Dr. Gerges presents an interesting point of view about the Islamic Jihad that has been totally ignored by the news media in this country. He says that the mainstream of events going on in the Arab world is not a war against the West, but instead is a civil war or really many civil wars against the established governments in those countries.
It comes as no secret that the ruling bodies of most Arab countries are despotic. What the mainstream militants want is to overthrow those governments and take over themselves. When they get in charge, they want to impose a government of their own making, not liberal, not democratic, but with them in charge and with the intent of governing according to the shariah, or Qur'anic law.
The secular rulers in most Arab countries have failed to deliver jobs, social services, education or to make their countries safe from external threats. The militants want to take over, they are not talking about a democracy, and they are certainly not talking about women's rights or freedom of expression for everyone. The biggest goal is simply to throw out the bums that are in charge.
His reports on the situation in Iran and the Sudan are interesting in that they say that the public is fed up with the economic damage and sociopolitical upheaval inflicted by the mullahs and Islamists on their societies. The governments in turn are retrenching domestically and are mainly interested with political survival.
This is not to say that the U.S. is liked. Our unwavering support of Israel, our invasion of Iraq, and other foreign policy activities have made us stand out as an enemy.
Summary, it's a mess over there. This book doesn't offer any easy solutions, but it will help you understand what's happening in our world - at lease from Dr. Gerges viewpoint.
...approach to current affairs in the Middle East.
Professor Gerges' latest effort provides additional information not covered in his earlier works. His writing style is scholarly, yet accessible, backed up by his vast experience traveling in the Middle East. Professor Gerges hails from Beruit, Lebanon and currently lives in the United States. He is objective while demonstrating his incredible knowledge of Middle East affairs, personalities and history. While reading many sections, I felt the writing "opening" my mind as opposed to "filling" it.
The text goes deeper than the sound bites covered with traditional news reporting. The reader is given a more thorough understanding of the genesis of the Jihadist movement. The reader is shown there are layers of Islam that have not been presented to Western Audiences and can do much to affect Western views and prejudices.
The format of the book is much easier to manage than the current offerings available on the subject. The book is divided into chapters that are easy to read without being superficial. Throughout the book, he provides embedded "foot notes" to help the reader understand foreign terms such as "Jihad". In some ways, the book reads more like a novel than work of non-fiction. Readers should find this approach both interesting and informative.
The book does much to help, especially the Western reader, understand the components of history and current events that motivate some followers to choose the paths they walk. If you're looking for a more thoughtful and well-researched text on the subject of Islamic Extremism and the Jihadist movement, this publication will address your needs.
