Ancient Religions, Modern Politics (ebook)

Argumento de Ancient Religions, Modern Politics (ebook)

Why does Islam play a larger role in contemporary politics than other religions? Is there something about the Islamic heritage that makes Muslims more likely than adherents of other faiths to invoke it in their political life? If so, what is it? Ancient Religions, Modern Politics seeks to answer these questions by examining the roles of Islam, Hinduism, and Christianity in modern political life, placing special emphasis on the relevance—or irrelevance—of their heritages to today's social and political concerns.

Michael Cook takes an in-depth, comparative look at political identity, social values, attitudes to warfare, views about the role of religion in various cultural domains, and conceptions of the polity. In all these fields he finds that the Islamic heritage offers richer resources for those engaged in current politics than either the Hindu or the Christian heritages. He uses this finding to explain the fact that, despite the existence of Hindu and Christian counterparts to some aspects of Islamism, the phenomenon as a whole is unique in the world today. The book also shows that fundamentalism—in the sense of a determination to return to the original sources of the religion—is politically more adaptive for Muslims than it is for Hindus or Christians.

A sweeping comparative analysis by one of the world’s leading scholars of premodern Islam, Ancient Religions, Modern Politics sheds important light on the relationship between the foundational texts of these three great religious traditions and the politics of their followers today.

"Certainly, rich in its use of sources and convincing in its arguments, this book should be widely read and would be very influential."--Maurice Borrmans, Islamochristiana

"A scholarly tour de force by one of the world’s pre-eminent historians of Islam."--William McCants, WallStreetJournal.com

"[Cook] presents a panoramic and nuanced overview of political Islam with regard to identity, social values and culture over time."--Sundeep Khanna, Mint

"Ancient Religions, Modern Politics . . . addresses a vital present-day issue on which many have offered opinions, all unsupported by the historical scholarship that he has been able to apply . . . impregnable scholarship . . . towering work."--Jonathan Benthall, Times Literary Supplement

Michael Cook, Winner of the 2014 Holberg Prize

"This is a work of enormous erudition and considerable subtlety. Cook's learning is vast, his insight profound, his treatment of sources fair. Ancient Religions, Modern Politics is a most impressive achievement."--Martin E. Marty, author of Dietrich Bonhoeffer's "Letters and Papers from Prison"

"Michael Cook's book is truly a tour de force. Cook covers an impressive range of material and deals meticulously with key issues. Ancient Religions, Modern Politics is destined to be a landmark in the comparison of religions."--Christophe Jaffrelot, author of The Hindu Nationalist Movement in India

"Ancient Religions, Modern Politics is at once painstaking and panoramic. It draws on a lifetime of learning and erudition, yet is audacious in its willingness to pose--and answer--bold questions. Rich in its use of sources and convincing in its arguments, this book will be widely read and very influential."--Andrew F. March, author of Islam and Liberal Citizenship

"In many ways, this work is a culmination of a life dedicated to scholarly research and writing. Ancient Religions, Modern Politics has depth that is uncommon, is presented in a readable format that makes it accessible to non-experts and is recognised for its academic rigor by specialists. . . . Cook presents a text that is accessible for the undergraduate level while at the same time challenging and a useful resource for the graduate level."--Taylor & Francis Online

"Profoundly erudite, written with exceptional clarity, and laced with mordant wit."--Ellis Goldberg, Journal of Church and State

"This is an impressive work that asks difficult questions and is not afraid to answer them. Cook’s sources are extensive and delve deeply into each religious tradition. . . . He skillfully weaves together thinkers from the earliest form of the faith to contemporary schools of though. Readers will be . . . challenged to think critically about the important questions he raises."--Theodore A. Nitz, Fides et Historia

"Enlightening."--Islamic Quarterly0Preface xi
Part One: Identity
Introduction to Part One 1
1 Islam and Identity 3
1. Introduction 3
2. Pre-modern ethnic identity: Turks and Trojans 3
3. Pre-modern ethnic identity: the Islamic factor 8
4. Eighteenth-century Identity politics 18
5. Pre-modern Muslim identity: formation and decay 20
6. The residue of Muslim identity on the eve of modern times 23
7. Modern ethnic and Muslim identity: expectations 32
8. Modern ethnic and Muslim identity: realizations 35
9. Muslim identity and geopolitics 47
10. Conclusion 51
2 Hinduism and identity 53
1. Introduction 53
2. The weakness of pre-modern ethnic and Hindu identity 54
3. Aspects of Hindu coherence 61
4. Modern ethnic and Hindu identity 71
5. Rallying Hindus against Muslims 91
6. What are the Hindu nationalists? 103
7. Conclusion 120
3 Catholicism and identity in Latin America 123
1. Introduction 123
2. The Virgin of Guadalupe 123
3. High expectations 126
4. Low realizations 134
5. Explaining the gap 140
6. Conclusion 154
Conclusion to Part One 156
Part Two: Values
Introduction to Part Two 159
4 Society 165
1. Introduction 165
2. Islam 167
3. Hinduism 191
4. Latin American Catholicism 199
5. Religious elites 211
6. Conclusion 213
5 Warfare 215
1. Introduction 215
2. Islam 218
3. Hinduism 234
4. Latin American Catholicism 241
5. Conclusion 246
6 Divine jealousy 249
1. Introduction 249
2. Islam 251
3. Hinduism 282
4. Latin American Catholicism 297
5. Conclusion 307
7 Polity 309
1. Introduction 309
2. Islam 309
3. Hinduism 336
4. Latin American Catholicism 344
5. Conclusion 357
Conclusion to Part Two 361
Part Three: Fundamentalism
Introduction to Part Three 371
8 Islam and fundamentalism 377
1. Introduction 377
2. Form 377
3. Substance: identity 386
4. Substance: values 389
5. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 393
6. Conclusion 397
9 Hinduism and fundamentalism 399
1. Introduction 399
2. Form 400
3. Substance: identity 409
4. Substance: values 411
5. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 414
6. Conclusion 429
10 Latin American Catholicism and fundamentalism 431
1. Introduction 431
2. Form 431
3. Substance 434
4. Fundamentalism, conservatism, and modernism 438
5. Conclusion 439
Conclusion to Part Three 440
Afterword 443
1. Looking back 443
2. Looking ahead 456
Appendix: "Hindu fundamentalism” and the Fundamentalism Project 463
Bibliography 469
Index 517