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Africa From African Perspectives
An update of a much earlier edition, this volumeis useful when examining African culture, political and social history. The author makes studying about Africa a personal experience for youngsters because he providesseveral perspectives on African 'rites of passage' that American teens cancompare with significant events in their own lives. What is especiallynice, the author has chosen a variety of written material.He has includedinterviews, poems, and essays (some autobiographical), which gives thereader a break from reading after document.

Also important, Mr. Leon hassurveyed a wide variety ofethnic groups from every corner of the vastAfrican continent which gives ther reader an opportunity to appreciatesimilarities and differences between African peoples.

The book isillustrated with discussion-provoking black and white photos, and includesmaps, a bibliography, notes and an index. Terms from African languages aredefined in the text, but a glossary would have been nice. ... Read more

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Clearly organized, systematic, and combining a critical survey of the field with a finely judged assessment of cutting edge developments, this book provides a ‘must have’ contribution to media and communication studies. Ideally pitched for students it explores the media saturation of everyday life while carefully emphasizing the complex relationships which exist between media, culture, and society. The text is organized into three distinctive parts which fall neatly into research and teaching requirements: Elements of the Media; Media, Power and Control; and Media, Identity and Culture.

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As part of the State, Culture, & Society in Arab North Africa series, Michael J. Reimer, professor of history at American University in Cairo, examines the modern transformation of the city of Alexandria from a turn-of-the-century small unimposing town to that of a busy hub of Mediterranean commerce and Egypt's master-link to the international economy. Index. Notes. ... Read more

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amazing
i couldn't put it down, even after i started it the fourth time, get it, you won't regret it ... Read more

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Protest campaigns against large-scale public works usually take place within a local context. However, since the 1990s new forms of protest have been emerging. This book analyses two cases from Italy that illustrate this development: the environmentalist protest campaigns against the TAV (the building of a new high-speed railway in Val de Susa, close to the border with France), and the construction of the Bridge on the Messina Straits (between Calabria and Sicily). Such mobilizations emerge from local conflicts but develop as part of a global justice movement, often resulting in the production of new identities. They are promoted through multiple networks of different social and political groups, that share common claims and adopt various forms of protest action. It is during the protest campaigns that a sense of community is created. ... Read more

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Over the last two decades, a hopeful trend toward democratization in the Arab world now has stalled or been reversed with the rise of numerous Islamic movements. The author surveys democratization measures since 1980 and alalyzes the nature of the Islamist challenge, exploring the factors behind the rise of fundamentalism, the agendas of various Islamic movements, and Islamist concepts of democracy. Part of the series State, Culture, & Society in Arab North Africa. Notes, bibliography, index. ... Read more

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excellent book
"This volume is a welcome addition and a valuable contribution to the burgeoning literature on the relationship between political Islam and democracy...This book is full of insights and is noteworthy as much for its analysis of democratization in the Arab world as for its treatment of Islamic resurgence," (Abdallah M. Battah, 1998, Middle East Journal book reviews, pg 461-462).

"(The book)...is a compact, lucidly written study of the interaction between political Islam and democratic reform in the Arab world.This makes it a valuable work to place in the hands of students, journalists and polity-makers," (Maen F. al-Nsour, August 1998, International Journal of Middle East Studies, Vol. 30, No. 3 pg. 442-444).

"Readers with a conceptual interest in democratization, state-society relations, social identity, or the relationship between Islam and politics will appreciate the intriguing theoretical application to a region that has too often been discounted or ignored in these literatures," (Paul D. Hoyt, 1998, Mershon International Studies Review, Vol. 42, pg. 173-176).

"A useful volume for specialists on political Islamism and democratization upper-division undergraduates through faculty" (R. H. Dekmejian, November 1997, Choice)

Najib Ghadbian's well-written book, Democratization and the Islamic Challenge in the Arab World provides an in-depth look into the conflict between Arab governments jealously guarding power and Islamist movements who are imagined to destabilize the states monopoly on power if included into the political process.Ghadbian eloquently navigates this complicated issue and provides a convincing analysis of the complex and often varying relationships between various Islamist movements, state liberalization and democratization.The main thesis of the book centers on the stalling of democratization by Arab governments through the denial of political inclusion to Islamist groups.He provides case studies of states where Islamist movements have been allowed into the political arena (e.g. Jordan and Kuwait) and states where they have been denied (e.g. Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia and Syria).

