Moderate and Radical Islamic Fundamentalism
The Quest for Modernity, Legitimacy, and the Islamic State
Ahmad S. Moussalli
Paper: $21.95
"A very careful and thoughtful study of various trends in contemporary Arab Islamic fundamentalism."--Journal of Palestine Studies
"Full of innovative views and ideas about how to read various texts of Islamic fundamentalism. One concludes from it that ‘radicals’ and ‘moderates’ are not clear-cut categories for a classification of Islamic fundamentalists."--Middle East Studies Association Bulletin
"This book is recommended to all those interested in overcoming conventional and simplified views of the political discourse of Islamism."--Middle East Journal
"Highly recommended to academic and public libraries that aim to keep abreast of pressing foreign policy issues involving religion and culture."--Choice
Basing his argument largely on Arabic documents, Ahmad Moussalli analyzes the basic concerns of fundamentalism--epistemology, knowledge, philosophy, modernity, science, and politics. Redefining the bases and scope of modern Islamic thought, he suggests that Islamic fundamentalism might prove to be a liberating theology for the modern Islamic world.
Ahmad S. Moussalli is professor of political science at the American University of Beirut.
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"Is recommended to all those interested in overcoming conventional and simplified views of the political discourse of Islamism." -Middle East Journal
--Middle East Journal
"Full of innovative views and ideas about how to read various texts of Islamic fundamentalism" -Middle East Studies Association Bulletin
--Middle East Studies Association Bulletin
"One wishes that somebody would impose a moratorium on the number of published books dealing with Islam and Islamic fundamentalism. Many of these books seem to serve only to reinforce public ignorance and to insult the intelligence and knowledge of Middle East specialists." - Journal of Palestine Studies
"Mousalli should be praised for bravely resisting to write a sensational book or dealing with who-funds-whom in the world of Islamic fundamentalism. He should also be praised for providing a very careful and thoughtful study of various trends in contemporary Arab Islamic fundamentalism. One learns from the book even if one disagrees with the approach and the ideas." - Journal of Palestine Studies
"this is a thoughtful and informative book that could have been made more interesting" - Journal of Palestine Stuides
--Journal of Palestine Studies