Islam and Politics

by Peter Mandaville

This book is an accessible and comprehensive account of political Islam in the twenty-first century. Drawing on insights from comparative politics and Islamic studies, it explains the complex interaction between Islam, society, the state, and processes of globalization. The book demonstrates that political Islam, far from being a monolithic phenomenon, varies considerably from country to country depending on its position in relation to society, the state, and the broader political environment. The book provides a portrait of Islam and politics through a combination of detailed case studies and country overviews that span the globe from the Middle East to Central and South Asia, Southeast Asia and Europe and North America―as well as a detailed account of the global jihadist movement. Engaging the debate on "post-Islamism" and the aftermath of Arab Uprisings, the book also provides a roadmap of possible futures for Islam and politics. Subjects covered • history of Islam and politics and an overview of key concepts • how political Islam interacts with the nation-state and the global economy • a wide variety of global case studies • profiles of key movements and individuals Fully illustrated throughout, featuring maps, a glossary and suggestions for further reading, this is the ideal introduction to the crucial role of political Islam in the contemporary world.

Genres: Nonfiction, Politics, Religion, Islam

456 pages, Paperback

First published September 1, 2003

Reviews

[Scott · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wish I would have read this one first before all my other books. It was very extensive and covered things better than most other books. He may have jst built on the works of others, but man this was a great read. Still academic though.

[Rebekah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Mandaville is one of the best scholars out there on this topic. His accounts are always balanced and well-reasoned. This book is a great introduction to Islam as a political force around the globe and would be particularly good as an undergraduate course text.

[Sarah]

Very interesting and well-written book: plain and easy to understand even for those who aren't experts on the subject, and with an intense use of Arab terms (with deep explanation of their various meanings). The aspect I mostly appreciate is the neutrality with which the author depicts the facts - fundamental in a political-historical book. The only defect is the fact it was published in 2014 so it doesn't include all the recent developments in radical Islam (i.e. ISIS).