ebooks Rock the Casbah: Rage and Rebellion Across the Islamic World with a new concluding chapter by the author by Robin Wright in History

Review

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Challenges for the Middle EastBy Bruce E. McLeod Jr.Robin Wright is experienced and knowledgeable of the Middle East and of Islam in general. Her exemplary historical reviews and the complexities of Islam are truly noteworthy. Her book; "Rock the Casbah" was written in 2011 however; the nascent ISIS has surfaced as a threat to the region. The information contained in her book is still relevant and influential.Robin Wright is a gem; a widely acclaimed author with a worldwide appeal as a professional journalist. She visited over 20 countries in the region and interviewed key clerics and other notables. Her writing style made for interesting reading. She explains her idea of a "soft revolution" where "Hip-Hop" music; and other protest models; as new challenges; are used by young people to rant against the regimes of oppression and treachery. These ideas have not been revealed before as a tactic of dissent. Accordingly; change is slowly coming to the Middle East by way of the transplanted American genre of "rap".This is an excellent book; filled with stories from native folks about their culture and how they are coping with the demands of their leaders; living in a "bubble" often without "free will".Bruce E. McLeod; Jr.Las Vegas; Nevada6 September 20154 of 4 people found the following review helpful. A One Idea Book; but It's an Important IdeaBy John MccarthyRobin Wright's latest book; Rock the Casbah; is a one idea book; but the idea that she presents is important. The one idea that surfaces on every page of this book is - to use her phrase - the "counter-jihad" that is taking place in almost every Arab and Middle Eastern country.This "counter-jihad" is a pervasive and powerful reaction against the authoritarian regimes that have dominated the Middle East for the last 50 years. It takes a variety of expression from straight-out political protest; to poetry; to music; to plays; to feminism; etc. But it has one common theme; namely; liberation from the stranglehold with which these dictators have exercised complete control over their populations.Wright believes that this "counter-jihad;" the leadership of which is youthful; is so powerful that it is destined to totally and completely "Rock the Casbah;" i.e.; it will overcome the prevailing dictatorships in most if not all of the 21 Arab and 70 Middle Eastern countries about which she writes.Wright is ; as they say; "cautiously optimistic" about this movement. She thinks that it is destined to prevail; By that she means that the "old order" will not survive; but as to what will replace it she is agnostic. No one; she argues; has a crystal ball as to what the ultimate fate of these countries will be.She does point out; however; that this movement is definitively not "pro western." It is an authentic intra-middle eastern revolution; based on the totalitarian experences that these several hundred million people have experienced for the last several generations.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Has the Muslim Reformation begun ?By CustomerIn the 500-year anniversary of Martin Luther's nailing his theses on the church door; I missed not learning more about how Qatar is forcing the Reformation of the Muslim faith; roughly 1400 years from the death of its founder. After Luther's action; there were both the Hundred Years War and the Thirty Years War in Europe before Christianity's Reformation was sufficiently advanced to be called a Renaissance. Can the Muslim Reformation be completed in this 21st Century ?