Najib Ghadbian sees the impact of the solidification of Islam within the collective consciousness of the region as determining the political route for the region. Ghadbian argues that political Islam is a primary factor in the socialization and indoctrination of the Arab world.Therefore, its inclusion into the political sphere is preferable as state-cooptation forces the moderation of extremist tendencies within the Islamist groups.This inclusion, most importantly, would also bolster the political legitimacy of the ruling governments curing the "crisis of legitimacy" within these states and halting the cycle of violence and oppression necessary to restrain the Islamist movements.

This book covers the time frame from the mid-1980's through the 1990's and also including a complete overview of the historical background.It begins with the weakening of state ability to "buy" or force acquiescence because of the waning of the oil boom and its economic repercussions throughout the region.The book includes four parts that consist of seven chapters in total.Part one covers the historical and theoretical background of the study.Part two gives an analysis of Islamist movements, including their agendas and views on democracy.Part three provides the case studies and part four provides conclusions and future prospects.

Najib Ghadbian's arguments are able to greatly weaken the patronizing historical viewpoint that the Arab peoples lack "readiness" for democracy and the simplistic opinion that Islam is not compatible with democracy.These are currently espoused to justify support of autocratic regimes that stall democratic liberalization measures.His portrayal of the inclusion of Islamist movements as an integral and beneficial part of the democratization process rightly rejects these viewpoints.

Ghadbian correctly notes the diverse array of Islamist movements as varying from moderate to more extremist. He properly portrays the majority of Islamist movements as neither innately violent nor opposed to democracy. Scholars of Arab nations, political Islamism, opposition movements, etc. now accept the broadened view of these movements as more nuanced and complex.This broadened viewpoint assists as a means of understanding the elements of the region.This method of understanding is more fruitful than the polarization that is often apparent in neo-realist "scholarship".Ghadbian takes a closer look at Islamist movements and in doing so, shows a sharp contrast to the faulty black/white dichotomy utilized by those with a weaker understanding of the region.

Najib Ghadbian's book broadens the literature on democratization by his through application of these theories to the Middle East, a region too often ignored or even discounted without just cause in the literature.This book is beneficial not only to scholars and students, but also to policymakers whose understanding of the region requires the in-depth analysis that this author provides.

Democratization and the Islamist Challenge in the Arab World
Does Islamism encourage democracy or not?Ghadbian (a researcher at the dynamic new Emirates Center for Strategic Studies and Research in Abu Dhabi) argues that Islamism contains two strains, one favoring democracy and the other against it.The former he associates with moderates, the latter with radicals.Holding that moderates are far more numerous and powerful than radicals, he rues that we in the West seem blind this fact:"the antidemocracy view has come to be seen as the Islamist norm while the views of the majority of Islamists appear exceptional." He includes in the moderate camp such figures as the Egyptians Hasan al-Banna and Sayyid Qutb.

It's a neat and alluring distinction, but unfortunately one without validity.Ghadbian draws a pleasant picture of "moderates" that has no connection to reality.For example, he states that their having suffered miserably at the hands of despots, "has made resistance to authoritarianism a strong component of the Islamist subculture. . . .Those who suffered prison terms became especially aware of the dangers of human rights abuses." Sounds good, but tell that to the thousands of political prisoners currently languishing in Iranian jails.Ghadbian mentions Hasan at-Turabi, Sudan's strongman, as someone who speaks of "the congruity between Islamic principles and democracy." But what good does this do when his regime rules barbaricallyand has only the trappings of democracy?No, there are no "moderate" Islamists, only deluded analysts who try to convince of their existence.

Middle East Quarterly, Sept 1997

crap
The author is extremely ignorant in forgetting how those "democratic' governments are often oppressive foriegn controlled puppets that blame Islam for their own screw ups ... Read more

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An attempt to understand coded messages and modern interactive thinking, including the Internet, through the symbol of the labyrinth. In this cultural history, Attali shows that nonlinear searching has always been a part of cultures and may well become more important in the future. Color photos & illustrations. ... Read more

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Fascinating
I was pleased to discover this book was an easy read. Though it posits some complex interpretations of the labyrinth, Attali's ideas come alive in his strong, lucid prose. The book is chock full of physical and symboliclabyrinths of the past and present. I especially liked his references tonomadic cultures. An enjoyable book.

