huntington's bandwagon and policy has been effected - it is a pity that few have honestly considered alternatives. But then "60 million Americans can't be wrong" - no that was `Frenchmen'.

3 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Misses the point, April 19, 2004

By	Hassan (London, UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Islam and the Myth of Confrontation: Religion and Politics in the Middle East (Paperback)

Halliday argues that there is no 'one' Islam but doesn't address the factors that necessitate the clash of civilisations.

Islam cannot happily exist in a secular framework as it has its own framework which is mutually exclusive.

Huntingdon's initial prediction of a clash was shallow but ultimately correct and Halliday's cultural discussion ignores the essence of the debate.