Political Islam from Muhammad to Ahmadinejad: Defenders, Detractors, and Definitions

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This collection of 15 essays illuminates the evolution of political Islam from the era of the Prophet Muhammad to the presidency of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran. Under the auspices of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa, Joseph Morrison Skelly brings together a team of experts to create a compelling, scholarly investigation of the interrelationship of Islam and politics. Divided into several topical sections, including early origins of Islamic politics, the development of jihad in an age of terror, and contemporary politics, Political Islam from Muhammad to Ahmadinejad: Defenders, Detractors, and Definitions is an in-depth exploration of the various dimensions of political Islamfor the international community, the Islamic world itself, and anyone who seeks a deeper understanding of this phenomenon. Political Islam from Muhammad to Ahmadinejad takes an evenhanded approach in considering competing interpretations of political Islam, successfully broadening the scholarly investigation of the topic. The work assesses political Islam across a broad chronological time frame and includes regional perspectives within the contexts of areas in Africa and the Middle East. Skelly and his colleagues tackle controversial issues head-on and provide an intellectual framework for advancing political Islam into new stages of economic development, intellectual renewal, and accommodation with constitutional democracy and human rights. Each contributor lends a unique and specialized perspective to the discussion on this timely topic.

Reviews

Although it is a collection of scholarly works, the essays are not written in the overly-wordy manner in which such scholarly pieces often are, and is therefore relatively easy for the layman to comprehend. I would highly recommend Political Islam from Muhammed to Ahmadinejad Defenders, Detractors and Definitions to anyone who wishes for a firmer understanding of Islam, the Islamist threat, and potential solutions to the danger it poses to our free and democratic way of life. * Family Security Matters *

Author Bio

Joseph Morrison Skelly is Treasurer of the Association for the Study of the Middle East and Africa. He is associate professor of history, College of Mount Saint Vincent, New York, NY, and an officer in the United States Army Reserve.