Valuable introduction to the labyrinth mysteries and powers.
This book is probably the best way to start with the study of the multiple significations and applications of this ancient labyrinth science.Full of very good references, and stangely enlightened insights.Two flaws however: often stays at the surface of an idea, sometimes gets a little carried away.That's why it's more of an introduction than a true reference book. My advice: read this book and then go to Grace Cathedral in San Fransisco walk the labyrinth. ... Read more

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Market Cultures examines the spectacular growth of capitalist enterprise among overseas Chinese and Southeast Asians. It does so, not through formal models, but by way of the varied cultures and organizations in which Asian capitalism is embedded. Eschewing talk of a uniform Asian "miracle," the book shows that there existed complex precedents for and against market capitalism in East and Southeast Asia, precedents that reflected subcultural heritages of religion, ethnicity, gender, and class. The case studies illuminate a cultural variety unacknowledged in most analyses of modern capitalism but vitally important for anyone wishing to understand one of the great economic transformations of our time. ... Read more

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This valuable collection assembles essays by leading experts on transnationalism, highlighting emerging trends in this newly developed field. The contributions focus on the construction of transnational identities and how these identities form and change in the context of processes of migration and displacement. The book addresses the ways in which nations and states frame identity formation through labels, politics of exception, and racialisation. A strength of this collection is its interdisciplinary and multi-methodological perspective, which permits the student of transnational processes to access diverse constructs through multiple angles. The volume includes concrete ethnographic examples of identities in the making, documentation of the effects of exile and displacement, reflexive accounts by writers who have direct experience with transnationalism, and incisive theoretical arguments that highlight the ways in which race, citizenship, nation-states, and neo-colonialism create images and actions of individuals and communities. The examples include discussions about Latinos in the United States, individuals and communities along international borders, indigenous peoples in migration, and identity construction in international workplaces. ... Read more

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A unique account of Algeria's economic breakdown, detailing the destructive relationship between a rentier state and a rent-seeking private sector. ... Read more

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Examining the social and cultural forces that have hindered the emergence and widespread development of democratic polities in the Middle East, Mehran Kamrava analyzes the effect politics, in particular, and society-based dynamics, in general, have had on the nature and evolution of Middle Eastern culture.

Customer Reviews (2)

A refreshing insight into a misunderstood region.
The author puts forth a carefully detailed study into a region greatly misunderstood.Deftly weilding a vast knowledge of the Middle East, Kamrava has crafted his viewpoint to be accessible to today's students ofMiddle Eastern politics.Unlike many other writers, Kamrava refuses tofall into blind speculation about the region's near future. Instead, theauthor has brought to the reader a well grounded synthesis of theory andpractice that can be used to filter the Middle East's morass ofmisunderstanding.

An Excellent book filled with Kamrava's fantastic analysis
Kamrava's analysis of the Middle East makes this book a must have for every student and scholar of the Middle East.His insights about the culture and society in the Middle East, is explained very clearly, makingit easy to understand about such a controversial and volatile region. ... Read more

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Church-State relations have been an inseparable part of Hong Kong's history. Using the methods and concepts from the study of Church-State relations in the West, this book investigates the relationship between the state and society at large in Hong Kong, between 1950 and 2000, aiming to fill some blanks in history. It suggests that the early role of the Catholic and Protestant churches was that of ‘contractor’ or ‘deputy’ to the government, which limited the churches’ capacity to adopt the role of ‘prophet’. Over the years, this uneven power relationship changed as some Christian groups began to adopt the role of prophet by monitoring and criticizing the government. This helped to facilitate social and political reform and reveals how the churches advanced the process of democratization and the building of a civil society in Hong Kong. ... Read more

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The period since the end of the Cold War has been characterised by an acceleration in the European integration process, a changing pattern of political ideologies and the emergence of new political parties and issues. This book assesses the impact of these phenomena on Christian Democratic parties in the current and future member states of the European Union and highlights some of the particularities and universalities of European Christian Democracy from a comparative and transnational perspective. Political scientists and historians from various universities examine the way in which Christian Democratic parties have responded to these challenges (for instance by a rapprochement with non-Christian Democrats) and explain how those responses have resulted in failure in some cases and success in others. ... Read more

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Incorporating original fieldwork carried out over a period of more than ten years, combined with innovative theoretical argument, Globalization, Culture and Society in Laos presents one of the first sociological investigations into modern Laos. Boike Rehbein gives a fascinating overview of contemporary Lao culture and society, whilst linking local and national phenomena to tendencies of globalization and the history of the region.

The book introduces a new theoretical approach based on the sociology of Pierre Bourdieu, applying this sociology to the interpretation of Lao history. It also examines various aspects of Lao culture and society, including economics, politics, language, higher education, music, and religion. Rehbein concludes by attempting to synthesize these cultural elements with the impact of globalization to give a synopsis of contemporary Lao society.

Written by an expert in Lao history and culture, familiar with the language and the people, this book will be of huge interest to students and scholars of Laos, Southeast Asia, social theory and globalization.

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Efforts to implement social change are all too often forced to give way to the constraints of the legal system. This book casts light on the many legal forces working against social change, revealing the factors that work to undermine the realization of revolutionary goals. ... Read more