Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization

Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization
Akbar Ahmed | 2007-05-07 00:00:00 | Brookings Institution Press | 300 | World
"Why?" Years after September 11, we are still looking for answers. Internationally renowned Islamic scholar Akbar Ahmed knew that this question could not be answered until Islam and the West found a way past the hatred and mistrust intensified by the war on terror and the forces of globalization. Seeking to establish dialogue and understanding between these cultures, Ahmed led a team of dedicated young Americans on a daring and unprecedented tour of the Muslim world. Journey into Islam: The Crisis of Globalization is the riveting story of their search for common ground.

From the mosques of Damascus to the madrassahs of Karachi to the homes of Jakarta, Ahmed and his companions met with Muslims from all walks of life. They listened to students and professors, presidents and prime ministers, sheikhs and cab drivers, revealing Muslim hopes and frustrations as the West has never heard before. They returned from their groundbreaking journey with both cause for concern and occasion for hope.

Rejecting stereotypes and "conventional wisdom" about Islam and its encounter with globalization, this important book offers a new framework for understanding the Muslim world. As Western leaders wage a war on terrorism, Ahmed offers insightful suggestions on how the United States can improve relations with Islamic nations and peoples. Written with equal parts compassion and urgency, Journey into Islam makes a powerful case for forming bonds across religion, race, and tradition to create lasting harmony between Islam and the West. It is essential reading for anyone concerned with the future survival of the United States as a world leader, for the individual who faces the painful changes of globalization, and for the very future of our planet.
Reviews
Feeling totally ignorant about the Muslim world, I decided to read this book which was recommended by some magazine or TV interview...don't know which. I challenge you to read it. Reading it in its entirety is the best but if you read only two chapters, let them be Chapters One and Five: An Anthropological Excursion into the Muslim World and The Clash of Civilizations?



I came away with a new enlightment of the complex relationship between our culture and theirs.
Reviews
This is book is the result of a tedious journey undertaken by Dr.Ahmed's team to get a pulse of the current Muslim reaction to globalization.

The author discusses the elements that contitute Muslim culture, tradition and pride. And then goes on to discuss how those elements have been impacted by the current crisis of globalization.



Once we understand the muslim culture and the way they think, we begin to understand why they act the way they do. Their actions have been mostly shaped by US foreign policies towards their country. The US policies shaped by the thoughts of neocons and other opportunists has led to the current state of affairs. The worst part is that it doesnt seem to be getting any better.



The book highlights the changes that could be adopted by the US government to ease tension with the middle-east. Surprsingly all that we need to do is to extend a hand of support and not be judgemental; that we be willing to keep our minds open to their cultural ideas and their way of life. It was interesting to see the author quote some of America's founding fathers and deriving inspiration from that. He is not biased in his views either. The mistakes made by the muslim nations have also been pointed out. This unbiased analysis of the situation makes for a very interesting read.



"Anything started in anger ends in shame" quotes the author. He stresses the need for all of us to shed our anger and misconception and the start process of dialogue with muslim countries so that we may all be spared of the bloody fights.

A very interesting read that I will recommend for anyone wishing to know to the other side of the story. The American media has been portraying the whole situation exactly the way politicians want it to be seen.

Anyone wishing peace and quite in the world will love this book and its ideas. Kudos to the author.
Reviews
An intelligent look at the different souls of contemporary Islam, or rather, at the different attitudes towards globalization within the muslim world. A great starting point to understand the 'other', for muslims and non-muslims alike, and a book that challenges the reader. Dr. Ahmed is especially skilled at pointing out the misunderstandings that feed the current atmosphere of hostility, and to tease out provocation from substantive message on both sides. In the end, if each side was really true to its values, there would not even be an opportunity for conflict. Will his message be loud enough to diffuse the 'conflict of civilizations'?
Reviews
Very well done and comprehensive but it would be better if you took Islam 101 and 102 first.
Reviews
This book was much needed. Unfortunately it is only a book, a drop of water in the desert, although we should never forget that single drops added up to dig the desert canyons. Much more must be done, and this requires confronting a problem not addressed by the Author.

Why are we, people of the western countries, making such a confusion between politics and religion and why, anyhow, religion appears to be the key to peace within the people referring to the three Abrahamic religions?

As modern people, living in a western democracy, we should be bound to separate Church and State. Which is not exactly achieved in too many of the western countries, USA included, and surely, despite the presence of Ahmed's Aligarh model, is not the case in the Islamic countries. Thus it appears that using a language to be appreciated by our Islamic travel mates means speaking a language that is not properly our own, although it is becoming increasingly popular in some countries having a Christian tradition.

There is a contradiction that needs been solved. I hope that our Author and other serious scholars show us how.

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