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| Past Themes and Topics
Full text of all articles in this issue is available at Project Muse Islamic Identity: Myth, Menace, or Mobilizer? When most Americans think of Islam, they picture the Middle East. Jillian Schwedler describes the unique place of Islam in the identity of the Arab world. Struggles Behind Words: Shariah, Sunnism, and Jihad To demonstrate the shallow thinking that drives many debates about Islam, the author delves into the history and real meaning of these three most used, but least understood, terms. A Comparative Approach to Islam and Democracy The controversial Turkish teacher writes that of course Islam is compatible with democracy, but that the whole argument misses the point: Islam is bigger than any political system. Indonesia’s Mild Secularism The president of Indonesia emphasizes the importance of Islam as a socio-moral force. However, when it enters the political realm it risks being entrapped in the power struggle. The solution is some sort of “mild” secularism. Islam, Indonesia, and the Prospect for Democracy Indonesia’s different religious movements’ interpretations of Islam have affected their attitude toward democracy. Woodward argues that ignoring religion when talking politics is a losing fight. In Aceh, Indonesia Stumbles While politicians in Jakarta debate, militants on the island of Sumatra fight. Jacqueline Koch captures the fury of Indonesia’s strongest separatist movement. Where Islams Clash Afghanistan offers many seductive images to the foreigner visiting with a camera. The author struggles with the way such photo opportunities miss the people’s real problems. Qibla and the Government House: The Islamist Networks An Islamic revival has swept Central Asia since 1989. While the region’s Islamists have relied on international support, their ultimate objectives are eminently domestic. Religion, Politics, and Security in Central Asia Turning to the region’s governments, the author explains how international pressures have shaped Central Asia’s various responses to extremist Islamic groups. Muslims in U.S. Politics: Recognized and Integrated, or Seduced and Abandoned? Muslims in the United States have begun to throw their political weight around, but the author warns that shaping policy requires more than just a voting bloc. Demographic Islamization: Non-Muslim Minorities in Muslim Countries Truth lies in the numbers: from demographic data on religious minorities, the author teases out the history of the “Islamization” of the Muslim world. Creating Devastation and Calling it Islam: The War for the Nuba, Sudan The causes of Sudan’s civil war are obscured by generalizations. The Nuba people prove that religion is largely an excuse to fight; the author puts more faith in old-fashioned greed. Foreign Policy Debate: Propaganda, the Satans, and Other Misunderstandings Three prominent scholars debate the merits of thinking about U.S. foreign policy in terms of religion. Perhaps unsurprisingly, they disagree. Democratic Dictators in Peru: From Leguia to Fujimori Scholars writing the post-mortem on Alberto Fujimori’s presidency have taken to looking to Asia for comparisons. The author argues that this is a mistake; Fujimori’s brand of dictatorship comes straight from Peruvian history. Return and Reconstruction in Bosnia: Missing Link or Mistaken Priority? The emphasis on return of refugees has bred new troubles in Bosnia. The author argues that this “crisis of immobility” should be the new focus of international aid for reconstruction. Book Reviews Resurrecting Islam Black Muslims are not new to the United States. In her review of Servants of Allah, Fatimah Jackson follows the star and crescent through the middle passage to describe the early experiences of African slaves in the American colonies. Teaching (and Learning) Islam in Egypt In reviewing Gregory Starrett’s Putting Islam to Work, Katerina Dalacoura questions whether Egyptian elites really meant to use mass education to push an Islamic agenda. The “Islamic Peril” Deconstructed How does the media shape perceptions? Edward S. Herman examines Islamic Peril: Media and Global Violence by Karim H. Karim and comments on ways in which the Western media has created stereotypes and acts as propaganda. Film Review The Universal Iranian Jean-Michel Frodon offers a compelling portrait of the Iranian filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami, underscoring the challenges of developing a unique and well-recognized style of cinematography within the context of revolutionary Iran. Rethinking the Obvious Communists Behaving Badly While the infighting between moderates and hardliners makes for entertaining reading, Michael S. Chase argues that The Tiannamen Papers enhances but does not alter our interpretation of those bloody days in June. Radio Free Africa After watching the Voices of Mali concert, Rachel Schneller is not convinced that American popular culture will swamp all others. Why would people who can dance to the syncopation of a thunderstorm ever buy boy bands? The United States as “Rogue Superpower” Anton Ware decides that the organizational flaws in Noam Chomsky’s Rogue States do not detract from its central message: that the United States is the biggest rogue state of all. |
