Author Description
Events in the Middle East have prompted many questions concerning the conflict between Islam and the European states which have, historically, been seen as a military and political challenge. Why has ideological politics triumphed in the Middle East? Why have attempts to form constitutional governments repeatedly failed in Islamic states? This account provides the historical analysis necessary for a clearer understanding of these questions. In the 19th century Middle Eastern leaders believed that they could surmount the challenge posed by the European "Great Powers" by borrowing European weapons and technology, along with military and administrative organization, and, later, by adopting representative forms of government. These strategies proved a disappointment. The aftermath has been the establishment of military regimes, and an ideological style of politics, whether the ideology is nationalism of fundamentalism. This book describes and discusses the apparent success of ideological politics, and analyzes its character.
Menrva's Summary
THE THESIS
This work investigates why ideological politics became the dominant mode of governance in the Middle East and why constitutional experiments have historically failed in the region. Elie Kedourie, a prominent historian of the Middle East, utilizes a historical framework to examine the transition from traditional Islamic governance to the adoption of European-style administrative and political structures. He argues that the failure of these imported systems led to the rise of military regimes and the entrenchment of ideological movements such as nationalism and fundamentalism.
THE SCOPE MAP
What You Will Find
- Historical analysis of 19th-century Middle Eastern modernization efforts
- Examination of the failure of constitutionalism in Islamic states
- Analysis of the transition from traditional authority to ideological politics
Scope Limits
- Does not provide a comprehensive survey of contemporary 21st-century geopolitical events
- Focuses primarily on political and intellectual history rather than economic or sociological data
THE AUTHORITY PERSPECTIVE
Scholars frequently cite this text as a critical, albeit provocative, analysis of the intellectual history of Middle Eastern political development. Readers often note the dense, academic prose that requires a foundational understanding of regional history to fully grasp the author's arguments.
Page Count:
384
Publication Date:
1992-04-16
ISBN-10:
0192191675
ISBN-13:
9780192191670
History
Ideology
International relations
Politics & Government
Middle East
Middle Eastern