The Islamic Challenge and the United States : Global Security in an Age of Uncertainty

Examining the sources and prospects of the dominant conflict of our era: the confrontation between Islam and the United States. Examining the sources and prospects of the dominant conflict of our era: the confrontation between Islam and the United States. In The Islamic Challenge And The United States The Conflict Between Islam And The West-especially The United States Chronicles The Clashing Political Legacies Of Islam And The United States. The Author Argues That Islam Has No Tradition Of Separation Of Politics And Religion, While That Separation Is At The Heart Of America's Global Promotion Of Democracy. Similarly, Secularism Is An Important Aspect Of Western-style Democracy, While The Islamists Of All Varieties Emphatically Reject That Notion. Consequently, Islam And The United States Have Remained On Opposite, Conflicting, Sides Of Key Issues At The Heart Of Politics, The Style Of Governance, And The Place Of Religion In A Polity. To Quote The Author: This Book Is About The Islamic Challenge To The Primacy Of The United States.^ If Global Politics Is Regarded As A Constant Tussle For Primacy Among Various Powers, Ideologies, And Isms, Then, From The Perspective Of This Book, America's Major Challenge In The Post-cold War Years Also Comes From Islam, Both A Religion As Well As A Political Force From Its Very Inception. The Conflict Between The United States And Islam Involves The Islamists, Salafists, As Well As The Self-styled Jihadists (aka Terrorists). It Is Partly Ideological, Partly Cultural, And Partly Religious (especially When It Comes To The Islamists' Notion Of Islamic Government. The Most Obdurate Issues Related To This Conflict Involve The Type Of Government, Westernization, Modernization, And Secularism. In That Capacity, They Are Most Difficult To Resolve. The Most Explosive Aspect Of This Conflict Involves The Self-styled Jihadists And The United States.^ Even Though This Particular Aspect Of This Conflict Will Be The Major Focus Of This Book, Ample Attention Will Also Be Paid To The Prospects Of Resolution Of Obdurate Issues, Especially In The Context Of The United States' Interactions With The Islamists In The Wake Of The Arab Awakening. A Key Strength Of This Manuscript Is The Case Studies And Historical Detail It Provides. For The Final Manuscript The Author Has Revised Extensively To: Include Timely Coverage Of Isis; Strengthen Ties Between Cases By Linking The Theme Of Conflict Between Forces Of Democracy And Secularism (the United States And The West) Versus Those Groups Who Categorically Reject Democracy And Secularism As Antithetical To Islam Throughout The Manuscript; Better Define Islam; Better Outline His Methodology And Approach In The Introduction.^ The Final Manuscript Also Includes A New Concluding Chapter To Further Analyze Cases And Provide Detailed Commentary On What Both The Us/middle East Could Change In The Future And The Predicted Outcomes.-- Introduction And The General Premise Of The Study -- The Nature Of The Islamic Challenge : When The Islamists (moderates) Failed -- Jihad : The Unsheathed Weapon -- The Middle East : Where Us Strategic Dominance Clashes With Islamism -- Pakistan And Afghanistan : Battlegrounds For The Jihadi Long War -- The Dynamics Of The Islamist Challenge From Iran -- Central Asia : Where The Islamists Challenge The Great Powers. Ehsan M. Ahrari ; With Sharon Leyland Ahrari. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 337-357) And Index. "In The Islamic Challenge and the United States the conflict between Islam and the West-especially the United States chronicles the clashing political legacies of Islam and the United States. The author argues that Islam has no tradition of separation of politics and religion, while that separation is at the heart of America's global promotion of democracy. Similarly, secularism is an important aspect of Western-style democracy, while the Islamists of all varieties emphatically reject that notion. Consequently, Islam and the United States have remained on opposite, conflicting, sides of key issues at the heart of politics, the style of governance, and the place of religion in a polity. To quote the author: "This book is about the Islamic challenge to the primacy of the United States. If global politics is regarded as a constant tussle for primacy among various powers, ideologies, and isms, then, from the perspective of this book, America's major challenge in the post-Cold war years also comes from Islam, both a religion as well as a political force from its very inception. The conflict between the United States and Islam involves the Islamists, Salafists, as well as the self-styled jihadists (aka "terrorists"). It is partly ideological, partly cultural, and partly religious (especially when it comes to the Islamists' notion of Islamic government. The most obdurate issues related to this conflict involve the type of government, Westernization, modernization, and secularism. In that capacity, they are most difficult to resolve. The most explosive aspect of this conflict involves the self-styled jihadists and the United States. Even though this particular aspect of this conflict will be the major focus of this book, ample attention will also be paid to the prospects of resolution of obdurate issues, especially in the context of the United States' interactions with the Islamists in the wake of the Arab Awakening." A key strength of this manuscript is the case studies and historical detail it provides. For the final manuscript the author has revised extensively to: include timely coverage of ISIS; strengthen ties between cases by linking the theme of conflict between forces of democracy and secularism (the United States and the West) versus those groups who categorically reject democracy and secularism as antithetical to Islam throughout the manuscript; better define Islam; better outline his methodology and approach in the introduction. The final manuscript also includes a new concluding chapter to further analyze cases and provide detailed commentary on what both the US/Middle East could change in the future and the predicted outcomes."