Conventional wisdom maintains that the differences between Islam and
Christianity are irreconcilable. Pre-eminent Middle East scholar Richard
W. Bulliet disagrees, and in this fresh, provocative book he looks
beneath the rhetoric of hatred and misunderstanding to challenge
prevailing--and misleading--views of Islamic history and a "clash of
civilizations." These sibling societies begin at the same time, go
through the same developmental stages, and confront the same internal
challenges. Yet as Christianity grows rich and powerful and less central
to everyday life, Islam finds success around the globe but falls behind
in wealth and power.
Modernization in the nineteenth century brings in secular forces that
marginalize religion in political and public life. In the Christian
world, this simply furthers a process that had already begun. In the
Middle East this gives rise to the tyrannical governments that continue
to dominate. Bulliet argues that beginning in the 1950s American
policymakers misread the Muslim world and, instead of focusing on the
growing discontent against the unpopular governments, saw only a forum
for liberal, democratic reforms within those governments. By fostering
slogans like "clash of civilizations" and "what went wrong," Americans
to this day continue to misread the Muslim world and to miss the
opportunity to focus on common ground for building lasting peace. This
book offers a fresh perspective on U.S.-Muslim relations and provides
the intellectual groundwork upon which to help build a peaceful and
democratic future in the Muslim world.