"The Many Face(book)s of Political Islam": The fine art of dissent in Iran
Mohammed Ayoob, author: The Many Faces of Political Islam: Religion and Politics in the Muslim World
"The relationship between the Shia clerics and the Iranian state changed dramatically after the Islamic revolution of 1979. Politically active clerics now became state functionaries and found themselves at the center of political and economic power... Despite the attempt by hard-liners to impose restrictions on the freedom of expression and the press, Iran is a vibrant and politically competitive society that has turned evading such restrictions into a fine art. Newspapers banned one day appear the next day under different names, with the authorities often turning a blind eye toward such transgressions."
Continue reading about the new youth movement in Iran, where popular social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook are being used to express dissent:
Facebook for Democracy in Iran--view or join online here:
(Join UMP on Facebook here)
An example of the millions of tweets posted on Twitter by Iranians and American political analysts:
- For more information read "Iranian Activists Rally on Twitter" here.
- To see how Ahmadinejad supporters (including Ministry of Interior) mislead Mousavi supporters via Twitter, click here.
Click here to continue reading more about The Many Faces of Political Islam, a lucid, comprehensive examination of the relationship between Islam and global politics that has led to the current situation in the streets of Iran.
The Many Faces of Political Islam
Religion and Politics in the Muslim World
Mohammed Ayoob
Paper: 978-0-472-06971-2
PRAISE FOR THE MANY FACES OF POLITICAL ISLAM:
"Dr. Ayoob addresses the nuances and complexities of political Islam—be it mainstream, radical, or militant—and offers a road map of the pivotal players and issues that define the movement. There is no one as qualified as Mohammed Ayoob to write a synthesis of various manifestations of political Islam. His complex narrative highlights the changes and shifts that have taken place within the Islamist universe and their implications for internal Muslim politics and relations between the world of Islam and the Christian world."
—Fawaz A. Gerges, Carnegie Scholar, and holds the Christian A. Johnson Chair in International Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies, Sarah Lawrence College
"Let's hope that many readers—not only academics but policymakers as well—will use this invaluable book."
—François Burgat, Director, French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) and the Institute for Research and Study on the Arab and Muslim World (IREMAM), Aix-en-Provence, France
"This is a wonderful, concise book by an accomplished and sophisticated political scientist who nonetheless manages to convey his interpretation of complex issues and movements to even those who have little background on the subject. It is impressive in its clarity, providing a badly needed text on political Islam that's accessible to college students and the general public alike."
—Shibley Telhami, Anwar Sadat Professor for Peace and Development, University of Maryland, and Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
