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Between Memory and Desire: The Middle East in a Troubled Age
Middle Easterners today are caught between memories of the past and frustrated hopes for the future. They struggle to find solutions to crises of economic stagnation, political gridlock, and cultural identity. In recent decades Islam has become central to this struggle, and almost every issue involves fierce, sometimes violent debates over the role of religion in public life. R. Stephen Humphreys's new book presents a much-needed and thoughtful analysis of Islam's place in today's Middle East. In clear, accessible language, he integrates the medieval and modern history of the region to show how the sacred and secular are tightly interwoven in its political and intellectual life.
Humphreys discusses the conflicts over power and resources that engage Middle Eastern politicians and looks at the major ideologies that have shaped these conflicts. He focuses on the impact of Islam on public life and examines Muslim ways of thinking about the "secular" versus the "religious." What values does Islam put into play? What challenges does it pose to "ordinary" politics? What resources does it bring to the struggle for social justice?
Humphreys recognizes the Western tendency to dismiss Middle Eastern politics as an incoherent tale of violence and fanaticism, and his book is especially valuable for its analysis of the deeper issues behind the headlines. These issues include the region's apparent inability to evolve democratic institutions, conflicts rooted in the peace settlements after World War I, and the unresolved debates over which cultural and moral values should drive Middle Eastern policy.
Between Memory and Desire reminds us that Middle Easterners remember the past in specific the shame of the colonial era; the disappointments since independence; and the glory of the Middle Ages, when Muslim achievements were respected throughout the world. Even if these memories are only partially true, in defining the past, they also define what the future ought to be.
Humphreys discusses the conflicts over power and resources that engage Middle Eastern politicians and looks at the major ideologies that have shaped these conflicts. He focuses on the impact of Islam on public life and examines Muslim ways of thinking about the "secular" versus the "religious." What values does Islam put into play? What challenges does it pose to "ordinary" politics? What resources does it bring to the struggle for social justice?
Humphreys recognizes the Western tendency to dismiss Middle Eastern politics as an incoherent tale of violence and fanaticism, and his book is especially valuable for its analysis of the deeper issues behind the headlines. These issues include the region's apparent inability to evolve democratic institutions, conflicts rooted in the peace settlements after World War I, and the unresolved debates over which cultural and moral values should drive Middle Eastern policy.
Between Memory and Desire reminds us that Middle Easterners remember the past in specific the shame of the colonial era; the disappointments since independence; and the glory of the Middle Ages, when Muslim achievements were respected throughout the world. Even if these memories are only partially true, in defining the past, they also define what the future ought to be.
319 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1999
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About the author
R. Stephen Humphreys
10 books9 followersA specialist in the history of Southwest Asia and North Africa, R. Stephen Humphreys was the 'Abd al-Aziz al-Sa'ud Professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara.
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 13, 2009
A much more pleasant read than "A Political Economy of the Middle East" by Alan Richards, yet I suppose you read each of them for a different purpose. The two books together do provide you with a considerably rich understanding of the issues at hand, both past and present, in this dynamic region of the world.
April 25, 2008
Great book. Easy to read but informative. Great quotes.
to-finish-reading
January 3, 2013need Andrew to explain this to me
February 26, 2016
Good content, but poorly organized and repetitive in certain spots.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews