About this item
A political, social, and cultural battle is currently raging in the Middle East. On one side are the Islamists, those who believe Islam should be the region's primary identity. In opposition are nationalists, secularists, royal families, military establishments, and others who view Islamism as a serious threat to national security, historical identity, and a cohesive society. This provocative, vitally important work explores the development of the largest, most influential Islamic groups in the Middle East over the past century. Tarek Osman examines why political Islam managed to win successive elections and how Islamist groups in various nations have responded after ascending to power. He dissects the alliances that have formed among Islamist factions and against them, addressing the important issues of Islamism's compatibility with modernity, with the region's experiences in the twentieth century, and its impact on social contracts and minorities.
About the Author
Tarek Osman is the author of Islamism (Yale, 2016) and the prescient and internationally best-selling book Egypt on the Brink (Yale, 2010) , which was published weeks before Egypt's 2011 uprising. He has appeared as a commentator on most major international news networks and is a regular contributor on the Arab world and Islamism for many major newspapers and magazines worldwide. He wrote and presented the BBC documentary series The Making of the Modern Arab World (2013) and Sands of Time: A History of Saudi Arabia (2015) , and is the political counsellor of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) for the Arab world. Tarek has sixteen years' experience in political-economy advisory, strategy consulting, social-entrepreneurship, and investment banking and management. His website is www.tarekosman.com. He is on twitter @TarekmOsman
