Sayyid Qutb (1906-1966) was an influential Egyptian ideologue who established the theoretical basis for radical Islamism in the postcolonial Sunni Muslim world. Lacking a pure understanding of the leader's life and work; the popular media has conflated Qutb's moral purpose with the aims of Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. He is often portrayed as a terrorist; Islamo-Fascist; and advocate of murder. An expert on social protest and political resistance; John Calvert rescues Qutb from misrepresentation and follows the evolution of his thought within the context of his time.Calvert recounts Qutb's life from the small village in which he was raised to his execution at the behest of Abd al-Nasser's regime. His study remains sensitive to the cultural; political; social; and economic circumstances that shaped Qutb's thought; including major developments that composed one of the most eventful periods in Egyptian history. These years witnessed the full flush of Britain's tutelary regime; the advent of Egyptian nationalism; and the political hegemony of the Free Officers. Qutb rubbed shoulders with Taha Husayn; Naguib Mahfouz; and Abd al-Nasser himself; though his Islamism originally had little to do with religion. Only in response to his harrowing experience in prison did Qutb come to regard Islam and kufr (infidelity) as oppositional; antithetical; and therefore mutually exclusive. Calvert shows how Qutb repackaged and reformulated the Islamic heritage to challenge authority; including those who claimed (falsely; Qutb believed) to be Muslim.
#1322023 in Books Schwieger Peter 2015-03-31Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.00 x 1.30 x 6.00l; 1.36 #File Name: 0231168527352 pagesThe Dalai Lama and the Emperor of China A Political History of the Tibetan Institution of Reincarnation
Review
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful. Significant Volume for China/Tibet ObserversBy Victoria HuckenpahlerThis volume is a bit turgid; but it points out something too often overlooked by observers of the ongoing tragedy of Tibet; namely that the picture is more complex than either Tibetans or Chinese are willing to acknowledge. A serious student of history can see that the Chinese have long had a big investment in Tibet and were periodically called upon by Tibetans to assist them in their domestic troubles. Author Peter Schwieger makes this clear by citing the many documents that exist (or at least those he had access to; and they are considerable) asserting China's influence. This does not in any way justify China's genocidal treatment of Tibetans; but it does explain their proprietary view. It can be dull to read through document after document attesting to China's interests in Tibet; but it does make the point clear. And the author ends the book with a superb analysis of how China's posture; though seemingly similar to its historical one; is nonetheless very different in some respects.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Five StarsBy NikiAbsolutely loved this book! I recommend it to almost everyone I know that's interested in either Tibet or China.3 of 3 people found the following review helpful. Incarnate Lamas and International PoliticsBy M. J. SweetThis thorough academic study of the uniquely Tibetan institution of reincarnate lamas (tulku-s); which focuses on their political influence and relations with the Chinese empire; will be of great interest to students of Tibetan history. The author steers a middle path between current Chinese claims of long sovereignty over Tibet and the denials of Tibetan nationalists that there was anything more than a "patron-priest" relationship between the Dalai Lama and the Chinese emperor. Much of the book is based on archival documents recently released by the Chinese authorities; and the study is well-grounded in Tibetan; Chinese; and Western sources. The writing style is serviceable; but somewhat dry and academic--I read the book in one day; but I happen to have been very interested in the subject. In the later chapters; it might have helped if the author gave a wider context to the documents he presents; most of which are official proclamations full of flowery rhetoric; making it unclear to what degree they reflected actual or simply claimed influence. It is also surprising that in his discussion of the Reting Rimpoche he does not mention the revolt raised in his favor; supported by the hierarchy of Sera monastery; and the enormous political power of the great Geluk monasteries in general; which was often pro-Chinese and at odds with the Dalai Lama's govt. That aside; this is a nice piece of research for future scholars to build on; especially when (or if) the Chinese ever release the great mass of more confidential documents concerning Tibet that are locked away in the Lhasa and other archives. The scope of the book covers over a thousand years of Tibetan history; and the relations of other important incarnations besides the Dalai Lama with Chinese and Mongolian rulers. It is not a book for those with a romantic-spiritual view of Tibet; the incarnation system is viewed throughout as a political and economic institution.
