Every year hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world converge on Mecca and its precincts to perform the rituals associated with the Hajj and have been doing so since the seventh century. In this volume; scholars from a range of fields - including history; religion; anthropology; and literature - together tell the story of the Hajj and explain its significance as one of the key events in the Muslim religious calendar. By outlining the parameters of the Hajj from its beginnings to the present day; the contributors have produced a global study that takes in the vast geographies of belief in the world of Islam. This volume pays attention to the diverse aspects of the Hajj; as lived every year by hundreds of millions of Muslims; touching on its rituals; its regional forms; the role of gender; its representation in art; and its organization on a global scale.
#1602474 in Books Murray Williamson 2011-10-10Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 8.98 x .98 x 5.98l; 1.25 #File Name: 1107006597352 pagesMilitary Adaptation in War With Fear of Change
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Very good review of the subjectBy Otavio Maia ChelottiThe book is essential reading on the subject of adaptation and flexibility in war. The main point the author makes is actually simple: each military creates and lives within a cultural milieu; which essentially has the power to blind most of its members to their own weaknesses and reduces their sense of reality. Add to this the well-known adage that no plan survives the first contact with the enemy; who will also be continuously adapting; and one has all too often a recipe for disaster; from outright defeat to higher casualty rates. To this; the best antidote; in the author's opinion; is to create a system of critical analysis and prompt feedback at a tactical and operational levels; as well as enabling frank discussion at strategic levels.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Adaption vs InnovationBy Jon E. JeckellSimply amazing. Williamson Murray differentiates military adaptation (what you do in war) from military innovation (which is done in peacetime to prepare for war) and uses several case studies to examine why some organizations succeed or fail at this. Moreover; the book shows that some organizations were very effective at one time or in certain conditions; but utterly failed under others. For example; the German Army was extremely good at critical; frank examination of the current operational environment and their performance within it to facilitate tactical adaptation. However; they failed to adapt at the operational or strategic level and failed to maintain their ability to adapt as the war progressed. He also demonstrated the interactive nature of war by revealing what appeared to be a stalemate was actually a result of both sides adapting to each other’s changes.The book also contrasted the relationship between the British government’s partnership with its scientists; with the Nazi regime’s use of its scientists. Like the Soviet Union; the Nazis discouraged research into radio or information technologies for fear of malcontents stirring up the population.Murray also does a great job of untangling the interdependency of doctrine; tactics; and technology; and how these fit within the operational; economic and strategic context. He emphasizes the role of technology within the larger system to achieve strategic ends.My only complaint is that Murray sometimes reduces failures to lack of imagination or incompetence; rather than to systemic patterns of activity inherent in organizations. Organizations tend to optimize their performance against known conditions; even if they do so tacitly; and can become dysfunctional when conditions change. I’d love to see a mod of this using technology strategy or organizational theory in addition to the analysis he’s done here.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Understanding adaptation wins wars.By MarkmnkThis is an extremely useful book for students at Military Staff Colleges. The book covers five periods of history where dramatic adaptation has taken place. The book highlights that the armed forces that can adapt the fastest will win. Importantly the winning combatant adapts fastest at the tactical; operational and strategic level.
