As the Middle East descends ever deeper into violence and chaos; 'sectarianism' has become a catch-all explanation for the region's troubles. The turmoil is attributed to 'ancient sectarian differences'; putatively primordial forces that make violent conflict intractable. In media and policy discussions; sectarianism has come to possess trans-historical causal power. This book trenchantly challenges the lazy use of 'sectarianism' as a magic-bullet explanation for the region's ills; focusing on how various conflicts in the Middle East have morphed from non-sectarian (or cross-sectarian) and nonviolent movements into sectarian wars. Through multiple case studies -- including Syria; Iraq; Lebanon; Saudi Arabia; Bahrain; Yemen and Kuwait -- this book maps the dynamics of sectarianisation; exploring not only how but also why it has taken hold. The contributors examine the constellation of forces -- from those within societies to external factors such as the Saudi-Iran rivalry -- that drive the sectarianisation process and explore how the region's politics can be de-sectarianised. Featuring leading scholars -- and including historians; anthropologists; political scientists and international relations theorists -- this book will redefine the terms of debate on one of the most critical issues in international affairs today.
#2986915 in Books 2015-12-08Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 6.30 x 1.10 x 9.30l; 1.10 #File Name: 0190494700240 pages
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. A wonderful new study of the Crimean TatarsBy Kindle CustomerThere's a fair amount of decent literature on the Crimean Tatars (probably starting with Alan Fisher's fine book) so I was pleasantly surprised to find this book; that adds so much to the existing literature. Williams has done extensive field research in both Uzbekistan (where the deported Crimean Tatars ended up) and the Crimea; where the Tatars that have returned since 1989 try to build a precarious existence in a society that does not want them there.Williams' book covers all the historical periods; and while some periods are necessarily touched upon briefly (I'm still waiting for a specialist study of the Crimean Tatars during the Civil War; for instance); this book's strengths are the 1944 deportation; Crimean Tatar life in exile; and the plight of the returned Tatars in particular. It's a well-balanced book; written by someone who has clearly taken the plight of the Tatars to heart without turning the book into a one-sided litany. A small but delightful selection of illustrations adds some useful background. I've been reading about Veli Ibrahimov for YEARS and I finally know what he looks like!A great book; and a worthwhile addition to anyone's library.2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. The Crimean Tatars under Tsarist; Soviet and Putinist Russian RuleBy BÃœLENT TANATARThis book of Professor Williams seems a condensed form of his previous; more comprehensive book relating to Crimean Tatars; a Turkic people giving their name to their once owned peninsula; but even though losing it to the invasing and annexing imperial Russia in the end of 18th century; they managed to maintain their relative majority even until almost the very end of 19th century. During this period passed under the domination of Russians the Crimean Tatar population continued to bleed out due to emigration influenced by oppresive; colonial administration. For a short period of time from just after the 1917 revolution to the start of the WWII; Crimean Tatars hold their restricted autonomy in Crimea; but following the liberation from Nazi occupation; the Soviet administration under nation-killer Stalin decided to the mass deportation of all the Crimean Tatars from Crimea and to effacing their whole cultural traces in the peninsula. After a long and peaceful struggle for return they succeed to a large extent to resettle under hostile circumstances in Crimea with a Russian majority though pertaining formally to Ukraine. Not so long ago; poor Crimean Tatars making only % 12 of the current Crimea faced again another agression: Russia militarily invaded and soon after annexed by an unlawful referendum their Crimean homeland. Today they live under constant abuse of their community as well as individual rights.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. This book is a beautifully written history of the Crimean TatarsBy Mark HodgesThe Muslim Crimean Tatars; the last remnants of the Medieval Mongol invasions of Europe; have been making news ever since the Russian conquest of the Crimea in the spring of 2014. But its difficult find to find information on this pitiful remnant of a once mighty nation that is battling the Russians in their native land. This book is a beautifully written history of the Crimean Tatars; from the time of their brutal conquest in the 1700s by Catherine the Great to their more recent conquest by Putin. Williams begins by recreating the lost world of the fascinating Crimean Tatars that was lost in the Russian Imperial conquest. He brings to life a rich Islamic culture that fell to pieces when the Russians ethnically cleansed this ancient race. But the worst was to come under the Soviets when Stalin genocidally cleansed the Crimean Tatars to the deserts of Soviet Uzbekistan. Williams masterfully recreates the Crimean Tatars struggle to survive in this inhospitable land and return to their ancestral homeland on the Black Sea. Most hearteningly; Williams uses Russian sources and lived with the Tatars in their places of Stalin-imposed exile in Uzbekistan and in their post-Soviet repatriation settlements in the Crimea (where they are clashing with the local Russians who moved into their land during their exile) to collect their moving story. It is a powerful story of the survival of a small nation; and imperial conquest on the edge of Europe that will be of interest to anyone who is interested in genocide; Russian; Muslim and Mongol history.
