The Shia Revival: How Conflicts within Islam Will Shape the Future

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W. W. Norton & Company, Apr 17, 2007 - Religion - 320 pages

A New York Times Bestseller

"Historically incisive, geographically broad-reaching, and brimming with illuminating anecdotes."—Max Rodenbeck, New York Review of Books

Iranian-born scholar Vali Nasr has become one of America's leading commentators on current events in the Middle East, admired and welcomed by both media and government for his "concise and coherent" analysis (Wall Street Journal, front-page profile). In this "remarkable work" (Anderson Cooper), Nasr brilliantly dissects the political and theological antagonisms within Islam, providing a unique and objective understanding of the 1,400-year bitter struggle between Shias and Sunnis and shedding crucial light on its modern-day consequences.
 

Contents

Authors Note
9
Introduction
17
Who Are the Shia?
31
The Making of Shia Politics
63
The Fading Promise of Nationalism
81
Khomeinis Moment
119
The Battle of Islamic Fundamentalisms
147
The Tide Turns
169
The First Arab Shia State
185
The Rise of Iran
211
The Battle for the Middle East
227
Notes
255
Acknowledgments
269
Index
271
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About the author (2007)

Vali Nasr is Dean and Professor of International Affairs at Johns Hopkins University's School of Advanced International Studies.

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