Since the Taliban seized Kabul in 1996; the public has grappled with the relationship between Islamic education and radical Islam. Media reports tend to paint madrasas--religious schools dedicated to Islamic learning--as medieval institutions opposed to all that is Western and as breeding grounds for terrorists. Others have claimed that without reforms; Islam and the West are doomed to a clash of civilizations. Robert Hefner and Muhammad Qasim Zaman bring together eleven internationally renowned scholars to examine the varieties of modern Muslim education and their implications for national and global politics. The contributors provide new insights into Muslim culture and politics in countries as different as Morocco; Egypt; Pakistan; India; Indonesia; Iran; and Saudi Arabia. They demonstrate that Islamic education is neither timelessly traditional nor medieval; but rather complex; evolving; and diverse in its institutions and practices. They reveal that a struggle for hearts and minds in Muslim lands started long before the Western media discovered madrasas; and that Islamic schools remain on its front line. Schooling Islam is the most comprehensive work available in any language on madrasas and Islamic education.
#1096778 in Books 1981-10-21Format: Deluxe EditionOriginal language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.25 x 6.00 x 1.25l; #File Name: 0691101132608 pages
Review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. History as TragedyBy Matthew SimonOne of the reasons why ALL people in the USA should read this volume (number I) is the detailed yet entertaining story the author tells. Cumings' scholarship is superb! In case ANYONE feels he is biased; he supports the views expressed by using U.S. Army or government records; notes by the significant actors; etc. Anyone that challenges assertions made in this volume will most likely have the disadvantage of having a very sparse record or evidence for their opinions. Volume number II is quite another thing; however. While Cumings marshals facts to support his views which are just as well founded as in volume number I; the second volume (number II) is chilling in its view of a fascist basis for U.S. policies; and obvious paranoia; such as that found in the China lobby; Japan lobby; and the Korea lobby. One would do well to recall Kissinger's difficulties with the China lobby while attempting to extract the U.S. from the disasterous defeat in Vietnam. A major achievement of volume number II is showing how the views of Americans; so limited culturally; have led to a tragedy in history; a tragedy for Koreans; Japanese; but especially Americans.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. My favourite history bookBy browngeoffIt's been about 10 years since I first read Bruce Cumings' Origins of the Korean War. Ever since; I have felt guilty for not reviewing the book. I have read many history books in my 66 years and I can say; without hesitation; that Origins of the Korean War is my favourite history book. Here you will find a very deep analysis of Korean society; which is almost completely ignored by other authors. Cumings has a very rare quality for an American author: an ability and willingness to respect other perspectives and narratives. I confess that my simplistic understanding of the war; namely that it was started by an unprovoked attack by the Northern communists; was blown completely out of the water by Cumings' book. This book not only radically changed my opinion of Korea but also third-world nationalism in general. That is probably why Cumings' interpretation of the war has been suppressed by the establishment. For more on that; I highly recommend another Cumings book; War and Television; which describes his shameful treatment by PBS and Thames Television during the production of a Korean War documentary. If we wish to avoid a disastrous resolution of the Korean powder keg; we should treasure; not ignore; scholars such as Dr. Cumings.29 of 42 people found the following review helpful. A Great book :it taught me hidden history of my countryBy ChoI'm a 25 years old Korean man and had grown under absolute anti-communism eduaction under dictatorship of Chun;doowhan. We all hated North Koreans mainly because they began Korean war and -we believed-they were soviet agent. We were taught that America is good-democratic country which aided democratic Korea;and Soviet and China are invaders. But under Chun-U.S.A dictator regime;University students studied our hidden modern history with books like cumings';and new view about Korea had spread out. So I could study hidden part of history with translated books of cumings' Cumings;who is an American historian; pointed out hidden and twisted history of my country better than any historian of Korea I have ever read. His research was so shocking that Korean Government had opressed all students who insists opinion like cumings' And Korean right wings frequntly attacks intellectuals who insist like cumingsBut this is a good-formated book and is pull with believable reference. His main references are records made by U.S. military in Korea;1945~1948With his book; I could recognize that Korean communist movement was internal powerful movement its' influence was originated from left wing's Anti-Japanese struggle;and by removing that movement in South Korea by force with feudal land owners and pro-Japanese bureaucrats; U.S.A spreaded seed of Civil war.Still; these opinions are threatened by powerful right wing Journalism Like Chosun ilbo (which admires Korean dictator presidents)But I am confident that future historians of Korea will write our history correctly and Cumings' book will always be a necessary reference for them
