Islamic Ethos and the Specter of Modernity

“Vahdat introduces a broad range of carefully selected source material for English readers to contribute to current debates in the social sciences, specifically the nature and scope of modernizing change, as well as its intellectual and institutional contributions and impediments. This book will be of interest to those studying these issues at a more specific level in the Muslim world, as well as those who work more generally on theoretical debates in comparative politics and democratization.” —Ali Gheissari, University of San Diego

 "The author examines the political views of nine 20th/21st Muslim ideologues; Sir Muhammad Iqbal, SayyidAbul ‘Ala Maududi, Sayyid Qutb, Fatima   Mernissi,   Mehdi   Haeri Yazdi,   Mohamad Mojtahed Shabestari, Mohammad Khatami, Seyyed Hossein and Mohammed Arkoun.  Each one is  the  subject  of  an  independent  essay  but, ...  all essays  are  by  the  same  author. This  provides  refreshing  continuity  and eliminates the  “curate’s  egg”  problem  when  reviewing  such  a  work. On the other hand, it provides  the opportunity for the  author to insert his own views throughout – which temptation Mr. Vahdat admirably eschews....  this   is   an   extremely   informative, well-researched, well-organised and well-presented book. " —The Islamic Quarterly: Vol 60, No. 1-133