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Islam and Muslims in the Mind of America
Fawaz A. Gerges
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| Seminar Introduction |
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Christians and Muslims have long presented a religious, intellectual and military challenge to each other. However, this is not a continual portrait of hostility; the pendulum of Western-Muslim relations has swung between rivalry/confrontation and collaboration/accommodation. This seminar looks at the central underpinnings of this association by focusing on the history of the changing relationship between America and Islam. It shows how American perceptions of the Islamic world have changed and been defined over time. This seminar is based on Chapter 3 of the book America and Political Islam. Through a deep historical understanding, Gerges offers an awareness of American policy toward political Islam. His analysis examines the years prior to September 11, 2001, offering an examination of how the American public, media, interest groups and foreign-policy elite have formed a complex relationship with Islamic states and the Muslim community.
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| Learning Objectives |
- Record important historical periods in the relationship between Islamic states and the United States.
- Describe how the relationship changed during the Cold War, the Arab-Israeli war and the revolution in Iran.
- Understand the role of Israel and the US media in helping to define the association between the West and Islam.
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| Sessions |
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| Credits |
This seminar is an extract from pp. 37-58 of America and Political Islam, published by Cambridge University Press. (c) Fawaz A. Gerges 1999.
 | This book chronicles the policy debates on Islamism in the United States over the course of time, providing a comprehensive account of the origins of policy followed by a balanced critique and recommendations for change. It then delves deeper into the US political scene to analyze the historical, political, cultural and security issues that might help explain America{A146}s preoccupation with Islam and Muslims. Furthermore, the author sheds much light on the multiplicity of regional and international factors, such as the political decay of the Middle Eastern states and the end of the Cold War, that shape the thinking of US officials about the contemporary Islamist phenomenon. In addition to examining the domestic, regional and international context of US policy towards Islam, the book applies and tests the pronouncements of US officials in four representative case studies--Iran, Algeria, Egypt and Turkey. Finally, Gerges addresses the clash-of-civilizations debate and assesses the relative weight of culture and values in US officials{A146} words and deeds concerning Islamism. America and Political Islam
Fawaz A. Gerges
Paperback (1999) |
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| Technical Requirements |
To appreciate this seminar experience, it is critical that you have the appropriate software, plug-ins, and network connections. Please take the time to download the latest versions of the plug-ins mentioned below if you do not already have them. Browser: Netscape versions 4.x up to 4.76, or Internet Explorer versions 4.x or later. Your browser must be JavaScript-enabled and must be set to accept cookies.
Network Connection: The recommended minimum connection is 56Kbps with a throughput of 34Kbps or more. A faster connection is encouraged to take better advantage of the media elements in the seminar.
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