-- Résumé de l'éditeur "In The Islamic Challenge and the United States the conflict between Islam and the West-especially the United States chronicles the clashing political legacies of Islam and the United States. The author argues that Islam has no tradition of separation of politics and religion, while that separation is at the heart of America's global promotion of democracy. Similarly, secularism is an important aspect of Western-style democracy, while the Islamists of all varieties emphatically reject that notion. Consequently, Islam and the United States have remained on opposite, conflicting, sides of key issues at the heart of politics, the style of governance, and the place of religion in a polity. To quote the author: "This book is about the Islamic challenge to the primacy of the United States. If global politics is regarded as a constant tussle for primacy among various powers, ideologies, and isms, then, from the perspective of this book, America's major challenge in the post-Cold war years also comes from Islam, both a religion as well as a political force from its very inception. The conflict between the United States and Islam involves the Islamists, Salafists, as well as the self-styled jihadists (aka "terrorists"). It is partly ideological, partly cultural, and partly religious (especially when it comes to the Islamists' notion of Islamic government. The most obdurate issues related to this conflict involve the type of government, Westernization, modernization, and secularism. In that capacity, they are most difficult to resolve. The most explosive aspect of this conflict involves the self-styled jihadists and the United States. Even though this particular aspect of this conflict will be the major focus of this book, ample attention will also be paid to the prospects of resolution of obdurate issues, especially in the context of the United States' interactions with the Islamists in the wake of the Arab Awakening." A key strength of this manuscript is the case studies and historical detail it provides. For the final manuscript the author has revised extensively to: include timely coverage of ISIS; strengthen ties between cases by linking the theme of conflict between forces of democracy and secularism (the United States and the West) versus those groups who categorically reject democracy and secularism as antithetical to Islam throughout the manuscript; better define Islam; better outline his methodology and approach in the introduction. The final manuscript also includes a new concluding chapter to further analyze cases and provide detailed commentary on what both the US/Middle East could change in the future and the predicted outcomes."-- Provided by publisher On September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden declared "global jihad" on the West. In response to the day's attacks, the United States has waged its own global war on terrorism, which the Pentagon has described as a generational conflict similar to the Cold War. In The Islamic Challenge and the United States, Ehsan Ahrari takes a close look at this ideological conflict, focusing on the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central Asia. Arguing that the war on terrorism is founded on secular fundamentalism (an ideology that envisions Islam as dangerous and volatile because it mixes religion and politics) and the Enlightenment narrative, Ahrari suggests that the United States sees global jihadists as absolutist, irrational, obscurantist, and anti-modern. While violence on behalf of the Muslim community – ummah – is thus framed as reprehensible, violence on behalf of the Western nation-state is seen as sometimes necessary and often praiseworthy. Unsettlingly, this framework does not encourage careful scrutiny of America's historical dealings with the Muslim world. The belief that religion causes violence, Ahrari argues, may blind the West to its own forms of fanaticism. A timely analysis of one of the most contested issues of our times, The Islamic Challenge and the United States is a must-read for global security practitioners, policymakers, and general readers. On September 11, 2001, Osama bin Laden declared "global jihad" on the West. In response to the day's attacks, the United States has waged its own global war on terrorism, which the Pentagon has described as a generational conflict similar to the Cold War. In The Islamic Challenge and the United States, Ehsan Ahrari takes a close look at this ideological conflict, focusing on the Middle East, Africa, and South and Central Asia. Arguing that the war on terrorism is founded on secular fundamentalism (an ideology that envisions Islam as dangerous and volatile because it mixes religion and politics) and the Enlightenment narrative, Ahrari suggests that the US sees global jihadists as absolutist, irrational, obscurantist, and anti-modern. While violence on behalf of the Muslim community ummah is thus framed as reprehensible, violence on behalf of the Western nation-state is seen as sometimes necessary and often praiseworthy. Unsettlingly, this framework does not encourage careful scrutiny of the US's historical dealings with the Muslim world. The belief that religion causes violence, Ahrari argues, may blind the West to its own forms of fanaticism. A timely analysis of one of the most contested issues of our times, The Islamic Challenge and the United States is a must-read for global security practitioners, policymakers, and general readers. Cover Copyright Contents Tables Abbreviations Preface Acknowledgments 1 Introduction and the General Premise of the Study 2 The Nature of the Islamic Challenge: When the Islamists (Moderates) Failed 3 Jihad: The Unsheathed Weapon 4 The Middle East: Where US Strategic Dominance Clashes with Islamism 5 Pakistan and Afghanistan: Battlegrounds for the Jihadi Long War 6 The Dynamics of the Islamist Challenge from Iran 7 Central Asia: Where the Islamists Challenge the Great Powers 8 Conclusions Notes Bibliography Index