Rethinking Islamism: Ideology Of The New Terror, The

Description:
Despite increasingly frantic calls - especially after the London bombings of July 7, 2005 - for western leaders to 'understand Islam better', there is a still a critical distinction that needs to be made between 'Islam' as religion and 'Islamism' in the sense of militant mindset. As the author of this provocative new book sees it, it is not a more nuanced understanding of Islam that will help the western powers defeat the jihadi threat, but rather a proper understanding of Islamism: a political ideology which is quite distinct from religion. While Islamism may be draped in religious imagery and suffused by apocalyptic language, it nevertheless is similar in nature to secular ideologies of terror. And once, the author holds, this is properly appreciated, the ways to defeat it will become much better evident. Historically sophisticated and passionately argued, 'Rethinking Islamism' makes a powerful case by a master theorist of political philosophy. It will be essential reading for students and policy-makers in the fields of politics, current affairs and religion.

Review:
'Meghnad Desai has given us a much needed guide to the complex role of Islam in current geopolitical conflicts. Bringing together a wealth of historical knowledge with powerful insights into globalisation, he shows that Global Islam is a revolutionary movement in many ways like those of the twentieth century. This is a book that deserves to be very widely read.' - John Gray, Professor of European Thought, London School of Economics, and author of Al Qaeda and What It Means To Be Modern (2004). EASTERN EYE 'Meghnad makes a valid point when he argues that the old politics of race has been superseded by the politics of religion. It is necessary to understand the true nature of global Islam.' CYBERNOON.COM 'The book deserves the attention of Muslims and non-Muslims alike.'THE MUSLIM WORLD BOOK REVIEWMost will agree with the author that ideas should be fought with ideas...Even a Muslim can find little wrong with the author's description of Islamic history and doctrine.

Author Biography:
Meghnad Desai is a Labour peer in the House of Lords. Before his retirement Lord Desai was Professor of Economics at the London School of Economics and Director of the LSE's Centre for the Study of Global Governance. He is the author of several books which include 'Marx's Revenge: The Resurgence of Capitalism and the Death of Statist Socialism' (1994).